"Every year, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other extreme windstorms injure and

kill people, and damage millions of dollars worth of property in the United States.

Even so, more and more people build houses in tornado- and hurricane-prone

areas each year, possibly putting themselves into the path of such storms."

"Having a shelter, or a safe room, .... can help you

protect yourself and your family from injury or death caused by the dangerous

forces of extreme winds. It can also relieve some of the anxiety created by the

threat of an oncoming tornado or hurricane.

Should you consider building a shelter in your house to protect yourself

and your family during a tornado or hurricane?"

 The answer depends on your answers to many questions, including:

• Do you live in a high-risk area?

• How quickly can you reach safe shelter

during extreme winds?

• What level of safety do you want to

provide?

• What is the cost of a shelter?"

-excerpt from "Taking Shelter From the Storm"  - FEMA October 1998