1. (Q) How long have you been manufacturing and installing storm shelters?
   (A) Southern Illinois Storm Shelters, Inc. has been producing and installing shelters since 1998.
   
   
2. (Q) Has your storm shelter been tested at Texas Tech University Wind Engineering Institute and if so what were the results?
   (A) In September of 2001, Southern Illinois Storm Shelters, Inc. had designed a door system that was subject to debris impact testing at TTU and was certified (supporting documents available upon request).
   
   
3. (Q) Have you ever had any storm shelters leak if guaranteed against and if so how many, and what did you do to correct the problem? Ask if you can speak to a few individuals whose shelter was repaired or replaced.
   (A) Southern Illinois Storm Shelters, Inc. has had 5 storm shelters leek since production in 1998 this is less than 2 percent of overall production of our product. All shelters were replaced with new models. References available from these customers. Southern Illinois Storm Shelters, Inc. stands behind its products!
   
   
4. (Q) Has your shelter been designed with the help of a qualified engineer?
   (A) Southern Illinois Storm Shelters, Inc. had extensive help in design and development from a local University School Of Engineering on our new design.
   
   
5. (Q) Even though your shelters have a guarantee are they manufactured with materials that will rot such as wood?
   (A) Southern Illinois Storm Shelters, Inc. manufactures all cored areas such as floor and door with a space age honeycomb plastic.
   
   
6. (Q) Have you ever had a shelter installed where a tornado has struck?
   (A) In April of 2011 6 years after installing a Lifesaver Storm Shelter, a customer in Tanner, Al., along with 7 other occupants was in their shelter when an F5tornado struck, the shelter showed no signs of damage and its occupants were not harmed.
   
   
7. (Q) Some shelter companies do not manufacture their own products, instead they outsource the work. When outsourcing your product, it is sometimes difficult to maintain quality, be sure to ask.
   (A) At Southern Illinois Storm Shelters, Inc. we manufacture 100% of our products.
   
   
8. (Q) Have any independent tests been performed such as bend tests or a BURN tests?
   (A) Yes, Southern Illinois Storm Shelters, Inc. has had tests performed by an independent government class testing Facility. The results were amazing. Results available upon request.

     9. (Q)Some competitors say fiberglass is old technology and is not a superior product.       

           (A) Our 15+ year track record speaks for itself. There are thousands of fiberglass                       shelters in the ground and have been for 30+ years. Concrete will crack and leak                      over time, Steel will rust, and polyethylene can also fail. (see pictures)

Be aware of manufactures that try to impress you with patent information and double talk. Find out exactly what part of the shelter is patented and which model carries the patent if they offer multiple units. Also, inquire what purposes the particular patent serves you and if there are additional costs with those patented units.

Beware of claims to hold a membership in the National Storm Shelter Association, website located at http://www.nssa.cc. Only shelters that have passed testing at Texas Tech University, are qualified to proceed with the necessary steps to obtain membership in the NSSA. Ensure that you ask. Some might attempt to influence you by expressing various memberships.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as "FEMA" does not approve or endorse any saferoom or products. Recently, there has legislation and guidelines that manufactures will have to follow in order enter production. Southern Illinois Storm Shelters, Inc. has followed FEMA regulations. Any claim to be "endorsed" by FEMA is false. FEMA is very active in this industry. Stay tuned at their website, keyword "Saferoom": http://www.fema.gov

If you have any other questions or concerns please contact us and we will be glad to address them.

Thank You,
Scott Ingoldsby
Vice President/Operations