FOX19.com-Cincinnati News, Weather & SportsMiddletown company makes safe tornado shelter

Middletown company makes safe tornado shelter

When severe weather hits, there are many families that have nowhere to go to seek shelter, but Granger Plastics in Middletown has a product that will keep your family safe in even the strongest storms.

Rich Swisshelm asked himself three years ago what he would do if a tornado hit his business. His business is located in the middle of a field, with nowhere to go if a tornado hit. Swisshelm needed somewhere for his employees to go.

That's when he bought a tornado shelter. The shelter he bought can withstand up to an F5 tornado.

Granger Plastics has been manufacturing the shelters for 16 years, but this year has been their busiest one yet.

"The devastation between, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas that we've seen over the last week or so, it has reiterated the thought in a lot of people's minds that what the true strength and devastation of a tornado can be," said General Manager Shawn Cravens.

Cravens says within the last two days they have received more than 100 orders for the shelters from across the country.

The 1100 pound, in ground shelter can seat a family of five, but Cravens says as many as 10 people can fit.

Swisshelm fit all of his employees inside the shelter last year during a tornado warning.

The shelter is equipped with a light and a ventilation system. It's a safe place to go to ride out the storm.

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