Underground storm shelters and tornado safe rooms in Jonesboro
Most shelters fall into a few types. The right one depends on your yard, your garage, your budget and who needs to get in quickly.
Underground or in-ground shelters
These go in the backyard or under the garage. They're usually concrete, steel, fiberglass or polyethylene. NerdWallet describes them as very durable against high winds and flying debris, and they don't use up floor space. The downsides are cost, since excavation and waterproofing add to the bill, and the chance of water getting in. HomeAdvisor warns that in-ground units are prone to flooding. Typical cost: $4,200 to $30,000.
Under-garage shelters
An installer cuts the garage slab and sets the shelter below it, with a sliding or hinged door flush with the floor. You can reach it through the garage without going outside. Typical cost: $10,000 to $15,000.
Above-ground shelters
A steel or reinforced concrete unit bolted to a concrete slab, usually in the garage. They cost less and install faster. HomeAdvisor points out that they're easier to get into for people with mobility problems and work better where the water table is high. They do take up garage space. Typical cost: $2,600 to $15,000.
Tornado safe rooms
A safe room is a reinforced room or closet anchored to the foundation. Common spots are a walk-in closet, a bathroom, a laundry room or the space under the stairs. Angi puts closet safe rooms at $4,500 to $6,000 and under-stair rooms at $3,000 to $5,000. NerdWallet notes they're cheaper to add while a house is being built.
Bed shelters
A steel box that sits under or replaces a bed frame. It's the cheapest option at $2,100 to $4,500, but it fits only two people.
Standards to ask about
ICC 500 is the national standard for storm shelter design and construction. FEMA P-320 is FEMA's guide for home safe rooms, and its designs are based on 250 mph winds and a 15-pound 2x4 hitting the wall end-on at 100 mph (FEMA P-320, Taking Shelter from the Storm). Ask every installer which one their shelter meets and how it was tested.
Sources: NerdWallet storm shelter cost guide; HomeAdvisor tornado shelter cost guide; Angi, 2026 tornado shelter cost guide; FEMA P-320, Taking Shelter from the Storm.
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