TACDA Journal of ™

Natural and man-made disasters the Department of Defense in the vicinity of prime targets, occur on a regular basis. Each 2002, the short-term casualties providing time for them to return area of the country has its own, that would be derived from a full to their shelters in the event of a unique risk factors and each onslaught nuclear attack (Russia full-scale nuclear or terrorist person perceives these threats in and/or China) would approximate attack. a different way. Some people are 30% - 35% of our population with driven to build shelters by national an additional 30% - 35% of our People who have prepared security issues, others by past population dying over the shelters are aware of their experiences, and still others by following 6-8 weeks from surroundings and in tune to religious beliefs. starvation, dehydration, disease, escalating crises and the warning inclement weather, contamination, signs. They have also pre- Seldom do all family members attack, etc. In this forecasted planned expedient sheltering and have the same levels of concern, worst case, 30% of our citizens evacuation routes. and it is sometimes frustrating to would survive to start over and justify these protective measures rebuild our country. At over 290 3. There are no more “real” to those we care about the most. million people and growing, this threats to our country. means that almost 100 million We have been asked, numerous Americans would survive. Yes, we Our answer: times, to expound on the following would be starting over and it We have been preparing and statements that have been would be hard at times. We building shelters for over 21 genuinely made by others: would be living in a 3rd world years, but we are continually country for a period of time. But, amazed at the number of people 1. I would not want to be the unlike our pioneer ancestors, we who don’t recognize or believe only one to survive. still have the knowledge and that any “real” threats exist. Upon 2. I may not be at home when information from before, to build further questioning we most often I need the shelter. upon. find that the vast majority of these 3. There are no more “real” people do not read a daily threats to our country. 2. I may not be at home when newspaper nor watch a daily 4. The government will take I need the shelter. news broadcast. They are care of us. consumed with sporting events Our answer: and spend their money on We hope our answers will help Government war strategists are in useless toys. them to see your concerns and agreement that a full-scale that they will act accordingly. The nuclear attack would most Many people refuse to consider following is our response to these probably occur during the night or the possibility of an attack, concerns: early morning or during a national because they believe nuclear war holiday. ‘Night time’ in America is is not survivable. If there is 1. I would not want to be the ‘Day time’ in the countries of our nothing one can do, one tends to only one to survive. most likely enemies. Our do nothing. They receive all their enemies would want to strike information from the media, which Our Answer: while we are asleep. tells them this philosophy is true. According to the worst-case (Continued on next page) scenario forecasts prepared by Most people do not work or live in 3 Volume 40 – Issue 2 (Summer 2007) (Continued from previous page) emergencies. More and more terrorist organizations that have Americans are awakening to the no country of claim. Deterrence If we can educate these people to reality that the world has become against these terrorist the real and fundamental effects a dangerous place, and as a organizations does not exist of nuclear weapons, they may see result, they are building shelters because there is no country to that nuclear war is, in fact, very for themselves and their loved target or threaten with a survivable and prepare ones. retaliatory strike. Our government accordingly. has identified seven terrorist The government’s answer to nations. Deterrence against 3rd 4. The government will take providing for the common defense world terrorist nations does not care of us. of the country is in the policy of exist either, because the deterrence. Deterrence is not government leaders of those Our Answer: defense. The concept of nations do not value the lives of There is a wide spread deterrence by ‘Mutual Assured their own citizens. misconception that public shelters Destruction’ is a misnomer. This exist throughout the country. form of deterrence exists only if Mutual assured destruction (MAD) Some countries, such as neither side can defend was never formerly accepted as Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, themselves against weapons of government policy, but for the , China and Russia mass destruction and both sides past 40 years, the concept has have provided shelters for a good have equal numbers of offensive driven most all of our national portion of their population. It has type weapons. Russia has both defense decisions. Most been estimated by American passive defense in the form of everyone now agrees, however, strategists that about 30% of the shelters, and active defense in the that deterrence is no longer a population of the world have form of anti-ballistic missiles. viable concept. The greatest radiation and blast shelters. America has neither. Further defense against modern day Russia has constructed multiple frustrating this policy is the fact threats, in our opinion, is a strong underground industrial that Russia continues to national NBC shelter program and communities. Switzerland, has modernize every aspect of their a nationwide anti-ballistic missile provided 100% of their population strategic nuclear arsenal while we shield. with hardened NBC shelters. are dismantling our own. Our government has identified 28 (Continued on next page) Our own government has provided hardened underground facilities for high ranking government officials and their families as as for our critical mission personnel.

My Family Members are my

‘critical mission personnel’.

