What is the difference between a safe room and a storm shelter?

Many articles use the terms “safe room” and “storm shelter” interchangeably. Both terms refer to structures that are designed specifically to protect a room’s occupants, particularly against storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes. In many cases, then, safe rooms and storm shelters are one and the same. 

 

Safe rooms, however, are a broad category that includes, as we have seen, shelters against storms both natural and manmade. On the other hand, the term “storm shelters” refers specifically to shelters that offer protection only against natural disasters. Some safe rooms, therefore, are storm shelters, but not all safe rooms are.

 

In addition, a safe room is within a home or office building while a manufactured storm shelter is installed adjacent to, or simply near, a home or building. These shelters are often placed underground, so individuals must climb down into the shelter during a storm. The general difference here is evidenced in the name; a safe “room” is in a home while a shelter is a separate structure. Consequently, a safe room can also serve as a closet or other room in your home, while a storm shelter is generally only a storm shelter.

 

Finally, in most cases, storm safe rooms are limited to protection against the dangers of hurricanes and tornadoes. Storm shelters, on the other hand, often offer additional protection against these two storms as well as protection during earthquakes, fires, nuclear radiation, and other natural emergencies. Safe rooms are extremely safe but they do not go to the extreme levels of storm protection that storm shelters to which can and often do go.