Warday

CIVIL DEFENSE BULLETIN

December 13, 1988

HOME OR BUSINESS PROTECTION FROM RADIATION

In the event that the United States sustains another nuclear attack, you are advised to seek the best protection possible for yourself and your family.

If you live in or near a city, you should receive advance warning of an attack. It is possible, however, with the current emergency conditions, and with only partially repaired communications, that an attack warning will not be given or will be brief at best. In some cases, you will learn of an attack only after it has occurred.

IN EITHER CASE, YOU MUST TAKE PROTECTIVE ACTION IMMEDIATELY AND IN THE STRUCTURE WITH THE HIGHEST PROTECTIVE LEVEL AVAILABLE TO YOU AT THE TIME.

Different buildings and structures vary in the level of radiation protection offered. In general, basements or rooms underground offer the best protection. In an emergency, however, you and members of your family may have to make quick judgments as to the best and most accessible place available to you at the time.

The following examples list structures along with their respective protection factors. The higher the factor, the better the protection.

TYPICAL BUILDINGS AND THEIR PROTECTIVE VALUE

Type of Building	Factor
Underground shelters covered by 3 feet or more of dirt, or sub-basements of buildings with more than 5 stories	1000+
Basement fallout shelters, basements without exposed walls, and central areas of upper floors (not top 3) with heavy exterior walls	250 to 1000
Basements of buildings with frame and brick veneers, central area of basements with partially to exposed waifs, and central areas of upper floors (not top floor) in multistory buildings with heavy floors and exterior walls	50 to 250
Basements without exposed walls of 1–2 story buildings and central areas of upper floors (not top) of multistory buildings with light floors and walls	10 to 50
Partially exposed basements of 1–2 story buildings and central areas on ground floor of similar buildings with heavy masonry walls	2 to 10
Above ground rooms of light residential homes or apartments	2 or less

REMEMBER, SOME PROTECTION IS BETTER THAN NONE.

GOOD PROTECTION WILL SAVE LIVES!

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