Where are the shelters for my family? The answer to this question is that we, as citizens, have not been willing to demand this level of protection for ourselves, nor have we been willing to be taxed to this level of protection. Legislation providing shelters will not occur until we demand it. Current localized disasters have proven that our government is there to assist us, but not to save us in widespread

4 TACDA Journal of Civil Defense™ (Continued from previous page) was quoted, “Every day we go ICBM fields and launch control Assessing Your Risk without a nuclear terrorist attack is facilities, command and control a gift”. The probability of a centers such as NORAD in Most people consider the risk of a nuclear event is greater than most Colorado Springs, and the Air nuclear attack to be very small. people think. Force command center in Omaha. No such attack has ever occurred Air Force bases hosting long- in our country; therefore, they The consequences of a nuclear range bombers, refueling/tanker consider the probability of such an attack, in loss of human life and aircraft, and continental air event to be near zero. in collateral damage, would be defense fighter aircraft are mind, however, that a true risk huge. The relatively few lives lost obvious first tier targets. But assessment must incorporate in the U.S. from hurricanes, flood, consider this; Any airport with a both probability and con- or the recent 9/11 terrorist attack runway capable of handling sequence. would pail to the tens of millions commercial jet aircraft (737’s, of lives lost from a potential 757’s, 767’s, and 777’s) would be Most of our national security nuclear attack. When multiplying a recipient of at least one nuclear strategists agree that the both the growing probability warhead, most likely fused to possibility of a nuclear attack from factor, with the huge burst at or near the ground so as terrorist countries and terrror consequence factor, we see a to crater the runway, or at least organizations grows daily. The resulting risk that is extremely heave gobs of contaminated technology is well known and the large. We believe this material onto and around the nuclear fuel for such weapons is assessment easily justifies the runway. Strategists plan this to available on the ‘black market’. expense and effort of installing deny recovery of surviving China and North Korea have hardened NBC shelters. bombers or tankers. Any city of made veiled nuclear threats more than 200,000 population will against our borders; terrorist There are certain classes of most likely have runways of this organizations claim to have facilities that attract nuclear length, nearby. The resulting ‘suitcase ’; and Russia and warheads in the first rounds of an fallout will kill many thousands of China continue to modernize attack. Obviously, any facility citizens and military personnel. every aspect of their strategic connected with America’s nuclear Blast and fire will be a factor for a nuclear arsenal. Edward Teller, forces will be brought under radius of 6 to 12 miles depending the father of the Hydrogen , attack in the first salvo including on weapon yield, weather, height of burst, etc. Be aware that weapons and delivery systems malfunction and can miss the intended target (but inevitably hit someone else). Also remember that a “rain-out” can occur increasing the gamma dose-rate by a factor of ten or more, (possibly 10,000 rads per hour) effectively killing everyone in the local area not shielded with an earth cover more than 5 feet thick.

A correctly designed and installed shelter will effectively protect the health of its occupants in this environment, and will do so within one-half mile of the center of the detonation. In addition, the sheltered will be relatively comfortable, not just alive. 5 Volume 40 – Issue 2 (Summer 2007) destroy unprotected electrical and solid-state electronic equipment produce a high altitude EMP within line-of-sight of the (HEMP). See JCD volume #38, explosion. The size of the area Issue #3. affected by an EMP increases with the height of the burst. In a Blast Effect & Overpressure: 50 miles above The pressure of blast is measured the ground, the affected area on in pounds per square inch (psi). the surface of the earth will have Normal ambient atmospheric a radius of about 600 miles. A pressure is about 15 psi. Any high altitude EMP (HEMP) from a pressure over and above this nuclear explosion detonated at an level is considered to be altitude of 200 miles could ‘overpressure’. produce a rapid electrical energy NUCLEAR WEAPONS EFFECTS pulse on the order of 60,000 volts The blast overpressure from a per square meter and could affect one-megaton (1 MT) weapon at 5 A basic understanding of nuclear and even disable equipment miles is approximately 4 psi, and weapons effects is needed in within the entire continental the wind velocity is about 140 order to design an appropriate United States. Smaller EMP mph. It is generally believed that and effective NBC (Nuclear/ pulses produced at lower altitudes people within a 5 mile radius Biological/Chemical) shelter. Each could cause cascading failures in could survive this level of blast effect must be considered when an already stressed electric power outside a hardened blast shelter if choosing the building medium, infrastructure (transmission lines, they could find adequate geometry and shielding material transformers, etc). Transportation protection from the blast wind and for the structure. would be paralyzed, food falling debris. Structures such as refrigeration and distribution culverts, ditches, , Thermal Radiation Effect: would cease and water and mines could serve as an The heat from the fireball is purification and sewer systems expedient shelter. Many people emitted in the form of thermal would fail. are in areas considered by radiation. At 8 miles from the planners to be under the 4-psi detonation, only minimal structural Terrorist countries and their overpressure range (further than damage takes place. Flash burns organizations understand our 5 miles from ground zero) and caused by the thermal pulse at vulnerability and could use could be saved if they would seek that distance, however, would relatively unsophisticated missiles shelter in their . produce severe burns to armed with nuclear weapons to (Continued on next page) unprotected individuals. If there is any warning of incoming missiles, the best available shelter should be taken. Ditches, culverts, basements, or large structures would provide some shielding against thermal pulse.

Underground shelters will give total protection from the thermal pulse. The old civil defense adage to “” is still good advice.

