How much does a storm shelter cost?

Shelter prices in Madison County vary widely enough that a single number would mislead you. What we can give you is the published cost data from FEMA, the parts of a job that move the number, and the effect of Alabama's tax credit. Your installer sets the actual price; get it in writing before they start.

FEMA's published estimates

FEMA's homeowner guide, P-320, includes cost estimates built from national construction cost data and adjusted for inflation. They are national figures, so a north Alabama quote may land above or below them.

FEMA adds that a safe room added to an existing home costs more than the same room built while the house is going up. Its site-built numbers already include a 15 percent contingency and average sales tax.

What pushes a quote up or down

• Size. More people means more floor. See the shelter size guide.
• Above or below ground. Buried units add excavation, and in this part of Alabama that can mean rock. Above-ground units may need a new reinforced pad.
• Your existing slab. If the installer has to saw out and repour part of the garage floor, that is real labor.
• Delivery distance. FEMA notes that shipping charges usually rise with distance from the manufacturer and that bigger units cost more to deliver.
• Finish and extras. Lighting, ventilation upgrades, benches and accessibility features all add to the bill.
• Permits and inspections. Anchors set in existing concrete call for a special inspection under ICC 500.

The Alabama tax credit, worked through

Alabama lets homeowners take a state income tax credit of 50 percent of the shelter's cost or $3,000, whichever is less, for a qualifying shelter at their primary residence. A few examples:

The credit is not refundable and can't be carried forward, so it is worth only as much Alabama income tax as you owe that year. Costs paid by grants or insurance don't count. Every rule, deadline and document is on the tax credit page, and the credit calculator works out your figure from a real quote.

Comparing quotes fairly

Make every installer price the same thing: the unit, delivery, foundation or excavation, anchoring, any slab removal, permits and inspection, cleanup, and the paperwork you need for the credit. A low number that leaves out the pad or the door is not really a low number.

Good questions

Does FEMA pay for home storm shelters?

Not directly to homeowners as a standing program. FEMA hazard mitigation money goes to states, which fund local projects, often after a disaster. FEMA suggests asking your county or state emergency management agency about any open grant.

Why are safe room doors so expensive?

FEMA says the door, hinges, latch and frame connection all have to survive tornado pressures and a 15-pound 2x4 at 100 mph, which takes real engineering and testing. Entry-level certified door assemblies ran about $2,500 to $3,200 when FEMA published its guide.

Is it cheaper to add a safe room when building a house?

Yes. FEMA says building one during new construction is relatively easy and cost-effective, while retrofitting an existing home usually costs more because of the foundation work.