One of the odd geographical characteristics of the United States is that some states most prone to tornado activity do not have the right geology for basements. Homeowners may want to have a steel safe room constructed to make sure the family is not hurt if a tornado does strike.
Arkansas Tornadoes
Arkansas is a case in point. The state ranks 12th in the U.S. for frequency of tornadoes each year, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Yet residential basements are unusual here. Instead, homeowners can have a steel safe room built where they can go if a tornado approaches. They can store certain valuables in there as well as part of their protective efforts against storms.
The state has an average of 39 tornadoes per year, with that average being most similar to numbers in Mississippi and Louisiana. It is not technically considered part of Tornado Alley, which is comprised of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Nevertheless, the entire western side of Arkansas borders Oklahoma and Texas, so the number of severe storms is not surprising.
Scarcity of Basements
Two reasons account for the dearth of basements in Arkansas. One is the rocky terrain, which is very difficult to dig through. The region also has a high water table that makes underground structures prone to flooding during heavy rain. Special drainage features often must be added as a sump pump cannot always keep up with the task. With so few existing homes having basements, the installation of a storm shelter is sensible.
