| Storm Shelters of America | ||
| Are you a manufacturer or dealer? | We both manufacture and sell. | |
| Since what year have you been in business? | 1996 | |
| Since what year have you been manufacturing or selling shelters? | 1996 | |
| Where are you located? | ||
| (888) 965-5565 | ||
| What areas do you serve? | We have dealers in states as far away as TN and IL, and we are working on Canada-- we have no limits/ | |
| Is your shelter made to be installed above ground level, fully below ground level, or only partially buried? | Either, under houses, under patios, or in the yard. It depends where the home owner wants it. | |
| What material is your shelter made of and how thick is it? | Ten gauge steel, except for floor-- it is 7 gauge. | |
| What is the length, width, and height of the shelters that you sell? | 6' X 8', 6' X 12', 8' X 12', 8' X 16', 8' X 20'. It is 6' high, and can be ordered in 6'6"and 7' heights. | |
| Do you enter the shelter while still in the home, or do you leave the home and enter the shelter from the outside? | It depends on how we installed it. | |
| How does one access the shelter? | ||
| How does your shelter provide fresh air? | ||
| How is the shelter anchored in the ground? | It has a 12 " flap on each end of the shelter which is covered with concrete. | |
| Was it designed to be installed when a home is first being built, or is it installed on the lot of a finished house? | Either is possible. | |
| How is the shelter delivered, and by who? | By trailer. We have custom made trailers for delivery. | |
| Who installs it? | ||
| Is any heavy equipment needed to install the unit? | A backhoe, and sometimes a crane to lift the larger shelters. | |
| 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.)? | Everything | |
| What provision has been made in case the entrance/exit is blocked by a fallen tree or debris? | We are currently working with the search and rescue team on an emergency rescue system. When it is in full production we will let you know. | |
| Is there a second exit in the unit? | No. | |
| Can the entrance door be locked? | Yes, locking T handle. | |
| Do you have any handicapped-accessible units? | #5 | |
| What provision has been made for seating, lighting, or storage? | We have benches on 3 sides, a 3/4" nipple installed in the wall to run power to the shelter, and plenty room for storage. | |
| Are these items included in the base price or are they extra? | They are included. | |
| Are there other accessories and options that are available? If so, what are they? | Two handrails in the stairway, 2 tables in the front corners, non-skid steps, and clothes hooks on the back wall are all standard. They can order bunks, cut out for a porta potty, shelves, choice of interior color, and any custom feature they can come up with. | |
| What is the typical cost both uninstalled and installed? | From $2995 to $10,000 | |
| Do you have a warranty, and if so, for how long and what does it cover? | Five years for everything (no rust, no leaks, and won't float out of the ground). | |
| Has your shelter undergone any kind of testing by engineers? | We have talked to Texas Tech and by their specs we are well over their guidelines but we have not had our shelter sent for testing yet. Our shelters meet or exceed all standards set by FEMA. | |
| What else do you think we should know about your shelter? | We use 2 coats of Hammerite on the shelter. It not only kills rust, but it will not let it rust in the future, unlike tar which is not going to kill rust, offers no lasting protection, and only covers up any problems the shelter may have. | |