Storm Shelters
Cornerstone serves Texans by placing cost and space efficient protection in the home of every customer. Texas leads the nation in annual thunderstorms and tornados. Our safe rooms offer a safe place for you and your valuables during Texas thunderstorms and tornados.
Advantages of above ground Storm Shelters
Why We Believe in Above-Ground Storm Shelters
My confidence in above-ground storm shelters comes from firsthand experience—not only as a firefighter, but also as a survivor of the tornado that struck our family home, which I share in the About Cornerstone section.
Fast Entry Can Save Lives
Severe weather doesn't wait, and it doesn't always give you much warning. In many cases, you have only seconds or a few minutes to get your family to safety.
An above-ground shelter inside your home makes that possible.
When the tornado hit our home, there were 15 family members and friends gathered together. Just two minutes before trees crashed through our living room, we had all been sitting there. Because our shelter was inside the home, every person—from young children to older family members—was able to reach safety quickly. We all made it into the shelter in time and were completely protected.
Had our shelter been located underground outside the home, we would have been forced to move children and elderly family members through dangerous weather, across debris, and down stairs during an incredibly stressful situation. Those extra moments could have made all the difference.
Safe Exit Matters Too
Most people focus on getting into a shelter, but getting out safely afterward is just as important.
As a firefighter, I've responded to emergencies where families survived the storm only to become trapped inside underground shelters because fallen trees and debris blocked the exit. Underground shelters also frequently lose cell phone service, making it difficult or impossible to call for help.
While some communities maintain registration programs intended to help first responders locate underground shelters after disasters, I have never personally seen those programs used to conduct post-storm welfare checks.
Two significant concerns exist when occupants become trapped underground:
Flash flooding. Heavy rainfall can quickly overwhelm drainage and rise above shelter ventilation openings, creating a serious drowning hazard with no immediate means of escape.
Extended entrapment. If debris prevents the door from opening, occupants may remain trapped for hours or longer, making food, water, and communication critical concerns.
These risks are greatly reduced with a properly engineered above-ground shelter.
At Cornerstone Safe Rooms, our shelters are designed not only to protect you during the storm, but also to allow you to exit afterward with the same confidence and ease you had when entering. Protection shouldn't end when the tornado passes.