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Individual Storm Shelters

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 Tax Credit Opportunity

Beginning in 2022, eligible taxpayers who incur costs for the construction, acquisition, or installation of a qualified storm shelter at their primary residence in the state of Alabama will be eligible for an income tax credit for the storm shelter. There are limitations and a cap on the statewide credit total per year. To learn more, click here. For questions about documentation for the storm shelter tax credit, contact Alabama Emergency Management Agency at (205) 280-2200. For questions about processing the storm shelter tax credit, contact the Alabama Department of Revenue Individual Income Tax at (334) 242-1170 Option #1.

In General
Individual storm shelters are great ways to protect your loved ones while close to home. There are many vendors available who can assist you in determining the best course of action in building a storm shelter for your home.

After installing an individual storm shelter or safe room, it is a good idea to have it registered with Tuscaloosa County EMA. This does not make your shelter publicly visible, but registering does allow first responders to know the shelter location so they can check for occupants after a disaster when shelters may not be readily visible due to debris cover. You can register your shelter by going to our Storm Shelter Self-Registration page.

Please visit our How To Take Shelter and Public Storm Shelters pages for tips on how to stay safe during a tornado. For frequently asked questions regarding FEMA residential and community safe rooms/storm shelter guidance, please click here. Also note, Tuscaloosa County EMA does not endorse or approve any of the following storm shelter companies, and government funding for individual storm shelters is not available for Tuscaloosa County. When researching contractors and/or manufacturers, it is encouraged that you make sure they are providing you with a safe room/storm shelter that is built and installed to meet or exceed FEMA and ICC 500 Guidelines.

For FEMA's Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms Click Here

Here are some general tips to help you determine which storm shelter company is right for you:

a. Ask for references and be sure to do your research.
b. Make sure the company can install a structure that will comply with FEMA guidelines and ICC standards.
c. Have contact information for the builder/installer.
d. Specify what type of safe room is to be built/installed.
e. Know the time frame it will be built/installed.
f. Know the final cost.

 

Storm Shelter Companies:

Note: The posting of companies below does not constitute or imply Tuscaloosa County EMA's endorsement, recommendation, or favoring.

Fain Storm Shelters (Northport, AL and Jackson, TN)

Ground Zero (Oklahoma City, OK)

Survive-A-Storm (Sold at Home Depot)

Tuskaloosa Tornado Shelters (Tuscaloosa, AL)

Valley Storm Shelters (Huntsville, AL)

Safe-T-Shelter (Hartselle, AL)

  • For their website: Click Here
  • 800-462-3648 or 256-462-3648

Flatsafe Tornado Shelter (Yukon, OK)

Lake Martin Storm Shelters (Alexander City, AL)

 

If your company sells storm shelters and you are not listed above, please email us at ema@tuscco.com.