Electro Magnectic Pulse (EMP) Effect:

All nuclear explosives induce sudden electrical pulses of energy, which can damage or

6 TACDA Journal of Civil Defense™

(Continued from previous page)

At overpressures over 4-psi a residential shelter WILL NOT provide adequate blast protection and the home will be destroyed. As the overpressure passes beyond the shelter, there is a negative pressure of approximately 5-psi. All should be designed to withstand both positive and negative expected pressures. The Swiss standard for public shelters dictates building to overpressures between 15-psi and 45-psi:

A 15-psi shelter will withstand blast and blast winds at 1.6 miles from a one-megaton (1 MT) yield weapon, .8 miles from a 100 kiloton (KT) weapon and .4 miles from a 10 KT weapon. A 45-psi shelter will withstand blast and blast winds at .9 miles from a 1 MT yield weapon, .4 miles from a 100 KT weapon and .2 miles from a 10 KT weapon.

A 200-psi shelter will sustained exposure threat for the withstand blast and blast At a distance corresponding to first 2 weeks after a ground burst. winds at .5 miles from a 1 MT 2 atmosphere pressure (30 Gamma radiation is measured in yield ground burst weapon psi) for a 10 KT explosion, Roentgens (rads). Roentgens and ground zero from a 1 MT explosion height zero: 20,000 and rads are used air burst. Roentgens. interchangeably. At a distance corresponding to

Radiation & Fallout Effect: 3 atmospheres pressure (45 Initial Radiation: If the fireball of the weapon psi) for a 10 KT explosion: low Initial radiation decreases with touches the ground, the blast is air burst, 70,000 Roentgens. distance and is negligible beyond defined as a ground burst. Strong 1 1/2 miles from the explosion. winds cause dust, dirt, and other Larger yield weapons detonated The initial nuclear radiation is particles to be sucked up into the in the air create less initial propagated outward from the fireball. This debris is mingled radiation threat than smaller yield fireball of the explosion in a with fission products and weapons. Larger yield weapons similar way as light. It does not radioactive residues, making it are designed to be detonated at a accumulate like fallout radiation radioactive itself. As it cools, the higher altitude for an air burst. and is no longer a threat after the debris falls from the cloud onto The greater burst height of these first few seconds following the the ground. This material is called larger weapons increases the explosion. The following initial radioactive fallout. Gamma distance from the ground, thus radiation intensities are created radiation from the fallout is a decreasing the intensity of the by a 10 KT yield nuclear highly penetrating electro- explosion: (Continued on next page) magnetic radiation and poses a 7 Volume 40 – Issue 2 (Summer 2007) (Continued from previous page) 600 Roentgens over a two week days), radiation will be only 1 period is usually lethal. In a full- percent of the initial level. initial radiation in the 15 and 45 scale nuclear attack on the psi areas. Weapons smaller than United States, even areas of Distance - Radiation levels 10 KT are designed to be low fallout risk are expected to diminish with distance as well as detonated in the air at lower levels accumulate total radiation time. Gamma radiation is than the larger yield weapons, doses as high as 3,000 directional. In small diameter thereby increasing the intensity of Roentgens (with some areas as entrances to shelters (diameters the initial radiation. high as 20,000 Roentgens), under 48 inches) each 90 degree over a two week period. The turn will diminish (attenuate) the Initial radiation from most medium maximum dosage rate is raidiation by 90%. For proper and large yield weapons (100 KT expected to be as high as 5,000 attenuation, entrance tunnels – 1 MT) occurs in overpressure Roentgens per hour. Shelters should have a minimum length of ranges greater than 45 psi. should provide protection against 22 feet. Concrete shelters built to a 15 this radiation so that the radiation and 45 psi level will not survive in dosage inside the shelter is Shielding - Shielding also that zone. The permissible generally negligible. A minimum attenuates radiation levels. Three radiation levels for the concrete protection factor of 1,000 is inches of concrete will attenuate shelters have been set for a total necessary to keep this radiation to half of the gamma radiation from accumulation of 100 Roentgens. an acceptable level (minimum fallout. One 'half-value’ thickness For bomb yields larger than 10 KT level for 15 psi shelter). of shielding gives a protection (within the 15 and 45 psi blast factor (PF) of 2. This rule is level) the initial radiation Time - Radiation diminishes with multiplicative. A total of 9 inches protection offered is greater than time in a process called of concrete will provide three necessary; for smaller yield radioactive decay. For every halving thicknesses, for a PF of weapons it may be too little. seven-fold increase in time after (2x2x2=8). It cannot be detonation, there is a ten-fold emphasized enough that in a Fallout: decrease in the radiation wide-spread nuclear attack in Radiation from fallout is the most exposure level. For example; the United States, over a two- far-reaching of all the weapons after 7 hours, radiation levels will week period, almost all areas of effects. This radiation falls for reduce to 10 percent of initial the U.S. are expected to receive hours or days. An accumulation of levels. After 49 hours (about 2 more than the 600 rad, or lethal level. EIGHT OR NINE INCHES OF CONCRETE IN A SHELTER ROOF IS JUST NOT ENOUGH SHIELDING!

Ten layers of any halving thickness (30 inches of concrete or 48 inches of soil) provides a protection factor of over 1,000. A minimum protection factor of 1,000 is recommended for all NBC shelters.

