Storm shelters in Bixby, OK
Bixby asks garage-shelter applicants about post-tension cables, a detail worth raising with any installer.
Permit
- In-ground and garage-floor shelters need a building permit with a site plan and manufacturer information; garage units also need garage dimensions and, if needed, post-tension cable repair plans (Bixby Storm Shelter Permit Requirements).
Registration
- Call (918) 366-8294 or drop by Bixby Police, 116 W. Needles; the program is free and voluntary (Bixby Severe Weather Shelter Registration Program).
Homes
- Bixby has about 11,437 housing units; the median home was built in 2002, and about 22% were built before 1980 (U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024 for Bixby, via Census Reporter).
Tip: Ask whether your slab is post-tensioned before anyone cuts it.
Contact: Bixby Office of Emergency Management, (918) 366-8294. Costs · FAQ
Tornadoes on record near Bixby
The worst in the county list came on April 19, 1981, when an F3 ran about 10 miles from 1.5 miles south of Glenpool to south of Bixby, up to 880 yards wide, killing 5 people and injuring 49 (NWS Norman Tulsa County tornado list).
Smaller tornadoes have followed: two on April 17, 2013 northeast of town, an EF1 on April 26, 2016 from just southwest of Bixby to 2 miles east-northeast, and an EF0 on May 18, 2019 west of the city (same list).
FEMA advises placing a safe room where everyone in the house can reach it quickly, and notes that adding one to an existing home usually costs about 20% more than building it into a new one (FEMA P-320, Taking Shelter From the Storm (2008), hosted by NWS). If you are building in one of Bixby's newer subdivisions, raise it with the builder before the slab is poured.
Bixby facts checked Oct 24, 2026.
Newer guides: Tulsa storm season checklist · SoonerSafe rebate status for 2026
Last checked Oct 24, 2026.