3. Make sure your shelter follows proper guidelines FEMA 320, FEMA 361, and ICC-500; safe rooms built to FEMA guidelines are able to withstand winds of an EF-5 tornado 4.

Since then, several rural communities have built storm shelters, and Smiths Station is now following suit. “The storm shelter is going to have a capacity of about 500, give or take,” Cooley said.

Since the tornado, 66 homes have registered their storm shelter. More than 500 homes are registered that were in the storm's path. There are more than 1,300 storm shelters registered citywide.

Texas Tech University, a leader in storm shelter certification, tests structures by firing debris from air cannons at 150 miles per hour to simulate tornado conditions.

Severe Weather Shelter after the storm: Tornado victims say shelters have been a lifeline An EF3 tornado has left many St. Louisans homeless, with support from the Red Cross offering vital aid.

A look at storm damage in Poplar Bluff, Mo. on Tuesday morning, March 18. (KFVS) As of Monday, Myers said the shelter at the Black River Coliseum has been shut down due to the lack of need.