HUD and FHA encourage and facilitate the financing of in-home storm safe rooms meeting FEMA requirements. RemagenSafeRooms StormCloset meets FEMA performance criteria for tornado shelters.

Safe Room Financing

September 4th, 2010

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) encourage and facilitate the purchase of in-home storm safe rooms by permitting builders, homeowners and persons borrowing to build, remodel or purchase homes to obtain FHA-guaranteed loans (FHA 203(b) insured loans) for that purpose. Construction of the storm safe room may be the sole improvement. These loans are available from local lenders as mortgage loans for home purchase or improvement.

Authority: HUD Mortgagee Letter 00-04 Click here to print Mortgagee Letter . Note: shelter cost limits have been increased since 2000.

Safe Room Requirements: To be eligible for FHA loans, safe rooms must meet the requirements of FEMA Publication 320, Performance Criteria for Tornado Shelters , or the National Storm Shelter Association Standard for the Design, Construction, and Performance of Storm Shelters ( http://www.nssa.cc/). Click here for FEMA requirements