The original above-ground storm shelter manufacturer

What started as a family project in 1998 has grown into one of the nation’s most trusted tornado shelter systems.

Storm shelters once created for our own family, now here to keep yours safe

Back in 1998, the FamilySAFE founder was looking for a safe, easy-to-reach storm shelter for their very own homes. Everything on the market was underground, and none of it made sense. The steps were steep, the air was damp, and cars parked overhead made it almost impossible to get to in time. For older folks, kids, or anyone with bad knees, that just didn’t work. So, FamilySAFE built what we couldn’t find: a sturdy, above-ground storm shelter that anyone could reach in seconds. It was meant for their own families at first, but soon enough, neighbors wanted one too. That’s how FamilySAFE Storm Shelters was born.

From one innovative idea to a new industry standard

When FamilySAFE built their first steel storm shelter, the idea of standing above ground during a tornado sounded impossible. To prove it could work, FamilySAFE teamed up with Texas Tech University’s Wind Science and Engineering Center and pushed every prototype through the harshest tests they could design. FamilySAFE became one of the first prefabricated above-ground shelters to pass every Texas Tech standard, and the only company brave enough to put a real person inside during testing. Two decades later, no FamilySAFE shelter has ever failed, not once.

Above-ground storm shelters built by hand, engineered for life

Every shelter begins in the Oklahoma workshop, where certified welders shape, cut, and reinforce thick American steel by hand. FamilySAFE don’t outsource or automate the process. Each weld, hinge, and bolt is inspected and signed off before leaving the shop. Every model carries engineer-stamped drawings and meets or exceeds FEMA, ICC-500, NSSA, and Texas Tech standards. FamilySAFE shelters have taken direct hits from more than twenty EF3, EF4, and EF5 tornadoes, and not one has dented or shifted off its base to date.

Anchored right, backed by HILTI

When anchoring something that’s meant to save lives, “close enough” doesn’t cut it. That’s why FamilySAFE partnered with HILTI, the world’s top anchorage company. Their engineers trained our team directly, teaching them which anchors to use for every type of concrete slab. FamilySAFE is also the only storm shelter company with a written letter of endorsement from HILTI. It’s that kind of precision that keeps your shelter steady even when winds tear the roof off everything else around it.

A storm-protection record you can count on

Since 1998, FamilySAFE installed more than 30,000 storm shelters across the country. Not a single one has failed. Not a single person has been trapped. Not one complaint has been filed with the Better Business Bureau. We’ve been inspected by engineers, tested by nature, and recognized by the BBB itself, earning a Torch Award spot for Marketplace Ethics. For us, the real reward is knowing FamilySAFE shelters have kept thousands of families standing strong through the worst days of their lives.

Kind words from families we’ve helped protect

Hearing from folks who’ve lived through real EF5 storms in our above-ground storm shelters is still the best part of the job.

Events you’ll see us at

From the HBA Expo to local safety fairs, we’re out there meeting the people we build for. Come walk through one of our shelters, grab a brochure, and get to know the team.

Storm preparation tips

If you’re the kind of person who likes to know how things work, check out our Resources section. We share safety tips, storm prep guides, and stories from families who’ve been through it all.

Safety

Promoting safety for our employees and all others affected by our services is a core tenet of our business. System 1’s goal is to practice safety “EVERY HOUR” of the day and in every task we perform.

Our Safety Chief is used to identify potential hazard points in an effort to prevent accidents and injuries.

Our comprehensive Safety Chief Program ensures that our staff is well-trained on safety procedures across all avenues of our business by providing new hire safety training, monthly safety meetings, on-site safety policies and procedures training, safety and health standards education, OSHA-required courses and subtle reminders at potential hazard points.

Find a FamilySAFE storm shelter near you

System 1 serve customers across the United States. All of our shelters are made in Owasso, Oklahoma. Use our map or contact us to connect with a dealer near you.