34 lines
2.3 KiB
Plaintext
34 lines
2.3 KiB
Plaintext
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A short reply to "How do I build/buy a shelter?" 7-30-87
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There are three basic types of shelters, fallout, blast, and
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chemical/biological shelters. Shelters can be made to protect from any one of
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these hazards, or can be protected from any in combination.
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The easiest to build is a fallout shelter. All that is required of a
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fallout shelter is an area that is protected by mass from fallout radiation
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which consists of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. The area has to have
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ventilation appropriate to the climate, season, type of shelter and number of
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shelterees. Provisions must be made for measuring radiation, handling human
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wastes, providing light, adequate water and food for several days to
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perhaps several weeks. A source for plans of these shelters are availble in
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Lobdell's - An Ounce of Prevention, Kearney's - Nuclear War Survival Skills,
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from TACDA's various blueprints, and other sources. They range from do it
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yourself, at practically no cost temporary (temporary = lasting a year or so)
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units to $1,000 do it yourself permanent units to $10,000 multipurpose room
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additions.
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A blast shelter must be strong enough to withstand overpressure and
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dynamic pressures from blasts. They must be air tight to accomplish this.
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This complicates ventilation requirements as a valve, diaphram or member must
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seal the sytem during over and under pressures. Doors are needed that can seal
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air tight and withstand over and under pressure. Information sources are again
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Lobdell, Kearney, TACDA + British Home Office, Marcel Barbier, and various
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Swiss government publications some of which have been reprinted by Oak Ridge
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National Laboratory. These shelters are more elaborate but can still be
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homemade by yourself though they require greater effort and skills than a
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fallout-only shelter. They can be made of wood, steel, or concrete.
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A chemical/biological shelter is any area that prevents air-borne chemical
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gases or chemical, biological, or toxin particles from reaching the shelterees.
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An air tight enclosure with activated carbon and small particle filters are
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the essentials here. A blast shelter can be easily upgraded to a Biological
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/Chemical shelter with the addition of the needed filters.
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