Your residence may be built “to code,” but that does not mean it can withstand winds from extreme weather such as tornadoes and major hurricanes. The purpose of a safe room is to provide a level of security and protection. You can build a safe room in one of several places in your home.

Your basement.

Atop a concrete slab-on-grade foundation or garage floor.

An interior room on the first floor.

Safe rooms built below ground level provide the greatest safety and protection, but a safe room built in a first-floor interior room also can provide the necessary protection. Below-ground safe rooms must be designed to avoid accumulating water during the heavy rains that often accompany severe storms and hurricanes

To protect your family, a safe room must be built to withstand high winds and flying debris, even if the rest of the residence is severely damaged or destroyed. Consider the following when building a safe room:

The safe room must be adequately anchored to resist overturning and uplift.

The walls, ceiling, and door of the shelter must withstand wind pressure and resist penetration by windborne objects and falling debris.

The connections between all parts of the safe room must be strong enough to resist the wind.

Sections of either interior or exterior residence walls that are used as walls of the safe room must be separated from the structure of the residence so that damage to the residence will not cause damage to the safe room.

Frequently Ask Questions about Safe Rooms

Q: What is the cost of installing a safe room in a new home?

A: Costs for construction vary across the United States. The cost for constructing a safe room inside a new house, which can double as a master closet, bathroom or utility room, is between $2,500 and $6,000 depending on the following factors:

The type of foundation on which your house is built and the size and location of the shelter.

Q: Can I install a safe room in an existing home?

A: Typically, due to foundation size and location limitations, a retrofitted safe room is usually installed as a separate addition to an existing home or as a detached structure. Sometimes, with proper foundation preparation, it is possible to install a safe room in a garage or a basement.

Q: Can a homeowner build the safe room themselves?

A: A homeowner who builds a shelter should be skilled in building construction. Some pre-fabricated manufactured shelters are available that require less building construction experience to successfully build. In purchasing any shelter, the homeowner should ask for documentation that it meet FEMA's recommendations.

Q: Where can I find additional information and plans for safe room construction?

A: You can order FEMA's publication 320, Taking Shelter from the Storm: Building a Safe Room inside Your House, and the accompanying construction plans and specifications by calling 1-888-565-3896 to request a copy of publication FEMA 320. You can also visit the FEMA Safe Room website.