Questions or comments on this information should be directed to Sharon Packer ([email protected]).

8 TACDA Journal of Civil Defense™

Thermal Pulse: from gamma radiation. The Entrances: Underground shelters of all entrances, however, allow large All shelters should have two geometries and building mediums amounts of gamma radiation to entrances to assure escape in the will defeat the thermal pulse and enter the shelter, and steel shelter event one entrance is blocked by protect the people sheltering doors offer small protection. All debris. All entrances must be underground. The shelter doors, entrances should incorporate at protected with steel blast doors. however, if in close proximity to least one 90-degree turn, each of the fireball, can be severely which will attenuate 90% of the Initial Radiation: damaged by the radiant heat in gamma radiation. Long vertical Initial radiation occurs within 1  the first few seconds of the and horizontal runs will diminish miles of the detonation. All detonation. Shelters near blast the remaining 10% to acceptable shelters near potential targets targets should have sacrificial levels. A good rule of thumb is should have at least 8 feet of dirt covers placed on top of the doors. that the total length of the cover to properly attenuate this Even a piece of plywood will entrance should be about 22 ft. type of radiation. After entering protect a steel . The wood and the 90-degree turn should the shelter, a six-foot plug of will burn before it is blown away come as close to the center of the shielding should be placed into by the blast; but, it will stay in tact entrance as possible. This rule the horizontal runs of all long enough to cast a shadow for will hold up to diameters of about entrances. The shielding for initial the door and protect it from the 4 ft. Larger diameter entrances damage caused by the thermal will need longer entrances. (Continued on next page) effect.

Blast:

Shelters built with arched tops will carry much greater loads than flat-topped structures. The depth of cover assuring maximum blast protection is equal to the diameter of the shelter (a 9 ft. diameter shelter should be covered with 9 ft. of dirt, etc). Earth arching, at that ratio, provides protection to a

200-psi level, and steel shelters within a 1  mile radius of a 1- megaton (MT) weapon should not fail if installed correctly at that depth.

Gamma Radiation:

Four feet of dirt cover or 3 feet of concrete is sufficient cover, in most cases, to protect occupants 9 Volume 40 – Issue 2 (Summer 2007) (Continued from previous page) the shelter. Each person radiates protection from fire, thermal pulse, the same amount of heat as a high winds and flying objects. radiation should have a high- 100-watt light bulb. Insulating Electrical wiring can be placed in hydrogen content (such as barrels material should not be placed smaller diameter steel pipe. of water or bags of rice). against the walls, as the steel Entrances should not exceed 48 walls of the shelter will act as a inches in diameter, as it is not “heat sink”. practical to fill larger diameter entrances with shielding. A 90- Construction Material: degree turn in the entrance gives Construction material that will very little protection from initial MOVE and BEND with earth radiation. motion, assures protection from catastrophic failure associated Size: with earthquakes and ground Huge amounts of dust, debris, shock from nuclear blasts. smoke and large radioactive Corrugated steel allows for a particles circulate in the air for great deal of movement, without several hours after the blast. the risk of structural damage. Design the shelter for a minimum of 88 cubic feet per person of free Corrugated Steel Shelters air space to allow sufficient Corrugated steel is 6 times volume to 'shut down' air supplies stronger than steel plate. for 5 hours after the blast or Corrugated steel shelters can, during fires. Allow for adequate therefore, be constructed at 1/6th All ventilation systems must have space to store a one-year’s the thickness of steel plate hand-crank power capability. Do supply of food and a 3 weeks shelters. Shelters up to 8 ft. in not rely solely on electricity or supply of water, as well as other diameter and all entrances should batteries to run the air systems. supplies. be constructed at a minimum of Pre-filters must be placed in line 16-gauge steel. Nine- foot prior to processing of NBC Temperature Control: shelters require 14-gauge contaminates, assuring protection Depths of cover that provide initial material, and ten foot shelters of the HEPA filter from smoke, radiation protection (7 to 8 feet) require 12-gauge material. All dirt, insects and larger radioactive also provide stable and end plates for shelters 8 to 10 ft. particles. Pre-filters must be comfortable interior air in diameter should be constructed placed at least 72 inches above temperatures, assuring survival of 3/8th inch steel plate. Ends the floor, to keep radiation from from extreme weather conditions should overlap the shelter body exposing the air handlers. and protection of food and by about  inch. All steel plate Hoses, metal and paint in the supplies. Shelters with 7 to 10 shelter ends and welds must be filtration system must be resistant feet of dirt cover, remain at a painted with epoxy to inhibit to war gases of all types. Air constant temperature between 45 rusting. Corrugated steel does filtration systems should have F. and 65 F. Cloud and smoke not need to be painted, as it is both high efficiency particulate cover from a large nuclear attack already galvanized. Corrugated filter (HEPA) and charcoal filters. could cause cold conditions to steel should not be used on end All intake pipes must be fitted with occur for long lengths of time, plates, as it is too thin. air rate meters, to assure the even in mild climates. Extremely proper residence time of the warm conditions could occur for Ventilation & Filtration: contaminated air within the filter. short periods of time because of Do not use plastic, corrugated fires started from the thermal steel, fiberglass, or PVC for air Blast Valves: pulse, heating the ground to pipes. All air pipes should be Blast valves should be placed on several feet and causing constructed of 4 to 6-inch ALL penetrations (air pipes, vents discomfort for the shelterees. diameter quarter-inch wall steel and conduits for electrical wiring More of an issue, is the heat pipe to best assure proper air or antennas). This will assure generated by the people inside volume. Steel pipes will also give (Continued on next page) 10 TACDA Journal of Civil Defense™

