by Blake Lee | Feb 25, 2015 | News
Spring is quickly approaching in Oklahoma. This means warmer weather and more daylight, but it also means storm season. This is a scary time of the year for a lot of Oklahomans and is also a really popular time when many people begin to start to formulate a weather safety plan for their family. For a lot of people, that means purchasing a storm shelter. We thought now would be a great time to try to enlighten people on things they need to know and questions they need to ask before pulling the trigger on a purchase.
Is it more safe to be underground??
Most people tend to prefer to be underground if they ever have to seek shelter from a tornado. Don’t get me wrong, being underground is extremely safe, but above ground safe rooms are statistically just as safe and are very easy to use. The Texas Tech Wind Institute in Lubbock Texas did a major investigation of all the above ground safe rooms in the direct path of the 2013 Moore tornado. They were able to determine that there were 13 registered safe rooms in the direct path of this devastating EF-5 tornado. All of the safe rooms made it through the storm unscathed and nobody inside of these shelters were injured or killed. In fact, nobody has been killed in an above ground safe room that meets or exceeds FEMA guidelines and has received a passing grade during testing at Tech’s Wind Institute. In both of our F5 showrooms in OKC and Tulsa, we have safe rooms installed just in case we get severe weather during working hours. This should tell you how much we believe in the technology.
Is an underground storm shelter in my garage more or less safe then an outdoor underground storm cellar?
Texas Tech researches say both underground garage storm shelters and above ground safe rooms installed inside your house are just as safe as any outdoor cellar. Even though they are believed to be just as safe, we tend to advise people more toward the shelters installed in the house. The reason for this is that although all three types of shelters are just as safe, that safety is achieved once you are inside the actual storm shelter. The number one cause of death during severe weather is impact from flying debri. If you have an outdoor cellar in your backyard, you have to physically leave the house and seek shelter outdoors. This leaves you extremely vulnerable to debri and the tornado it self. Storm shelters installed in the garage or inside the house offer you protection while you are seeking shelter. All our great options, but this is just what we would recommend.
Make sure the storm shelter you purchase meets FEMA guidelines and has been impact tested at Texas Tech’s Wind Institute
This seems pretty basic but since the 2013 Moore Tornado, there have been tons of storm shelter companies pop up. Many of these businesses were thrown together quickly to try and benefit from the growing storm shelter demand. Be careful when choosing a company to do business with. All storm shelters should be built and designed according to FEMA 320, FEMA 321, and ICC-500. All companies should supply you with blueprints for the shelter you wish to purchase and these blueprints needs to have an engineered seal of approval.
It is also extremely important that the storm shelter company you choose has been certified by the Texas Tech Wind Institute in Lubbock. A certified shelter is tested to make sure it meets the standards to survive a direct hit from a tornado. All impact tests are consistent with the Debris Impact Requirement of ICC-500. Above ground safe rooms leave you in dangerous territory being as that you are above ground and exposed to flying debri. You have to have a shelter that you know will hold up. Certification from Tech guarantees your family will be safe.
Do Your Research
This shouldn’t come as anything new but do research on the companies you are interested in. Again, there have been a lot of companies start up over the last two years and not all of them do good work. Look online and find reviews on google, yahoo, and facebook. Check out if they are accredited with the Better Business Bureau and what their rating is. Ask the company if they will give you any names and numbers of past customers that can vouch for your work. Don’t just take the company for their word.
We hope this helps out some of you in the decision making process. Call us if you have any other questions or concerns. We would love to help your family any way we can.
F5 Storm Shelters OKC (405) 824-7209
Tulsa (918) 970-4770 Stay Alive, Call F5!
Things to know before purchasing a storm shelter
by Blake Lee | Feb 13, 2015 | News
We are getting very close to storm season here in Oklahoma which means people are beginning to become more weather cautious. This is a popular time of the year for storm shelter installations and we know there are a lot of people out there that are currently shopping around. We wanted to create a list of current rebate programs that are being offered throughout the state. For people that are unaware, many rebate programs have been refunded since the Moore tornado in 2013. These rebates, many which are set up like a lottery, will help pay for your storm shelter installation. The majority will pay anywhere from $2,000 – $2,500 towards your purchase. This makes protecting your family extremely affordable.
Chickasaw Nation Storm Shelter Rebate Program:
This program provides storm shelters for privately owned homes of Chickasaw citizens.Required application is available at the Housing Administration office. An applicant can expect to find out within 10 business days if he/she qualifies to be placed on the waiting list. For citizens at large, grants will be provided for up to $2,500 for installation of storm shelters. You must be a Chickasaw resident and the storm shelter must be installed at your primary residence.
If you qualify for these guidelines, here is a link to their page for more information. https://www.chickasaw.net/Services/Storm-Shelter-Program.aspx
Sooner Safe Rebate Program
You may register for the SoonerSafe – Safe Room Rebate Program online at . Anybody in the state of Oklahoma can apply. Registering ensures you will be considered for the program, but does not guarantee that you will receive a rebate. The program will use a random selection process to select names so that everyone who registers will have an equal chance to be selected. For that reason, the order of registration does not improve the odds of being selected. A maximum rebate of $2,000 is available per home, not to exceed 75 percent of the actual cost of the safe room. Only one person may register per physical home address.
If we become aware of any other rebates, we will add them to this post and post them to our facebook and twitter. Be sure to contact us if your city is offering a rebate or if you are aware of any other programs fro storm shelter installations. We will help spread the word.
F5 Storm Shelters OKC (405) 824-7209
Tulsa (918) 970-4770 Stay Alive, Call F5!
