“IN THE EVENT OF WAR” FALLOUT SHELTERS

By: Anna Christy

Works Cited

Design Time Period

Concerns

Necessities

DesignBasement shelters

Least expensiveBuilt in corners of concrete wallsEntrance at sharp angle to block

radiationHand cranked vent system that brought

fresh air in

Backyard sheltersUnder at least 4 feet of earthMade of bricks/concrete blocks/woodWalls a foot thickPlastic sheet laid above to water proofEntrance at a 90 degree angle to shield

radiationVent system pipe sticking out above the

surface

Design….Purchased shelters

Cost about $3000 Eight by fourteen foot steel

shelterCame w/ enough food &

water for five daysAlso came with radio,

generator, and protective suits to go outside

People also could buy a packaged ventilation kit (picture top left)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B

z3t4LcXwtEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK4Wim1Un_g

Videos!

Time PeriodStay in shelter full time for at

least 2 weeks after blastGradually begin to increase

time outsideAfter 2 weeks, radiation

decreases to 1 % of its original levels

Stock enough supplies for more than 2 weeks

Sleep in shelter several months(to be safe)

Heaviest fallout hits areas downwind from explosion

80 % of fallout occurs during first 24 hrs

NecessitiesSupplies to last at least 2 weeks:

Battery Powered Radio Updates and news

LanternsSleeping Bags/CotsGeiger Counter

Device for detecting radiation levelsChemical toilet/Waste disposal bagsHeating/Air filtering systemElectrical generatorFire arms

Necessities ….Communication devicesCanned goods/food stocks

700 calories per person a dayBottled/canned water

1 quart of water per dayFirst aid kitReading/writing materials

Some kids even continued schoolingRecreational items

Sewing, dominos, jacks, etc.Cleaning suppliesExtra clothing

http://www.civildefensemuseum.com/overview.html

Learn More!

Concerns Psychological Problems

Claustrophobia Fear of having no escape and being closed

in Physical Problems

Sickness Medical kits contained: band aids, eye/nose

drops, aspirin tablets, soap, gauze, purified cotton, wooden tongue depressor, scissors, syringe, thermometers, rubbing alcohol, and more.

Pregnancy Home birth infant death rate is 2x that of

hospital delivered babies (11.1 to 5.6) Trust Issues

Some fall out shelters were built in secrecy and kept private so neighbors or others wouldn’t ask to share

They feared people would flock to their shelters begging for protection from the nuclear blast

Learn More!

http://www.loti.com/fifties_history/surviving_nuclear_attack.htm

Works Cited Unknown, Unknown. "Surviving a Nuclear Attack in a Wine Cellar." Rewind the

Fifties. Unknown, 14 July 2009. Web. 24 Feb. 2010. <http://www.loti.com/fifties_history/surviving_nuclear_attack.htm>.

Unknown. "Fallout Shelters." Travel and History. Online Highways. Web. 24 Feb. 2010. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h3706.html>.

Unknown. "How Fallout Shelters Work." How Stuff Works. How Stuff Works, Inc., 1998. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/tips/fallout-shelter.htm/printable>.

Unknown. "The Marketing of Fear." 1950's Fallout Shelters. Associated Content, Inc., 2010. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1424613/1950s_fallout_shelters_pg2.html?cat=9>.

Unknown. "Are You Ready?" Fema. U.S Department of Homeland Security, 2009. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/nuclear_blast.shtm>.

Unknown. "Supplies in Fallout Shelters." Civil Defense Museum. Digi Mark, 2010. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <http://www.civildefensemuseum.com/overview.html>.

Unknown. "Home Birth." The Compleat Mother. Compleat Mother Magazine, 1995. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <http://www.compleatmother.com/homebirth/hb_safety.htm>.