Furniture: system. The 48-volt systems are

In areas of high blast potential, very expensive and replete with keep furniture to a minimum. Use problems. The 12-volt chargers

hammocks for sleeping and and inverters are reasonably secure all items to the wall. In priced and very dependable.

areas of low blast potential, it is Small 12-volt bayonet type lights

acceptable to build shelves, can be purchased from radio kitchens, cabinets and bunks into shack. LED lights may be

the shelter. vulnerable to EMP and if purchased, should be stored in a

(Continued from previous page) Power Systems: faraday cage until after all danger A 12-volt battery system has of blast has past. blast protection and continual many advances over a 48-volt positive air pressure in the event of chemical or biological attack. Conduits for wiring, if not greater than 1  inch diameter, can be filled with foam type insulation, or special conduit can be purchased for this purpose.

Sanitation: Holding tanks and septic tanks are acceptable in areas of low or no blast areas. The tanks, however, are extremely vulnerable to ground slap from blast, and may crack or rupture during earthquakes. Flying debris from high winds during tornados, hurricanes or blast could break the lids of these tanks, and if they are at, or near the surface, the contents of the septic tank will be forced back into the shelter. Do not install flush toilets unless there is an unlimited supply of water.

Water supplies should be interior to the shelter in all areas of high blast and the use of “chemical toilets” is highly recommended. Use separate toilets for solid waste and urine. Cover solid waste with a disinfectant solution or kitty litter. Solid waste should be stored in barrels in double plastic bags, until it is safe to remove and bury it outside. Urine can be poured into the gray-water drain. 11 H-l 2-F April 1980

Pre-built wood components stored in the basement may be assembled and filled with bricks or concrete blocks for emergency protection.

HOME lean-to shelter- basement location

FEDERAL AGENCY 1x6 T&G BOARDS, GLUE a NAIL To 2x8’s WITH 2-#10 x 2’ BARBED SHANK LARGE HEAD ROOFING NAlLS EACH BOARD.

CUT BLOCKING NOTE: SINGLE UNIT SHOWN. Of 2x8 STRINGER 3 UNITS REQUIRED. , CUT BLOCKING

2 x 12 x 3 1/2" LAG SCREW IN LEAD EXPANSION ANCHOR I8”O.C. I N FLOOR. DETAlL X6 x3" CONCRETE NAILS AT 6”O.C. MAY BE SUBSTITUTED (RECOMMENDED) IN EMERGENCY ACTIONS.

ISOMETRIC OF LEAN-TO UNIT

8" NOMINAL THICKNESS OF CONC. BLKS. TOTAL 130 CONC. BLKS STACKED ACROSS END PLACE 54 BLKS IN- SIDE SHELTER TO GE STACKED IN ENTRY AFTER

CUT BLOCKING CUT BLOCKING

SEE DETAIL I

SECTION A FRONT ELEVATION

STACK 54 CONC. BLKS IN ENTRY AFTER SHELTER IS COMPLETED

END ELEVATION.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY GENERAL INFORMATION

This shelter is designed to provide protection from the effects of radioactive fallout in the below grade basement of an existing house. Its advantages are low cost, simplicity of construction, general availability of materials, and the fact that it may be easily disassembled.

TECHNICAL SUMMARY

This shelter design will provide 54 square feet of area and approximately 216 cubic feet of space. It will house three persons. The shelter length can be increased by increments of 3 foot panels. The height may be in- creased by the use of more materials. This increase will be limited by basement height and handling of the panels.

The materials necessary to construct this shelter should be available from retail lumber yards.

Natural ventilation is obtained by omitting 3 blocks from the top of the entranceway closure and by leaving a l-1/2 in. gap between the end of the shelter and the basement wall.

Construction time should not exceed 20 man-hours when all the materials are on hand at the shelter location. It is desirable to preassemble the lean-to units and store them in a corner. They can then be installed in the best corner of the basement and stacked with blocks in 1 hour.

