Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
factor (PF) of 300, meaning it would reduce the inhabitant's fallout exposure to gamma radi-
ation by a factor of 300:1 as compared to a person out in the open with no protection at all!
Figure 17-5. Earth arching over a makeshift fallout shelter roof enables the shelter to withstand higher blast pres-
sures.
Source: Kearny, Nuclear War Survival Skills
Cresson Kearny's
Nuclear War Survival Skills
offers a multitude of basic plans for home
fallout shelters, both the makeshift and permanent types, including plans for aboveground, as
well as buried versions. Kearny also includes plans for homemade ventilation schemes and
ventilation air pumps as well as a homemade fallout meter (the “Kearny Fallout Meter” also re-
ferred to as a KFM) that provides a low-cost reasonably accurate radiation-dose-rate meter,
when combined with a watch to keep track of elapsed time. You may purchase the latest edition
of Kearny's topic from the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine in Cave Junction, Oregon,
or download each chapter for free at
www.oism.org/nwss/index.htm
.
Building a Makeshift “Safe Room”
In the event of a “dirty bomb” or a chemical spill/terrorist attack, your best bet for safety is to
eral hours until the toxic chemicals, or radioactive cloud of particles, has had time to disperse.
Unlike protection from fallout, the preferred location for a “safe room” of this type is located
