Nuclear_War_Survival.pdf

H-20 / June 1985

PROTECTION IN THE

THE FEDERAL CIVIL DEFENSE ACT OF 1950, AS AMENDED

Public Law 920-81st Congress

(50 usc App. 2251-2297)

It is the policy and intent of Congress to provide a system of civil

defense for the protection of life and property in the United

States.... The term “civil defense” means all those activities and

measures designed to minimize the effects upon the civilian population

caused by an attack upon the United States. The Administrator is

authorized, in order to carry out the above-mentioned purposes, to ...

publicly disseminate appropriate civil defense Information by all

appropriate means.

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Washington, D.C. 20472

UCLEAR AGE

FOREWORD

The primary goal of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is

to protect lives and reduce property loss from disasters and

emergencies. To accomplish this, FEMA works with state and local

governments to help them deliver better, more effective emergency

management services across the whole spectrum of hazards—both natural

and man-made.

Regardless of the type, size, or severity of an emergency, certain

basic capabilities are needed for an effective response: evacuation,

shelter, communications, direction and control, continuity of govern-

ment, resource management, law and order, and food and medical

supplies. FEMA developed its Integrated Emergency Management System to

focus efforts on building these and other generic capabilities needed

to cope with a wide range of hazards.

This publication provides basic preparedness guidance combined with

specific measures useful in national security emergencies.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

Part 1: THE EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS . . . . . . . 1

Part2: WARNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Part 3: POPULATION PROTECTION . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Part 4: SHELTER LIVING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Appendix A: PERMANENT SHELTERS . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Appendix B: EXPEDIENT FALLOUT SHELTER—

ABOVE-GROUND DOOR-COVERED SHELTER . . . . . . . . . 32

Appendix C: EXPEDIENT FALLOUT SHELTER—

DOOR-COVERED TRENCH SHELTER . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Appendix D: EXPEDIENT FALLOUT SHELTER—

LOG-COVERED TRENCH SHELTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

INTRODUCTION

Most counties and cities throughout the country have civil

preparedness programs to reduce the loss of life and property in the

event of major emergencies. These emergencies can range from natural

disasters such as hurricanes, floods, or tornadoes to man-made

emergencies like hazardous materials spills, fire, or nuclear attack.

This booklet focuses on the ultimate disaster—nuclear attack. It

discusses what individuals and families can do to improve their

chances for survival in the event of a nuclear attack on the United

States. Basic information is provided on the physical effects of a

nuclear detonation, attack warning signals, and what to do before,

during, and after an attack.

Much has been done to address emergency needs unique to nuclear

attack. Public fallout shelter space has been identified for millions.

In addition, some warning and communications networks have been

“hardened” against blast and electronic disruptions, preparations have

been made to measure fallout radiation, and many local emergency

services personnel have been trained in use of radiation detection

instruments and other emergency skills.

This booklet contains general information applicable anywhere in the

United States to supplement specific local instructions. Local plans

are more detailed and are adapted to particular communities. When

local instructions differ from this general guidance, the local

instructions should always take precedence.

For more information on plans for your community, contact your local

or state emergency management (civil defense) office.

PART 1

THE EFFECTS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Understanding the major effects of a nuclear detonation can help

people better prepare themselves if an attack should occur. When a

nuclear weapon is detonated, the main effects produced are intense

light (flash), heat, blast, and radiation. The strength of these

effects depends on the size and type of the weapon; the weather

conditions (sunny or rainy, windy or still); the terrain (flat ground

or hilly); and the height of the explosion (high in the air or near

the ground). In addition, explosions that are on or close to the

ground create large quantities of dangerous radioactive fallout

particles. Most of these fall to earth during the first 24 hours.

Figure 1 illustrates the damage that a one-megaton weapon* would

cause if exploded on the ground in a populated area.

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What Would Happen to People

In a nuclear attack, most people within a few miles of an exploding

weapon would be killed or seriously injured by the blast, heat, or

initial radiation. People in the lighter damage areas—as indicated in

Figure 1—would be endangered both by blast and heat effects. However,

millions of people are located away from potential targets. For them,

as well as for survivors in the lighter damage areas, radioactive

fallout would be the main danger. What would happen to people in a

nationwide attack, therefore, would depend primarily on their

proximity to a nuclear explosion.

What is Electromagnetic Pulse?

An additional effect that can be created by a nuclear detonation is

called electromagnetic pulse, or EMP. A nuclear weapon exploding just

above the earth’s atmosphere could damage electrical and electronic

equipment for thousands of miles. (EMP has no direct effect on living

things.)

EMP is electrical in nature and is roughly similar to the effects of

a nearby lightning stroke on electrical or electronic equipment.

However, EMP is stronger, faster, and briefer than lightning. EMP

charges are collected by typical conductors of electricity, like

cables, antennas, power lines, or buried pipes, etc. Basically,

anything electronic that is connected to its power source (except

batteries) or to an antenna (except one 30 inches or less) at the time

of a high altitude nuclear detonation could be affected. The damage

could range from minor interruption of function to actual burnout of

components.

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