What is safer, a storm cellar or underground shelter?

Your best choice depends on which one has the best type of door. If it has a wooden door that can easily be blown off, then it is the worst choice. If it is one of the new types of above-ground models it is definitely the best choice for safety. If you consider all things being equal, the above-ground cellar/shelter model in my opinion has one draw-back. If the entire home is destroyed and collapses ontop of itself, it could bury the shelter.  Due to the fact that they don’t have a phone and it blocks a cell phone signal, how will anyone know you’re trapped inside? As if that may not be the worst thing that could happen, you might find running out of air would be worst since these shelters are usually metal. If it is a model without a vent or the vent is covered by debris, you may not have hours but minutes for your shelter to be found and unblocked.