The growing threat from severe weather is prompting more homeowners to ask, Is there a way to storm proof or tornado proof homes?
The idea has become a focal point in the construction industry, with some manufacturers touting reinforced roofs and wind-rated garage doors, impact-resistant windows, and hardier exteriors that can withstand wind gusts of 135 MPH — or more.
Protecting homes, whether new or existing, from weather has taken on urgency. Consider severe convective storms, characterized by high winds, heavy rain, and possibly hailstorms or tornadoes. They’re among the most common and damaging natural catastrophes in the U.S., resulting in billions of dollars in damages each year, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Where Is the Tornado Risk?
Tornadoes can occur anywhere in the U.S. The risks are beyond just “Tornado Alley” — Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, parts of Texas, and South Dakota. The Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast have experienced an uptick, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Nearly half of all homes in the U.S. are threatened by extreme weather conditions, including high winds, according to a 2024 analysis from Realtor.com.
Tornadoes can happen any time of year and any time of day. But the peak tornado season is March through May in the southern states and late spring and summer in the northern states, reports the NOAA.
“The reality is that all homes are threatened by the rise in extreme weather,” says Michael Peck, a licensed contractor and vice president of installation at Leaf Home, a national home improvement company. But take heart: “It’s not only possible to protect your home from some tornado damage; it’s imperative as the threat of extreme weather increases,” he says. “Weatherizing your home will increase its value, aid in preventative upkeep, and in some cases even be life-saving.”
Can You Really Tornado Proof a Home?
Texas Tech University’s National Wind Institute says a tornado-proof house would consist of the following:
- Missile-resistant walls, roof, windows, doors, and garage doors that can shield the home from flying debris
- Structural elements and connections to withstand 250 mile-per-hour wind pressure
- A home constructed more than 7.5 times stronger than standard building codes
That checklist may seem ambitious, to say the least, but some builders are aiming innovations at creating more-resilient homes. For example, the company Fox Blocks offers hardy insulated foam filled with concrete — known as insulated concrete forms. They can be used to construct walls and foundations that can withstand 200 mph winds, with the walls protecting a home from flying debris traveling at over 100 mph.
Tornado-proof homes also have become ultra-focused on incorporating a “continuous load path.” The concept deals with evenly distributing the force of strong winds to prevent a home from collapsing. Stronger connections within the home — such as between the roof, walls, and foundation — can help a home withstand strong winds.
If you want to tornado proof or storm proof an existing home, you’ll want to know about Fortified-rated building materials. The Fortified program is a set of voluntary construction standards created by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. Through program guidelines, roofing contractors and builders can retrofit a home to better withstand severe weather, including tornadoes, hailstorms, and high winds up to 130 mph. Fortified focuses on well-secured roofs and impact-resistant windows and doors to fend off flying debris, reinforce the home’s structure, and improve foundation and wall security. Homes that meet such standards may have a certification.
Tornado- proof homes are far from being mainstream, but experts say homeowners can still take action to mitigate their risks from heavy winds and severe storms.
Identifying Home Vulnerabilities to Storm Proof Your Home
Although storms may seem less of a threat than tornadoes, winds up to 50 mph can compromise a home’s roof, uproot trees, and shatter windows, according to the National Severe Storms Laboratory. The roof and garage door are two of the most vulnerable areas of a home, says Aris Papadopoulos, founder of the Resilience Action Fund, a nonprofit that focuses on helping homes and communities better withstand climate hazards.
Further, wood-framed homes and houses with large windows or soft siding like vinyl can lack the structural integrity to withstand high winds and flying debris, adds Steve Leasure, vice president of operations at Rainbow Restoration, a national company specializing in disaster restoration services.
The Most Vulnerable Areas to Storm Proof
- Windows
- The roof (particularly older roofs or shingle roofs)
- Garage doors
- Exterior of a home (especially vinyl siding and wood-framed homes)
- Crawl spaces and basements
- Landscaping (for example, uprooted trees and fallen branches)
Is My Home at Risk?
Home buyers can get climate risk factor scores for individual properties from sites such as Realtor.com. These scores gauge the risk for high winds, extreme heat, flooding, and more. "It's important for people to fully understand the climate risks that a home faces not only in the present, but in the future, so they can make the most informed decisions” to protect their home, according to a statement from Mausam Bhatt, Realtor.com’s chief product and technology officer.
9 Ways to Storm Proof Your House
Impact-resistant windows, reinforced doors, secured roof connections, and even a safe room can help mitigate the damage from storms, Leasure says. Experts recommend these nine tips to storm proof homes:
Reinforce Your Roof to Storm Proof
Roof damage can occur when wind gets underneath the roof’s edging, making it vulnerable to ripping away from the home. Fortified-rated roofs have reinforced roof edges, a sealed roof deck to keep water out, and a strengthened roof deck attachment to protect against high winds. Certain roof styles may be more wind resistant, such as metal or flat roofs, or low-profile hip-style roofs with sloped sides and narrow soffits, says Papadopoulos.
Storm Proof With Impact-Resistant Windows and Doors
“When windows and doors that are not wind-rated break, the interior of a house acts like a balloon, speeding up its destruction,” Papadopoulos says. Look for windows and doors that are labeled with a wind-resistant rating. Also, check to see if they have certifications from established organizations like the American Architectural Manufacturers Association and conform to standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials. Retractable shutters used in hurricane-prone areas could also help protect from flying debris.
