FREE ATAK/TAK Aware (iPhone) Public Tornado Shelter Map

DATA IS ACCURATE AS OF: 3/6/2026. 

Please do your own research and validation prior to going to these shelters. Always prep ahead of time and give yourself ample time to get to a shelter in the event of a tornado! 

Compiled list of public tornado shelters across the United States. The capacity (approximate by visual estimation or listed capacity) is determined by the color of the icon:

* Medium green: Up to 59
* Dark green: 60 to 149
* Turquoise: 150 to 399
* Medium blue: 400 to 999
* Dark blue: 1,000 or more

Gray icons represent tornado shelters that are generally limited to students and staff during school hours, although limited capacity may be available. Light gray represents capacity up to 399, medium gray 400 to 999, dark gray 1,000 or more. During major events, they will often be dismissed early to allow shelter use.

A few other notes:

* The county is listed for each piece of data so you should listen to local media or reach out to emergency management offices to ensure they are open. There is no guarantee that all shelters will be open during every event due to unforeseen circumstances (such as staffing and maintenance issues).

* Some locations are not listed because of the following reasons:
** They are not always open to the public, with the exception of schools as described above (i.e., only during business hours, or are limited to residents of a mobile home park or residential subdivision)
** They are "safer places" that are more secure than many homes but not built to withstand winds well in excess of 200 mph.
** They cannot be visually verified or their location cannot be confirmed (contact the author for additional information).
** They are not designed for during tornado events, but rather for other events like hurricanes, or post-event shelters.

Remember, make sure you have ample time to go to the shelter!! Once the tornado warning is issued, it may be too late, especially if there is short lead time. It is very dangerous to be on the road during a tornado, so you want to make sure you get into the shelter well before it arrives.

Disclaimer: This map was created for educational purposes and is owned by the author. Any commercial use must be authorized by the author before such is undertaken. Map is subject to change without notice.

Map produced by Meteorologist Craig Ceecee, Ph.D. for Find Your Tornado Shelter LLC.