Storm Shelters and Safe Rooms in Northport, AL

Northport sits on the north bank of the Black Warrior River, directly across from Tuscaloosa. It is a city of its own, with about 26,000 residents at the 2020 census, and it has its own building department and rules, separate from the City of Tuscaloosa. If you live in Northport and want an in-ground shelter, a garage floor unit, an above-ground safe room or a safe room built into your house, call (205) 346-8680 and we will connect you with an independent installer who works north of the river. Tuscaloosa Storm Shelters is a referral service operated by Recover Profits Now. We do not build, sell or install shelters; the independent installer you are connected with quotes and does the work.

Northport's own tornado history

People in Northport do not need to be told about tornadoes. The Encyclopedia of Alabama records that a tornado in 1932 killed 38 people in Northport and caused widespread destruction, long before the storms most residents remember. In December 2000 and again on April 27, 2011, violent tornadoes tore through Tuscaloosa and the county, just across the river, and the damage was easy to see from Northport. For many families, those storms turned a shelter from someday into this year.

Old town and new subdivisions

Northport is one of the older towns in the region. Settlers arrived around 1813, the river crossing was known as Kentuck, and the town took the name Northport in 1832 before incorporating in 1871. The Northport Historic District and the East Northport Historic District are both on the National Register of Historic Places. Some older homes in and around these districts sit on crawlspaces, have no attached garage or stand on small lots with mature trees. A garage floor shelter is not possible in a house with no garage, so owners of homes like these tend to look at a compact above-ground unit, an in-ground shelter in a side yard, or a retrofitted closet. If your home is inside a historic district, have your installer check with the city about any review before placing a visible unit.

Farther from the old town center, off State Highway 69 and US Highways 43 and 82 and on the roads toward Lake Tuscaloosa, you will find newer subdivisions of slab homes with attached garages, plus larger lots and wooded acreage. These homes are good candidates for garage floor shelters and above-ground steel safe rooms bolted to the garage slab. Lots near the lake or on steep wooded ground need a careful look at drainage and equipment access before anyone digs.

What to know before you buy in Northport

• Permits. Northport handles its own building matters. Your installer should confirm with the City of Northport, or the county if you are outside city limits, what is required for your shelter.
• River and creek ground. Low ground near the Black Warrior River and the creeks feeding it can hold water. An above-ground unit is often the safer choice there.
• Rentals. If you rent out a house or a few units, a shared above-ground unit can give tenants somewhere to go; ask an installer about sizing, access and who holds the key.
• Funding. Tuscaloosa County EMA says government funding for individual shelters is not available in the county. The Alabama storm shelter tax credit may help some owners of primary residences, but its statewide cap can run out. See our tax credit page.
• Registration. Once your shelter is in, register it with Tuscaloosa County EMA so first responders know where to look after a storm.

Timing around Kentuck and storm season

Northport fills up each October for the Kentuck Festival of the Arts in Kentuck Park, but the more important calendar for shelter buyers is spring. Demand and lead times for shelters often rise after a bad outbreak, so the best time to get quotes is in the calmer months, well before March and April. Call (205) 346-8680 and we will connect you with an installer serving Northport.

Services available in Northport

• Community & Business Shelters in Northport
• In-Home & Closet Safe Rooms in Northport
• Above-Ground Steel Safe Rooms in Northport
• Underground Storm Shelters in Northport
• Garage Floor Shelters in Northport
• Relocation, Removal & Inspection in Northport

Frequently asked questions