Resist Storms With Wind-Rated Garage Doors
“The garage door is often the largest and most vulnerable opening of a house,” Papadopoulos says. It can blow off in high winds and leave the house exposed. Look for a sticker or label on the side of the garage door to see if it has a wind rating, usually shown in miles per hour (from 74 mph to 180 mph) and a PSF value (pounds per square foot), which measures the pressure the garage door can withstand. If you don't see the rating sticker or label, consider installing a wind-rated garage door or reinforce your existing one by using metal reinforcement beams on your door, iron castings riveted to the door’s slats, or other wind-resistant add-ons, suggests Angi. Also, the most vulnerable garages tend to be those that have two-car doors or that contain glass, experts note.
Upgraded Siding Materials or Exterior Help Storm Proof
Wood-framed homes and vinyl siding can be vulnerable to damage, whereas brick or stone veneer or concrete-fiber board siding tend to better resist heavy winds and hail, according to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety’s “Thunderstorm Ready” guide. Homes built with insulated concrete forms could withstand winds of over 200 mph, and the forms are considered one of the most storm-proof construction materials.
Repel Storm Debris With HVAC Protective Screens
Severe storms and large hail can damage HVAC coils and fins. A cost-effective solution, at just $30 to $60, is a metal mesh protective cover or hail guard netting that can be placed around the air conditioning unit to repel debris.
Secure Your Landscape Against Storms and Wind
Loose outdoor objects — like yard furniture, grills, and trampolines — can become dangerous projectiles in heavy winds if not properly stored or tied down. Also, keep trees trimmed so that branches aren’t at risk of falling on the home. “Branches — large and small — can become flying debris that can damage roofs, break glass, and clog gutters and sewer drains,” says Pete Piotrowski, chief claims officer at Hippo Home Insurance.
Get a Whole-Home Lightning Surge Protector
Sudden power surges during a storm or lighting strike can damage a home’s electronics and appliances. Surge protectors can divert electrical currents away from electronic devices to prevent damage, says Joel Worthington, president of Mr. Electric, a nationwide electrical company.
Use Steel Gutters and Downspouts for Storm Proofing
Hail can damage vinyl and aluminum gutters, leading to leaks. Galvanized steel gutters and downspouts may offer more durability and protection from fallen branches and storm damage, according to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. Whichever material you use, keep gutters unclogged to prevent water from draining back toward the home, which can lead to foundation or roof damage, Piotrowski says.
Add a Safe Room to Storm Proof Your House
In areas prone to severe weather, storm-proof structures can provide a safe haven for household members. For example, DuPont’s StormShelter can be installed inside a home. It’s a 12-foot-by-12-foot structure made of the same bulletproof material used in police vests. A tornado shelter should meet the Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines. Tornado shelters cost an average $7,643, according to Angi. Having a safe room or storm shelter has been shown to increase the sales price of a house by about 3.5%, according to FEMA.
Storm Proof Your Insurance, Too
Most standard home insurance policies cover damage caused by tornadoes and other wind-related issues — that is unless your policy explicitly excludes wind damage, says Piotrowski. Some insurance providers may offer separate deductibles for wind and hail or even supplemental tornado insurance in areas prone to bad weather. Standard home insurance typically doesn’t cover flood damage, which often accompanies storms with tornadoes or heavy rains.
To better storm proof your home insurance, Piotrowski advises the following steps:
- Check your coverage. Review your policy or call your insurance agency before a storm hits and consider adding supplemental coverage.
- Make a home inventory list. Create a list of personal belongings (consider taking photos, too). Save the list in an easily accessible place. Include details about each item, like the purchase year, model, and cost. You can use this to help your insurance provider determine the replacement value, if ever necessary.
- Ask about discounts. Some insurance companies may offer discounts on home insurance for adding storm-proof retrofits to a house, such as with Fortified-rated home features.
What to Do When Bad Weather Strikes
If you’re under a tornado or severe thunderstorm warning or watch, move quickly to protect yourself and your home.
Tornado and Storm Proof Your Home
- Secure any loose objects in your yard, like lawn chairs, tables, and grills, so they don’t become flying projectiles in heavy winds.
- Close internal doors in a home, which the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety research has shown could reduce pressure on a home’s roof by 30%.
- Maintain trees so branches don’t hang near or over the house.
- Know how to turn off your home’s utilities — like water, gas, and electricity — if any damage occurs. Keep any tools, like a wrench or pliers, handy for shutting off valves.
Tornado and Storm Proof Yourself
- Have an emergency supply kit, including flashlights, a radio, and a first aid kit.
- Take shelter right away if a storm is about to strike. The best places to ride out storms are in a basement or a room toward the center of the house on the lowest floor, preferably an area with no windows. Have as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Cover your head and body: Wear a bike helmet or use a pillow or mattress to cushion your head.
- Bring backup power banks to keep electronics charged in case electricity is compromised. (Stay away from electrical outlets during a severe storm.)
You can't stop tornadoes and storms, with their damaging wind and hail. But you can reduce damage by following expert advice. Take advantage of innovations and upgrades to make your home as tornado proof and storm proof as possible.