How to Choose a Storm Shelter Installer

Questions about the product

• Which model is it, and who makes it? Get the exact model name so you can look it up.
• Can I see the test reports? Ask for debris-impact testing of the walls, roof and door assembly, and engineering showing compliance with ICC 500 / FEMA P-361. See the standards explained.
• Is the manufacturer an NSSA producer member? The National Storm Shelter Association's seal indicates third-party verification. It's a useful signal, not the only one.
• What's the actual interior floor area? Compare it to 3 square feet per person.

Questions about installation

• For above-ground rooms: what slab thickness and anchoring does the manufacturer require, and does my slab meet it? If not, is a new pad in the price?
• For garage floor and in-ground shelters: how will you handle caliche or rock, water and buried utilities? Will you call 811?
• Who pulls the permit, and is the fee in the quote?
• How long will it take, including concrete curing, and when can I park on it?
• Who does the work: your own crew or a subcontractor?

What a good written quote includes

Model and size, interior floor area, door type, all site work (slab cutting, excavation, new pad), anchoring, concrete, permits, delivery or travel charges, options (openers, lighting), warranty terms for the product and the installation, the payment schedule, and the expected install date.

Deposits and payment

Deposits are common for made-to-order shelters. Be cautious about paying the full price up front, especially to a company you can't verify. Get the payment schedule in writing, and pay by a method that leaves a record.

Local experience matters

Panhandle installs have their own quirks: caliche that slows digging, wind that makes concrete work harder, and spring demand that stretches schedules. An installer who works here regularly will have dealt with all of it, will know the permit offices, and will still be around if you need warranty service. Ask how many installs they've done in your area and for references you can call.

After installation

• Get copies of the test documentation, warranty, permit sign-off and any product label.
• Have the installer show every adult in the house how to open, close and lock the door, and how any manual backup works.
• Register the shelter with local emergency management if a registry is offered. See permits and registration in Amarillo.

Red flags

• No test reports, or only a vague "FEMA approved" claim. FEMA doesn't approve products.
• Pressure to buy now because "storm season is coming" at a special price.
• Anchoring an above-ground room into a slab without checking it.
• No written quote, no permit discussion, or cash-only payment.
• Door-to-door sellers who appear right after a storm. Verify before you sign.

How we choose who to refer

We pass each request to one independent local installer who installs tested shelters, provides documentation, carries liability insurance and gives written quotes. Please still check the paperwork yourself. Request a quote.

Common questions