Choose Your Shelter

In a nuclear attack, the biggest threat after the blast is radioactive fallout. Your goal is to use a shelter to protect yourself using the principles of Time, Distance, and Shielding.

**Time:** Fallout radiation decays exponentially. The longer you wait inside, the safer it becomes.

**Distance:** The more space between you and fallout particles, the lower your dose. Stay in the center of your shelter.

**Shielding:** Put as much dense material (mass) as possible between you and the outside. This is your primary defense.

Not all materials are equal. Density is key to stopping gamma radiation.

• - **Excellent Shielding:** Concrete, bricks, earth/soil, books, and large containers of water.
• - **Poor Shielding:** Wood, drywall, glass.

**Rule of Thumb:** Your goal is to put as much mass between you and the outside as possible. Moving furniture, bookcases, or file cabinets against the shelter's outer walls from the inside can significantly increase your protection factor.

Examples: Basements, underground garages, root cellars, subway stations.

**Why they're best:** The earth itself provides the most effective shielding.

**Tips:** Choose the corner of the basement furthest from the outer walls and windows.

Ideal when no underground option exists.

**Where:** The center of a large brick or concrete building (e.g., school, office, apartment block), on a middle floor (not the top or ground floor).

**Why?** The multiple layers of building materials and distance from the outside provide good shielding.

If you're in a wood-frame house with no basement:

• - Find the most central, ground-floor room with no windows (a closet or bathroom).
• - Use mattresses, heavy furniture, and books to build additional walls of shielding around you.

**Important:** Even improvised shielding can make a life-or-death difference.

Plan for adequate space to avoid conflict and maintain sanitation.

• - **Short Term (1-3 days):** Aim for at least 10 square feet (~1 square meter) per person. This allows people to sit or lie down without being on top of each other.
• - **Long Term (3+ days):** If possible, 40 square feet (~4 square meters) per person allows for more comfort, better sanitation, and defined areas for sleeping and living.

• - Vehicles
• - Mobile homes or trailers
• - Rooms with many windows
• - Upper floors or attics
• - Wood-framed sheds or tents

• - Minimum: 24 hours. No exceptions.
• - Recommended: At least 72 hours (3 days).

Why: Most fallout radiation decays significantly in the first few days. Listen to emergency radio for official instructions on when it's safe to leave.