MATERIALS LIST AC tual Item Number Required Masonry : 4” x 8” x 16” solid concrete masonry units or 290 blocks or 2-l/4” x4”x8” solid bricks 1740 bricks

Lumber: (“construction” or “No. 1” grades or better) stringers 2 x 8 x 9’-7” (45” diag. cut at both ends) 9 pieces boards 1 x 6 x 3’-0” T & G (square edge may be used) 69 pieces 1 x10x3’-0” 1 piece 2 x 10 x 3’-0” 1 piece blocking 2 x 8 x l’-3-l/2 stress-grade lumber 6 pieces 4 x 4 x 1'-3-l/2” 3 pieces*

*Rip lengthwise at 45” to provide the 6 pieces required

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY Hardware: 3/8" diam. x 2-l/4” lag screws and washers 12 3/8" bolt size lead expansion shield, 9/16” x 2” hole 12 #lO ga. x 2” barbed shank, large head roofing nails 3 pounds 16D common nails 1 pound glue, protein emulsion (must develop 450 lbs. /sq. in.) l-1/2 pints #5 x 3” concrete nails 36

Special tools : 9/16” star drill to install anchor bolts into concrete basement floor and walls

CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE

1. Prepare shelter units. a. Cut bevels on 2 x 8 stringers. Arrange in 3 foot panels. Using 16d common nails, attach bottom boards and blocking on the beveled ends first, b. Fit in, glue and nail remaining bottom boards with large head roofing nails. c. Units can be stored assembled, if desired, to save time. It is desirable to locate lag screw holes and install lead shields in floor and basement wall.

2. Assemble shelter (emergency actions) a. Turn this panel right side up and place it in its permanent position. Fasten the panel to the floor with lag screws in lead shields leaving a l-1/2” gap between the end of the shelter and the basement wall. If lead shields have not been installed ahead of time, use concrete nails as shown in the detail. b. Fasten in sequence as many panels as are to be used. Nail to wall with concrete nails. c. Fill panels with 2 layers of solid concrete block or brick starting at bottom. d. Build end wall of 76 stacked blocks 456 bricks. e. Place 50 blocks or 300 bricks in the shelter for emergency closure of entranceway.

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY Volume 40 – Issue 2 (Summer 2007)

Basement shelters serve well as Germ warfare poses a problem, Design a 12-volt power system. fallout shelters, but do not make as it is difficult to make a Gel cell batteries produce very good blast shelters (if there is basement shelter air tight. little “out gassing”, and 6-volt gel more than a 1 psi blast, the house Retrofit a ventilation/ gas filter cell batteries configure nicely to a may fall and burn). system to a 6 in. diameter steel 12-volt system. pipe coming through the outside All shelters must have an outside wall. Put a pipe on the opposite Consider adding an inverter as entrance. Consider cutting a hole wall for exhaust. well as plugs for water or solar in the basement wall and inserting power to the system. Two, 75- a 36” diameter pipe leading to the The shelter can be made fairly watt solar panels should complete outside. The horizontal length of airtight by stapling heavy plastic the package. Use 12-volt, 240 the escape must run at to walls, ceiling and floor. Tape mamp lights to conserve battery least half the distance of the the entrance shut after entering power. height of the home. the shelter.

All specifications for concrete practically possible. People living tsunami potential require shelters shelter construction in this well away from blast targets built to the 45-psi standard. article are made according to the should still build to the minimum directives of the Swiss Federal 15-psi standard in order to Space Requirements: Office Of Civil Defense. The properly shield against fallout Each individual must have a Swiss use concrete, exclusively, radiation. Eight inches of min. of 11 sq. ft. of floor space for their public shelters. Public concrete on the roof of a and 88 cu. ft. of free air space. concrete shelters in Switzerland shelter will NOT provide Each shelter must have a min. are built to two overpressure adequate shielding from the of 60 sq. ft. with min. standards: 15 pounds per square radiation levels resulting from a inch (psi) and 45 psi. However, headroom of 6 ft. 6 in. full-scale nuclear attack in the the government encourages the Each air lock must have United States—regardless of 45-psi standard wherever between 25 and 54 sq. ft. of possible. location. There are no safe floor space. areas! Nuclear attack is not the Shelters should be built to only reason to build a shelter. Do not use brittle material (tile or withstand as many threats as Areas of large earthquake or plaster) on interior floors or walls.

