Tornado Outbreak in Florida Should Raise Awareness of Safe Rooms

TALLAHASSEE (February 6, 2007) - While the thought of deadly tornadoes, such as those that struck Florida last week, can leave people feeling helpless against natural disaster, there are things we can do to better safeguard ourselves and families from severe windstorms. 

"Safe rooms can protect people from death and injury caused by the extreme winds and flying debris of a windstorm," said Leslie Chapman-Henderson, president and CEO of the nonprofit Federal Alliance for Safe Homes – FLASH, Inc.

FLASH's website features a how-to animation about safe rooms

"In most cases, safe rooms consist of a small room in a house, such as a closet or bathroom, that has been reinforced to provide protection," Chapman-Henderson said.  "But they can also be built in a garage or outside area away from the home."

A safe room is different from the other rooms in your home because it has been specially designed and tested to withstand wind speeds of up to 250 miles per hour and the impact of a 15 pound two-by-four flying at a speed of 100 miles per hour.

Typically, a safe room should be located in a central, interior, ground-floor area of the home for additional protection as well as accessibility. A safe room can be incorporated into the construction of a new home, or it can be retrofitted into an existing home.

"The bottom line is that safe rooms save lives," said Chapman-Henderson.  "They are a vital part of any plan to survive tornadoes."

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