F5 Storm Shelters Oklahoma
by Blake Lee | Dec 19, 2014 | News
We thought it would be cool to come up with a list of facts about tornadoes that most people don’t know, but probably should. Living in tornado alley, it is important to know as much as you can about these terrible twisters in order to better stay safe when they touch down.
1. Most tornadoes tend to move from the Southwest towards the Northeast. It is also possible for them to move in the opposite direction for certain periods of time if the winds from the eye of the storm are strong enough.
2. Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water. They tend to be weaker and usually occur during the late Fall or Winter seasons. If they do move on to land, they become full grown tornadoes.
3. On average. most funnel clouds last around 10 minutes. Most reported touchdowns only last a few seconds, but worst case scenario, some have been reported to be on the ground for over an hour.
4. The middle part of the country known as ‘The Great Plains’ (North Dakota down to Texas) is a breeding ground for tornadoes during the Spring and early Summer months. The flat terrain makes it easy for twisters to form.
5. Oklahoma City has been hit with more tornadoes then any other city in the United States! OKC has reported over 100 known tornado touch downs, but the numbers are thought to be much higher since documented reporting only goes back so far. OKC seems to be the bulls eye on the tornado map dart board.
6. Texas is the state with the most reported tornadoes. This is not surprising due to the massive size of the state.
7. Three out of every four tornadoes that touch down throughout the world, touch down in the United States!
8. The widest tornado ever reported and the tornado with the highest wind speeds ever reported both happened in……Oklahoma. In fact, the wind speeds reported during the Moore tornado in 1999 (302 mph) are the highest wind speeds reported on planet Earth!
9. The average time of the day to expect a tornado is between the hours of 3pm-9pm.
10. Tornadoes have occurred in every state in the United States and during every month of the calendar year.
by Blake Lee | Nov 3, 2014 | News
THE BEST TIME TO PURCHASE A STORM SHELTER
Most people don’t know this, but one of the best times to purchase a storm shelter is during the Fall and Winter seasons. One of the main reasons for this is because there are not a lot of long waiting list. You can typically get your storm shelter installed within 2-3 weeks of purchase as opposed to in the Spring and Summer months when the wait could be multiple months. Choosing to purchase a storm shelter now is smart because it guarantees that you will have the shelter when you know you are going to need it, during storm season. Waiting until March to sign up for installation can almost guarantee you the you wont have it until the following years storm season. This can be kind of frustrating.
Another great reason to purchase a storm shelter later on in the year is the savings! Who doesn’t love saving money? Storm shelter demand is obviously a lot lower in November then it is in April or May.
This strongly benefits the customer. Right now, we are taking $200 off any storm shelter or safe room purchase. This deal will not be around in the Spring. Take advantage of the time of the year and get your family prepared for next storm season!
If you are interested in purchasing a storm shelter or if you won one of the many rebate programs going on through out the state then give us a call. We can answer any questions you may have and would love to help you protect your family. We sell all types of storm shelters. From our most poplar seller, the underground garage model, to above ground safe rooms, and outdoor storm cellars, F5 Storm Shelters has you covered. With locations in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City, we can get anywhere in the state easily. Call us today! Stay Alive, Call F5!
F5 STORM SHELTERS
Storm Shelters, Tornado Shelters, Safe Rooms
Tulsa – (918) 970-4770
Oklahoma City – (405) 824-7209
by Blake Lee | Oct 21, 2014 | News
Have you always wanted a storm shelter but for one reason or the other never pulled the trigger? This month, we are partnering with AAA to give one lucky person a free underground garage storm shelter! All you have to do is follow the link below and register for the drawing. You have 3 weeks to register and you are able to submit one entry every day until the drawing is held. It’s really that simple. You are possibly just a few clicks away from having your very own tornado shelter.
The winning prize includes installation as well as a two ton come along jack. The jack makes it possible to pull the lid open in case there is debris on top of the lids. The shelter also comes with a limited life time warranty. As long as you are in the house, the shelter is covered for any type of leaking or corrosion. What are you waiting for? Go register for your chance to win a fully installed underground garage storm shelter from F5 Storm Shelters!
Here is the link to register: F5 Storm Shelters Giveaway!
F5 STORM SHELTERS
Storm Shelters, Tornado Shelters, Safe Rooms
Tulsa – (918) 970-4770
Oklahoma City – (405) 824-7209
by Blake Lee | Oct 6, 2014 | News
When most people in Oklahoma think about tornado season, they tend to think of the spring time. This is true, The months of March – June is typically considered, by most, to be the most active time of the year. However, something people often fail to notice is that the Fall season doesn’t just bring cooler weather and pumpkin flavored beverages, it is also comes with tornadoes. Did you know that outside of our typical spring storm season listed previously, that the month with the highest amount of tornadoes recorded is October!! Since 1950, there have been 129 tornadoes reported throughout the entire state of Oklahoma. That comes out to a two tornadoes a year average. This occurs happens when the jet stream shifts farther south into the United States after retreating northward during the summer months. An active jet stream pattern provides the deep wind shear necessary for super cells and large outbreaks of severe storms.
are you starting to panic? Ok, well hold on for just a second. Fall tornadoes are slightly less likely to be strong or violent than their spring counterparts. About 20% of fall tornadoes are rated F2 or stronger compared to 28% in the spring. Catastrophic F4 or F5 tornadoes are rare outside of the spring season. That being said, damaging and deadly tornadoes can happen at any time of the year.
F5 storm shelters is here to ease the fear of severe weather. We have stores in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa that services the entire state and beyond. Make sure your family is safe whenever the sirens sound. Whether it be in Spring or Fall. Stay Alive, Call F5!
F5 STORM SHELTERS
Storm Shelters, Tornado Shelters, Safe Rooms
Tulsa – (918) 970-4770
Oklahoma City – (405) 824-7209
