Highlights from the chapter on Shelter (Ch 5, p. 37) from Nuclear War Survival Skills by Cresson Kearny |
One of your primary survival needs is a shelter that provides protection from radioactive fallout and weather. This chapter focuses on those who plan to build/dig a shelter out of earth and other materials like wood, and (wooden) poles. If you are currently unable to relocate from where you are sheltering now – you might benefit from this FEMA document “Design Guidance for Shelters and Safe Rooms”. Pages 52 - 55 have diagrams on what rooms are best to shelter in. Basically that would be a middle room or basement with a land line phone, no ventilation pipes and few windows (immediately after a blast). Another FEMA document suggests building a shelter under a wooden desk. Main tips for building shelters: 6. Shelters should be built so that they can be enlarged later on. Intro statements: Many existing buildings would not be adequate under very adverse conditions. “Blast tests have proved that the earth-covered expedient fallout shelters described in this book can survive blast effects severe enough to demolish most homes…These earth-covered fallout shelters could be built in 48 hours or less by tens of millions of Americans following field-tested, written instructions” One of the main types of structures covered is the Pole-Covered Trench Shelter p. 37 SHELTER AGAINST RADIATION TYPES OF SHIELDING: BARRIER AND GEOMETRY 2 types: Barrier and Geometry shielding (which this chapter then applies to the Pole-Covered Trench Shelter) Barrier shielding – Refers to a shelter having 3 feet of earth on either side - such as an open trench dug into the ground. There is a 4 paragraph description. Geometry shielding – p. 40 By providing turns in the openings leading into shelters you are reducing the radiation dose by increasing distances between fallout particles and occupants. The length of the hall also makes a difference (longer may be better in terms of the basic “distance, time, and shielding” rule). SHELTER AGAINST BETA AND ALPHA PARTICLES Beta – “Only the highest-energy beta particles can penetrate more than about 10 feet of air or about 1/8 inch of water, wood, or human body tissue. Any building that keeps out fallout particles will prevent injury from beta radiation.” There is a page worth of information on Beta Particles and examples of exposure. p. 44 Alpha – “These particles have very little penetrating power: 1 to 3 inches of air will stop them. It is doubtful that alpha particles can get through unbroken skin; they cannot penetrate even a thin fabric.6 Alpha particles are hazardous only if materials that emit them (such as the radioactive element plutonium) enter the body and are retained in bone, lung tissue, or other parts of the body.” p. 45 PROTECTION AGAINST OTHER NUCLEAR WEAPONS EFFECTS p. 45 “Flash burns are caused by the intense rays of heat emitted from the fireball within the first minute following an explosion… A covering of clothing preferably of white cloth that reflects light can reduce or prevent flash burns on those who are in a large part of an area in which thermal radiation is a hazard. However, in areas close enough to ground zero for severe blast damage, the clothing of exposed people could be set on fire and their bodies badly burned.” p. 45 Fires p. 45 SKIN BURNS FROM HEATED DUST (THE POPCORNING EFFECT) p. 45 BASEMENT SHELTERS PUBLIC SHELTERS Bring supplies with you such as: plastic bags, pillow cases, shelter ventilating pump (p. 196) etc DECIDING WHAT KIND OF SHELTER TO BUILD OR USE – It is recommended to read the whole NWSS book before making your final decision. SHELTER NEAR OR IN YOUR HOME The pros and cons of EARTH-COVERED EXPEDIENT FAMILY SHELTERS are listed on p. 48-49
The author of the RCIP website is not an emergency management expert or medical physician and does not dispense medical or nutrition advice. Citation: Kearny, Cresson (1987). Nuclear War Survival Skills. Retrieved from http://www.oism.org/nwss
Download NWSS Survival Manual (27 MB), NWSS Ch5 website version, Ch5 download References: Kearny, Cresson (1987). Nuclear War Survival Skills. Retrieved from http://www.oism.org/nwss SHOWER AND SHELTER - WHAT TO DO AT HOME AFTERWARDS Please download and print this web page in case the internet is no longer accessible Audio versions: (Short Film) - (Long Film pt1) - (Long Film pt2) - (Clean Water Film pt3) - (Shelter Film pt4) Download NWSS Survival Manual (27 MB) - Download Adobe Reader or skip to the basics The materials and other information provided by these pages are for educational, communication and information purposes only and are not intended to replace or constitute medical advice or treatments. This website provides links to other Internet sites only for the convenience of World Wide Web users. The author and host of this website is not responsible for the availability or content of these external sites, nor does RCIP endorse, warrant or guarantee the products, services or information described or offered at these other Internet sites. It is the responsibility of the user to examine the copyright and licensing restrictions of linked pages and to secure all necessary permission. The information at RCIP provides general summary information for the public. Information at RCIP does not supersede, preempt, or replace statutes, regulations, or other aspects of federal law. If copyrighted content, documents, images, or other materials appear at RCIP, it will be noted, and the copyright holder should be consulted before that material is reproduced.
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