About Us - Storm Shelters of Iowa

About Storm Shelters of Iowa

Storm Shelters of Iowa exists for one reason: to help families, businesses, and communities stay safe when severe weather strikes.

Originally founded in 2014 and acquired in 2021 by Zach and Catherine Sharpe, the company brings together real-world storm experience, trusted shelter solutions, and a commitment to protecting lives.

Based in Norwalk, Iowa, we proudly serve customers across Iowa and throughout the United States, offering both installed and DIY storm shelter solutions.

Built on Real Storm Experience

For owner Zach Sharpe, this business isn’t just about selling shelters—it’s personal.

In the summer of 2007, twin tornadoes struck Norwalk, Iowa. Living through that experience sparked a deep interest in severe weather and ultimately led Zach to pursue meteorology at Iowa State University in 2011.

Since 2012, Zach has been actively storm chasing across the Midwest and is the owner of the Iowa Storm Chasing Network—Iowa’s largest online weather network.

His work as a freelance storm chaser has been featured on major national and regional outlets, including:

The Weather Channel
ABC
CBS
NBC
Fox News
WeatherNation

That firsthand experience—seeing tornado damage up close—directly shapes how we approach storm shelter safety and recommendations.

A Family-Owned, Iowa-Based Business

Storm Shelters of Iowa is a family-run company built on trust, transparency, and long-term relationships.

Zach Sharpe – Owner, Sales & Customer Guidance
Catherine Sharpe – Accounting & Operations
Installation Team – Experienced, licensed, trusted professionals

We’re not a national chain or a pop-up operation—we’re a locally owned business serving customers nationwide with the same level of care we provide here in Iowa.

Storm Shelter Solutions for Every Need

We offer a wide range of above-ground and underground storm shelters, available with professional installation or as DIY kits.

Our product lineup includes:

We are an authorized dealer for multiple manufacturers, allowing us to provide reliable, tested shelter solutions to customers across the country.

Not All Storm Shelter Companies Are the Same

In recent years—especially after Iowa’s record-breaking 2024 tornado season—we’ve seen a surge of new storm shelter companies entering the market. Many of these businesses are focused on short-term sales, built around trends rather than long-term service, and often lack real-world severe weather experience. While the increased awareness around storm safety is important, not every company entering the space brings the level of experience needed for something this critical.

Storm shelters are not a trend—they are life safety systems. At Storm Shelters of Iowa, we take that responsibility seriously. We bring over a decade of storm chasing experience, a deep understanding of tornado behavior, proven installation experience, and a long-term commitment to the customers we serve. When it comes to protecting your family or business, experience and trust matter.