Storm shelters and safe rooms in Jonesboro, AR
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Jonesboro has been hit hard more than once. The 1968 tornado killed 34 people in town, the EF3 on March 28, 2020 tore through the mall, the airport, and neighborhoods on the east side, and in December 2021 an EF4 came through Monette and Leachville at night. If you live in Jonesboro or anywhere around Craighead County, a tornado shelter is a reasonable thing to want. This site explains the options and helps you get in touch with a local installer.
When storms hit here
The National Weather Service in Little Rock says severe storms in Arkansas are most likely March through May, and again in November and December, mostly in the afternoon and evening. The state averages about 37 tornadoes a year (NWS Little Rock). Both Jonesboro's 2020 tornado (late March) and the Monette tornado (December) fit that pattern. Installers get busiest in spring, so the off-season is a good time to get on the schedule.
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Three main types
| Type | What it is | Good fit when |
|---|---|---|
| Underground (in-yard) | A steel, concrete, or fiberglass shelter buried in the yard with a door at ground level. | You have yard space and the site stays dry. |
| In-garage (below floor) | A shelter set into a hole cut in the garage slab, usually with a sliding lid flush with the floor. | You want it close to the house and don't want to go outside in a storm. |
| Above-ground safe room | A steel or reinforced-concrete room anchored to a slab, in the garage or inside the house. | Groundwater or flooding rules out digging, or someone in the house can't handle stairs. |
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Ridge or delta? It matters for underground shelters
Jonesboro sits on Crowley's Ridge, a narrow strip of higher ground capped with wind-blown loess soil. Most of the country around it (out toward Bay, Lake City, Trumann, and Harrisburg) is flat Mississippi delta. FEMA's homeowner guide lists flood hazard areas and naturally high groundwater as reasons to choose an above-ground safe room over an in-ground one (FEMA P-320). Where your lot sits makes a real difference, so a good installer will ask about drainage, standing water, and flood zones before recommending a type.
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What to look for
Ask whether the shelter is built and tested to FEMA P-320/P-361 and ICC 500. Those standards mean 250 mph design winds and a door and walls tested against a 15-pound 2x4 fired at 100 mph.
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Common questions
How much does a storm shelter cost in Jonesboro?
It depends on the type, size, and site work. Underground and garage shelters involve excavation; above-ground safe rooms involve anchoring and sometimes a new slab. See what drives the cost. The installer quotes the job; we don't set prices.
Are you an installer?
No. We're a referral service. We don't sell or install shelters; we pass your request to an independent local installer who serves your area.
What areas do you cover?
Jonesboro and the surrounding area: Bono, Brookland, Bay, Lake City, Paragould, Trumann, Harrisburg, Walnut Ridge, and the rest of Craighead County.
Do I need a permit in Jonesboro?
The City of Jonesboro's inspections fee schedule includes a storm shelter permit. Your installer should pull it. Outside city limits, check with your town or county.