BIZMOLOGY — An outbreak of severe storms and deadly tornadoes in the US has sparked new interest in safe rooms and other storm-resilient structures.
More than 1,200 tornadoes hit the US each year, according to the National Climatic Data Center. While extremely strong tornadoes, like the one that decimated Moore, Oklahoma, in May, can easily tear through most homes and buildings, underground storm bunkers and reinforced concrete safe rooms can help save lives. These structures must have reinforced concrete walls able to withstand wind speeds of up to 250 mph.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers grants to help school districts and municipalities pay for the construction of safe rooms, which can cost between $500,000 and $4 million. However, few schools include specially designed safe rooms as the cost or lack of funding typically deters officials from choosing to build them.
FEMA also has some funds available for eligible homeowners to build safe rooms. But homeowners must apply for the grants before they construct the structures. Most individual refunds, when awarded, are between $2,500 and $3,000. An 8-by-8-foot safe room in a new home under construction can cost between $6,600 and $8,700, according to FEMA. Larger designs can cost much more.
The recent deadly tornadoes have highlighted the importance of safe rooms, and more people are seeking applications for safe-room reimbursement. Recently a program set up in Texas to provide funding for people to build safe rooms was shut down within a few hours of opening because it was flooded with requests.
Industry Impact
Architects, builders, and concrete contractors could experience an increase in demand for safe rooms or shelters.
~Image by Daniel Rodriguez used under a Creative Commons license.