Metro Couple Says Storm Shelter Was Installed Incorrectly

A metro couple's storm shelter turns into a crumpled mess, and they say the man who installed it needs to make it right.

“The sides were caving in. The roof was caving in,” Ernie Von Busch said. “This thing was smashing like a beer can.”

Now, the only thing in their backyard is fresh dirt after Ernie pulled out the shelter himself and filled in the hole.

“Well, I had to pull it out, because he called me and told me that he didn't have the machine anymore,” he said.

He used his own backhoe which he said probably wasn't the best idea, but the shelter was crumbling and taking in a lot of water.

“I got it out, and he decided not to bring the other one out,” Ernie said. “He picked up the old one and away he went.”

5/7/15 Related Story: Norman Woman's Storm Shelter Floated Above Ground After Severe Storm

The Von Busch's said they tried to contact the owner of Common Ground Storm Shelters so many times they lost count, and when that didn't work they contacted the Attorney General's Office. Keely dodged the AG's office, too. However, he did exchange several texts with Ernie and gave him his home address which News 9 used to track him down for an explanation.

“A metal shelter in the ground is not safe of any kind, and I know that's not what's being sold, and that's not what I was sold. The soil will exert so much pressure that over time any of them are capable of collapsing,” Keely said. “I am completely sorry, and we are going to make that right if it's the last thing that I do.”

Ernie and his wife are out several thousand dollars. The Attorney General's Office takes cases like this seriously and wants them to be reported.

The AG's office encourages consumers to check out potential storm shelter providers with the Better Business Bureau as well as make sure the provider installs shelters that meet FEMA guidelines.