(Continued on next page) 16 TACDA Journal of Civil Defense™ (Continued from previous page) The air lock, in small shelters, can Ideally, the entrance way should also act as the decontamination lead to the air lock door and Airlocks: room. The decontamination room access to the shelter should come Airlocks are interim rooms serves as a cleaning and dressing from inside the air lock. designed to allow access from the room for people contaminated by shelter living area to the outside, poison gas or radioactive dust. Entranceways (no airlock): without contaminating the air for The decontamination room should When the exterior shelter wall is those remaining inside the be used to store protective less than 16-inches thick, and shelter. All public shelters in clothing and gas masks, which there is no airlock, the protection Switzerland incorporate airlocks must be worn at all times by against radiation must be into their shelters. persons leaving the shelter. In improved by a reinforced concrete larger shelters, the passageway leading to the shelter Airlocks should have two gas-tight decontamination room should entrance door. The wall and roof doors, which are never to be have a shower and toilet area elements of the passageway must opened at the same time. One built into the room. For shelters be at least 8 inches thick and the door is the main entrance door housing more than 100 persons, length of the passageway must be from the outside, and the other the decontamination room should at least four times the width (a 4-ft door leads from the air lock to the be a separate room, having direct wide entranceway must be 24 feet shelter. This assures protection of access to the airlock. long). The door to the shelter the interior shelter room from must be perpendicular to the radiation, blast pressure and war The airlock and decontamination direction of the entranceway. gasses. People entering the air rooms should be constructed of lock from the outside, must close the same thicknesses of concrete, Entranceways (with airlock): the outside door and stay in a and same protection levels as are The entranceway to an airlock closed down condition until the air prescribed for the shelter room. should be at least 6 feet long and of the air lock has been purged. It the door to the shelter should be is easier and faster to purge a Entranceways perpendicular to the direction of small air lock than a large one, The outside entranceway for the entranceway. If there is no and the area of the airlock should concrete shelters is a protected, entranceway, an 8-inch thick, 4 x be kept between 27 and 54 sq. ft. open area leading to the shelter 6 ft. reinforced concrete debris Filtered air from the shelter room entrance. It is usually a partially guard must cantilever over the should be exhausted through a covered ramp or staircase leading shelter door. blast valve into the air lock. The down to the door of the shelter. air from the airlock should be One purpose of the entranceway Doors: exhausted through another blast is to keep debris away from the The entrance door must act as an valve to the outside. door. adequate radiation barrier since even a closed door represents a weak spot in the shelter. Vertical ‘walk in’ type entrance doors should be constructed of 8-inch thick frames filled with concrete. Entrance doors to the shelter and/or airlock must open outward. The positive phase blast protection comes from the door resting against the massive frame that has been poured into the shelter wall. As the positive pressure phase passes over the shelter, a negative phase pulls at the door. The locking mechanism

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17 Volume 40 – Issue 2 (Summer 2007) rungs or a fixed metal ladder must (Continued from previous page) Earth Concrete Concrete be placed at one-foot intervals for cover (15 psi) (45 psi) must be able to withstand the 5- all shafts over 5 feet high. If the 0 in. 22” 34” psi negative phase pressure. shaft rises more than 15 ft., 12” 14” 26” Never use in-ward opening doors intermediate landings should be 20” 12” 20” on the exterior of the shelter. built and the cross section must Inward opening doors cannot be increased to 2 ft. 8 in. by 4 ft. withstand the positive pressure phase and will experience failure. Small (24” x 32” max) emergency exit doors, if placed at the bottom of an escape shaft for blast Roof slabs under building. protection, should open inward. Concrete Concrete Interior doors may open either (15 psi) (45 psi) direction. One 14 “ 22 “ story Emergency Exits: Multi- 12” 18” All shelters must be designed with Option 2: The concrete door at story an emergency escape exit. There the shelter end of the tunnel may are several acceptable designs be eliminated if the tunnel for emergency exits but escape diameter is no more than 48 in., tunnels are the most effective and the length of the tunnel plus means for escape without outside the length of the vertical shaft is a help. minimum of 22 feet (in order to clear the debris field, the length of Corrugated steel is significantly the horizontal run of the tunnel less expensive than concrete and must still be at least one-half the in some situations can be used in height of the building). A steel, When the room above the shelter place of concrete for the blast proof door must be placed at has windows & doors involving construction of the escape the top of the vertical shaft. The more than 50% of the wall area, tunnels. blast door at the top of the shaft the above roof slab thicknesses must open to the outside and be should be increased by 2”. Option 1: The horizontal length of equipped with an emergency jack the escape tunnel must be a in the event that debris covers the Thickness of concrete for minimum of one-half the height of door. This alternate design must wall slabs: the building (measured from also include an exhaust pipe ground level to height of eaves). under the door, near the top of the Thickness of interior shelter The tunnel should have a shaft, with a blast valve attached walls adjacent to an open minimum diameter of 36 inches to the inside of the vertical shaft. basement room. (or a minimum rectangular area of Concrete Concrete 7 sq. ft.). The tunnel should slope (15 psi) (45 psi) away from the shelter with a min. 20” 26” grade of 1% and a max. grade of

15%. The tunnel must have an 8- inch thick concrete door on the wall opening at the shelter end.

The small emergency escape door must open to the inside of the shelter. The vertical shaft Thickness of concrete for must have a pressure resistant roof slabs: cover at the top. The vertical shaft must be open at the bottom to allow for drainage. Embedded Roof Slabs (not under building). (Continued on next page) 18 TACDA Journal of Civil Defense™ and on the building interior side 15-psi shelter: All walls must (Continued from previous page) by  inch. For further details, see have a minimum thickness of 31 Thickness of outside shelter “Technical Directives for the inches. The ceiling must have a walls completely underground. Construction of Private Air Raid minimum thickness of 22 inches. Shelters,” p 37, for sale in the Concrete TACDA Store. 45-psi shelter: All walls must (15 psi) have a minimum thickness of 48 10” Above Ground Concrete Shelters: inches. The ceiling must have a High water tables, permafrost, minimum thickness of 34 inches. rock and other such conditions Concrete may dictate the construction of an One obvious disadvantage to an (45 psi) above ground concrete shelter AGCS is its high visibility profile. 10” (AGCS). The walls and ceilings You can easily disguise its

