In-garage shelters
A steel or concrete unit installed in the garage, either set into the slab below the floor or bolted to the slab as an above-ground room. You reach it without stepping outside.
Pros, cons and costs →Austin · Round Rock · Georgetown · Temple · Waco
Get a free storm shelter quote from a local installer
Tornado season in Central Texas comes every spring, and sometimes in the fall. Tell us about your home and we will match you with an independent installer near you for an in-garage, in-ground or above-ground shelter.
- Free for homeowners, no obligation
- Learn what FEMA P-361 and ICC 500 mean before you buy
- We are a referral service; installers are independent local businesses
Three ways to shelter at home
The right choice depends on your garage, your ground, and who in your family needs to get there fast.
In-ground (underground) shelters
A buried steel, fiberglass or concrete shelter in the yard or under a new slab, entered through a door or hatch at ground level.
Pros, cons and costs →Above-ground safe rooms
A steel or reinforced concrete room anchored to a concrete slab, inside the home (a closet or interior room) or outdoors on its own pad.
Pros, cons and costs →How it works
Tell us about your home
Use the form or talk to our AI assistant. It takes a minute or two.
We match you with an installer
We send your request to an independent local installer who serves your city.
The installer quotes
They look at your site, confirm options and price, and handle permits. You decide.
Plain talk: Central Texas Storm Shelters does not install shelters and does not vet or guarantee installers. Ask any installer for product test documentation, proof of insurance and references before you sign.
Know the standards before you buy
ICC 500 is the building-code standard for storm shelters. FEMA P-361 and FEMA P-320 are FEMA's safe room guidance. FEMA tornado safe room criteria use a 250 mph design wind speed and a debris test that fires a 15 lb 2x4 at 100 mph into walls.
What FEMA P-361 and ICC 500 mean for homeowners →
What does a shelter cost?
National cost guides report that many homeowners spend roughly $3,000 to $13,000, with in-ground and custom builds running higher. Those are typical industry ranges, not quotes. Your installer confirms the actual price.
Talk to us now
Call (512) 549-4451 or talk in your browser. Our assistant is an AI. It will say so up front, answer basic questions and take down your details for a local installer.
Service areas
From Waco down I-35 to New Braunfels.
Common questions
Who are you?
Central Texas Storm Shelters is a referral service. We do not build or install shelters. When you request a quote, we pass your request to an independent local installer who serves your area. The installer quotes, installs and warrants the work.
Does it cost anything to request a quote?
No. Requesting a quote through this site is free for homeowners, and you are never obligated to hire anyone.
How much does a storm shelter cost?
It depends on type, size, site conditions and options. National cost guides report that many homeowners spend roughly $3,000 to $13,000, with in-ground and custom builds running higher. These are typical industry ranges, not quotes. The installer confirms the actual price after seeing your home.
Which type is best: in-garage, in-ground or above-ground?
It depends on your home, who needs to use it and your ground. In-garage units are fast to reach. In-ground units keep the shelter out of the house but need suitable soil and no flood risk. Above-ground safe rooms avoid stairs and digging. See our shelter types guide for the tradeoffs.
What do FEMA P-361 and ICC 500 mean?
ICC 500 is the building-code standard for storm shelters. FEMA P-361 (community and residential safe rooms) and FEMA P-320 (homes and small businesses) are FEMA guidance documents. FEMA tornado safe room criteria use a 250 mph design wind speed and a debris test with a 15 lb 2x4 at 100 mph on walls. Ask any installer for test documentation for their specific product.
Get a free quote
Tell us about your home. We pass your request to an independent local installer, who confirms options and price.