Underground Storm Shelters Sallisaw
On May 3, 1999 an EF5 tornado struck Moore, OK that had record wind speeds of over 300mph. After that 1999 tornado, we realized that not everyone in Oklahoma had the room to put in a septic tank shelter. People had very, very limited choices with respect to protecting their families from tornadoes. At that time, underground storm shelters in Sallisaw were not installed in half the houses they are now.
Immediately thereafter, the first generation of this in-garage, underground storm shelters was born. This allowed for the masses to put in a shelter underground, in their home for tornado protection. Homes throughout Sallisaw were installing these underground storm shelters to protect themselves.
This was a fantastic thought for sheltering people and keeping them from the weather but it had its downfalls. It stuck up 4 to 5 inches off the garage floor, had poor ventilation, rusted out quickly, and had steep, awkward ladders for entry and exit. Many of these underground storm shelters in Sallisaw weren’t installed properly and have really floated up from the ground due to buoyancy and ground water. We took note, and made history.
In 2003, the FlatSafe Tornado Shelter was invented. We engineered our underground storm shelters, to be set up in-garage to deal with the destructive forces connected with tornadoes that would offer our Sallisaw clients peace of mind and supply them with the highest probability of survival in an EF5 tornado.
Through instense research, we identified vacuum, air pressure, and debris as the most damaging forces connected with tornadoes.
- Vacuum
With potential wind speeds of 300+miles in mind, we realized that vacuum is among the most damaging forces that tornadoes create. It doesn’t require much vacuum pressure, with respect to psi, to cause structural damage. To counter vacuum forces, FlatSafe designed a lid system that allows for 360o of ventilation for rapid equalization of pressure within the shield. By promoting the pressure inside of the shelter to quickly equalize with the outside pressure, the secured lid process is held securely closed.
- Pressure
We recognized that 300+mph winds can cause tremendous damage to whatever it slams against so we sought to reduce our exposed surface area as much as possible. The patented FlatSafe lid system only sticks up 1/4″, therefore there is very little surface area affected by horizontal wind speeds.
- Debris
Since FlatSafe Tornado Shelters are below ground, it is out of the way of horizontal winds and the debris thrown and circulated by it. So the only debris to worry about is falling debris. We understood that all debris falls at exactly the exact same speed and only mass determines its impact. Our 1/4″ plate lid is larger than the shield opening and is reinforced to absorb and withstand some falling debris that might land squarely on it. We made it to provide more than sufficient ventilation (breathing) even after impact.
FlatSafe Underground Storm Shelters
The FlatSafe Tornado Shelter was engineered to meet all of the regulations and criteria that were available. It was also engineered with rust protection options to ensure that the shelter would last as long as the home and the homeowner. FlatSafe supplied the first single-lid design and was the first low-profile, in-garage shelter given. The lid is 1/4″ thick steel plate with added structural tubing to provide extra strength. The single-piece lid is bigger than the frame of the saferoom opening and sits over the framework, not down inside the frame.
Our lid system is MUCH stronger than the normal 2-piece lid system provided by everybody else and provides more than adequate ventilation to the occupants. FlatSafe was the first to encase shelters in ready-mix concrete to counteract buoyancy and floatation. The FlatSafe shelter design does not remove from a homeowner’s usable garage floor area.
FlatSafe below ground storm shelters allow for easy entry and exit, provides a highly effective system for leaving with debris on the lid, and leaves Sallisaw residence with the reassurance that they have an extremely large probability of surviving a direct hit from an EF5 tornado.
Read Real Testimonials From Tornado Survivors
Since 2003, FlatSafe has established itself as the innovator in the in-garage, low profile, under ground storm shelters industry. Several FlatSafe shelters have taken a direct hit from an EF5 tornado and our customers rave about the shelter performance and their choice to purchase. FlatSafe continues to push for new invention and continues to push for more stringent and thorough codes to protect the families in the vicinity of Sallisaw.