I know of 3 people that have tornado shelters. One in Oklahoma is built above ground but tied to the slab and is to Fed specs, another is in the basement with a 100% concrete room (+ a door and escape door that both open inward) and one had one put in the ground right next to the house.
I'm thinking of seeing what I need to do to add one here. In the basement. There is an area that is 6' wide where it wouldn't take much excavation to add it, and it wouldn't take away from the basement space.
My parents' basement has a full concrete room with a steel door that swings inward. The top of the room has a foot of concrete. Basement is my #1 choice.
I have a shelter in my garage that is inground. I have a come-along in my shelter in case something falls on the shelter so I can get out.
I know people who have cellars in their backyard (which I am not a fan of) or steel ones in the garage (which I also do not like).
When we built my uncle's house, we had a concrete room poured in the center of the house.
