Family Survives 3 Hurricanes in Motorhome Garage Turned Shelter

Originally purchased to shelter his 32-foot motorhome, Aubrey Brown soon found that his 40 x 50 building could serve a dual purpose by providing shelter for him and his family during hurricane season in Alabama. With his RV already parked inside, waiting out storms became less of a hassle. 

Brown and his family survived three different hurricanes (two category five and one category four) in their garage as they witnessed shingles flying off the roof of their workshop and saw trees sliced in half and blown to the ground. 

Motorhome Garage To Storm Shelter

After Aubrey’s RV garage was built, Hurricane Ivan (a category 5) came barreling into the gulf. He looked at all the buildings on his property and chose to take shelter under the steel Quonset hut, knowing that the arched shape would allow the strong winds and water to flow over the garage instead of separating the roof from the walls. 

“My SteelMaster shed can withstand 140 mph winds, which is more than I can say about my house,” says Aubrey 

While other families in the neighborhood relocated to shelters, the Brown family retreated to their motorhome garage to ride out three different hurricanes within the first year of his building being constructed.

“Before each storm hit, I stocked the motor home with bottled water and food, gassed up the tank, made sure the generator was working, and then my wife and 82-year-old mother and I hunkered down until the hurricanes passed,” Aubrey said.

Inside the spacious garage, his family had room to relax or occupy their time, plus a full-fledged RV to use for all the creature comforts a normal storm shelter lacks. 

Granted, it was still a stressful time, knowing the destruction a hurricane can bring to a community as it passed through. However, Aubrey and his family were able to make the best of it and stay safe throughout the experience. Thankfully, their community and property were largely spared from the brunt of the destruction of these storms. 

About The Garage That Turned Hurricane Shelter

Brown is a pottery maker and often travels to different craft shows for his work, the SteelMaster garage protects his 32-foot motorhome from the sun during the off-season. Along with the motor home, he uses the space to store welders, a cutting torch and other tools for mechanical and farm repair. 

“Anytime the weather is too cold or raining, I just back the motorhome out, pull in what needs to be repaired, and fix it. When it is real cold, I lower the 12 by 12 door and use a patio heater to work in comfort,” says Brown. 

Aubrey’s Quonset hut survived through Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis and Katrina due to several key factors:

• Hurricane Zone Certification (HVHZ)
• Florida Product Approval Rating
• Wind Resistant up to 190 MPH 
• Alta Resistencia a la Tracción del Acero (82K – 65K KSI)
• Acero Grueso de Grado Comercial 

SteelMaster’s buildings are High Velocity Hurricane Zone certified and can withstand the strongest winds. Straight-walled buildings are vulnerable to roof separation in strong winds, whereas the Quonset hut’s curved shape allows wind to flow smoothly over the surface, reducing wind resistance and enhancing structural stability.  

Quonset Huts are also impact-rated and certified as Protocol 4 shelters. The strong, commercial-grade steel protects against flying debris during storms, safeguarding what’s important to you. 

Brown is not the first customer who has used his SteelMaster building as shelter from the storm.

Customers from different areas including Texas, Georgia, Florida and Puerto Rico all say they have survived some of the strongest storms inside their trusted SteelMasters.