Recently, tornadoes have been causing significant damage in the Houston area, with one hitting Katy earlier this month and another striking Trinity County on Sunday night. Rene Sigman, a storm attorney based in Houston, has extensive experience dealing with hurricanes like Sandy and Harvey as well as tornadoes. She notes that tornado damage is increasing in every state, highlighting the growing need for protection from severe weather events.
Businesses like Lone Star Safe Rooms are responding to this need by offering tornado shelters to homeowners. Chris Hooser of Lone Star Safe Rooms has seen an increase in the number of homeowners looking to make their homes safer from severe weather. Jeff Kiser of Sportsman Steel has also noticed an uptick in customers reaching out for tornado shelters following major storms.
Kiser showcased one of his tornado shelters in Montgomery County to KRPC 2 Investigates, emphasizing their ability to protect families from high impact wind events. Hooser predicts that tornado shelters will become more common in homes in the future, similar to the way dishwashers are now found in almost every household.
Storm shelters in the Midwest are typically built underground, but Sigman warns that this is not a viable option in southeast Texas due to the risk of flooding. The cost of a shelter can vary, but the primary goal is to protect lives during severe weather events. KRPC 2’s Frank Billingsley is passionate about all things weather and reports on the increasing need for tornado shelters in the region.