| Storm Shelters of Odessa | ||
| Are you a manufacturer or dealer? | We are a manufacturer. | |
| Since what year have you been in business? | 1979 | |
| Since what year have you been manufacturing or selling shelters? | 1986 | |
| Where are you located? | Odessa, TX | |
| Phone number | (915)367-7379 | |
| What areas do you serve? | Lower 48 states. | |
| Is your shelter made to be installed above ground level, fully below ground level, or only partially buried? | Below ground level. | |
| What material is your shelter made of and how thick is it? | Fiberglass--1/4" - 9/16" | |
| What is the length, width, and height of the shelters that you sell? | We have 3 units:12'6"(Standard), 14'8"(Patio), 15'1"(Safe) long; all have 8' diameter and are 7'10" high | |
| Do you enter the shelter while still in the home, or do you leave the home and enter the shelter from the outside? | The Shelter or Safe models can be entered from home's interior. Most units are installed in the master bedroom closet. | |
| How does one access the shelter? | ||
| How does your shelter provide fresh air? | Two vents are molded into either side of unit, offset 1" to provide circulation. | |
| How is the shelter anchored in the ground? | Five anchors are power driven into hole, and unit is tied down with airplane cable and turnbuckles. We also have another important component to the anchoring system, but that is proprietary information. | |
| Was it designed to be installed when a home is first being built, or is it installed on the lot of a finished house? | The standard model is designed for backyard installation. The Patio and Safe models are designed to be installed when the home is being built. A slab foundation is poured over the unit. | |
| How is the shelter delivered, and by who? | Units can be shipped rail or truck. We have own trucking line with installers. | |
| Who installs it? | We have own trucking line with installers. | |
| Is any heavy equipment needed to install the unit? | A backhoe. | |
| What kind of issues with shelter installation are you and your customers most likely to run into in your area(bedrock, high water table, frozen ground etc.)? | Bedrock and high water table. | |
| What provision has been made in case the entrance/exit is blocked by a fallen tree or debris? | We counsel customers to purchase a 2 ton hydraulic jack and keep (2) 2" X 4" boards in the shelter. A jack is approximately $25.00 from Wal-Mart. Cell phone is operational from unit. All units also can be pre-wired from factory. | |
| Is there a second exit in the unit? | Yes. | |
| Can the entrance door be locked? | No. | |
| Do you have any handicapped-accessible units? | No. | |
| What provision has been made for seating, lighting, or storage? | There is molded-in seating for 10 - 12 adults. Units can be purchased with electrical, telephone, & cable connections molded in. | |
| Are these items included in the base price or are they extra? | Included. | |
| Are there other accessories and options that are available? If so, what are they? | Electrical, phone, & cable are $450.00 extra, but are included with the Safe model. Handrails are also an option. | |
| What is the typical cost both uninstalled and installed? | The Standard is $3950, the Patio is $5550, and the Safe is $7950. Installation is $1000. | |
| Do you have a warranty, and if so, for how long and what does it cover? | 5 year warranty. Covers leaking or cracking. "Acts" of nature are included. | |
| Has your shelter undergone any kind of testing by engineers? | ||
| Is there anything else we should know about your shelter? | TSI also provides a hurricane shelter. Patio model is installed with an extension leaving entry door 36" above ground level. Either soil or cement is built up around door to provide protection. Vent assemblies are doublewalled to provide additional protection from rising water. | |