of above ground shelters must be intended function. Frame in fake

thicker to compensate for the windows, and put a false cover on Thickness of outside shelter radiation attenuating factors of the the outside such as logs, paint or walls partially underground soil cover in below ground siding materials. Fake shelves or (ground surface not more than shelters. furniture can disguise the 2 ft. below the underside of the entrance door to the shelter. Your shelter roof slab). Rain occurring shortly after fallout AGCS can easily be turned to

begins will wash early fallout from multi-function use. Depending on Concrete the troposphere and cause higher the size and placement, it could (15 psi) levels of radiation to be deposited be used as a child’s play house, 20 “ in the direct vicinity. Choose a garden or tool shed, doghouse, location for your shelter that will safe, home theatre, game room, Concrete allow rainwater to drain away from gym, etc. (45 psi) the outside walls. It is 28 “ advantageous to add a sloped You may want to build your AGCS concrete apron near the bottom of inside a barn or even in an interior Thickness of above ground all outside walls. If possible, location of your home. Heating, shelters and uncovered walls slope the roof of the shelter to cooling and accessibility become (ground surface more than 2 ft. allow for drainage of the less of a problem. below the shelter roof slab. rainwater. The shelter must be built in such Concrete The shelter shell should be a manner that it is independent of (15 psi) constructed of reinforced the outside structure (structural 32 “ concrete. Do not use light density element). These other structural materials such as cinder block, elements may be attached Concrete isolating concrete forms (ICF) or monolithically or fixed rigidly to (45 psi) blown shock-crete in an AGCS. the shelter shell; however, they 48 “ The shielding capability of the must be fashioned in such a shelter is dependent upon the manner that their collapse does weight of the material used. not destroy the shelter shell. The Steel reinforcement: weight of the outside structural All walls and roof slabs must have element must be considered a minimum of two curtains of when designing the interior reinforcement steel rebar. This shelter. minimum reinforcement should be at least 0.2% of the concrete References for this article: Nuclear cross section, with the exception Weapons Effects; Technical Swiss Civil Defense Directives for the of the undersurface of the floor. Construction of Private Air Raid All rebar must overlap on the Shelters (sold in the TACDA Store). earth side of the wall by one-inch 19 Volume 40 – Issue 2 (Summer 2007) their blast valves worked; one on the other hand, is a 1000-psi was even lying on the floor (as it facility, and well protected against was being serviced) for us to neutrons. It is old, however, and inspect…closely. will likely be closed in the next two years because it is vulnerable to Unlike the Swiss made passive very accurate Russian ICBMs. blast valves, which work when the The U.S. has now built better shock wave impinges against the facilities at Mt. Weather, Ravin shutter disk, NORAD's active Rock and other locations the valves are activated when a public doesn’t even know about. thermal probe outside detects the NORAD thermal signature of a nuclear If a typical Swiss or American By Paul Seyfried explosion. This triggers the (home) shelter is within 7500 feet release of high-pressure (3,000 of a nuclear explosion, the prompt Many people erroneously believe psi) nitrogen gas that is stored in neutrons will stream RIGHT that NORAD is a concrete shelter. banks of cylinders, into pneumatic THROUGH the 8 inch thick When Sharon and I visited actuators. The valves are closed concrete blast door, and the 30 NORAD in 2003, the only before the shock wave reaches inch thick concrete ceiling and kill concrete we saw was at the door them. They sound like a high- the occupants in a few days. emplacements. The inside of the powered rifle going off in your NORAD has 6 feet of concrete in rooms are nothing but indigenous living room when they fire. their sequential blast doors to rock held in place with heavy They’re about 3 feet in diameter, adequately deal with this problem. gauge wire fencing well fastened and about 7 feet long (without the Deep underground shelters (steel with dinner-plate sized washers nitrogen cylinders). or concrete) can deal with prompt and stakes. NORAD was built (dug out) in the very early 1960's.

The crew is further protected inside by steel plate (1/2") box- type offices about three stories high. These interior structures are suspended on VERY large coil springs for shock attenuation.

There are two enormous concrete filled blast doors, about 10 feet x 10 feet square, and 3 feet thick, one about 20 feet behind the other, each weighing 25 tons. We were shown the entire facility, the tour lasted about 6 hours.

We sat at the big “U” shaped desk where the heavy hitters sit, each The public Swiss shelters don't neutrons by putting ten feet of dirt phone having about 100 buttons share any technology traits with cover overhead and stuffing on it. They asked us not to touch NORAD. Their shelters are only shielding into the angled anything... Looked at the big expected to protect occupants to entryways. screens with lots of information on about 45 psi overpressure, the whereabouts of all of the maximum, and many of the home Find photos and information at: people in the National Command shelters will not meet this criteria http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_ Authority. During 9/11/01, they because their entrances are American_Aerospace_Defense_ got most of their info from ...you terribly vulnerable to prompt Command guessed it- CNN! We saw how radiations, ie neutrons. NORAD, Or Google NORAD 20 TACDA Journal of Civil Defense™

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