The Home Crowd

Infomercantile has a great entry from a U.S. Department of Defense guide entitled “Fallout protection for homes with basements”. I always find these things funny years and years later how bizarre how time and experience disproves such theories. In the time of the cold war however, “preparedness” measures were commonplace and many from that era will recall doing fallout drills in school. These were basically a “Duck and Cover” drills, except you don’t run out to the playground at the end. This is due to the still falling radioactive fallout.

“Radioactive fallout, though, could spread a thin layer over millions of square miles. Radiation would come from the fallout wherever it settled — the ground, trees and bushes, or the roof of your home. Fallout does not behave like a gas. In areas that would be affected by dangerous amounts of fallout, the fallout particles would look like dirt or hand and you may see them after they have settled on the ground or other places.”

They also go on to explain that after the fallout has dusted the ground, it could be days or weeks before it’s safe to go outside again, so you’d also better have a few lunchables ready just in case.

This guide was only for homes with basements, as shown above, and other illustrations you can also see the Split-Level type home that was very prevalent in the 60′s. So what about single level homes? Apartments? There must be some of those guides out there, and I’d love to see them. Pure americana right there. I imagine though that the following image may be better suited towards those without a lot of time to prepare.

Now had they titled that pic “Dick disassembles his overactive child’s play fort” I’d believe that also. Good to know that those pants in my dresser I never wear could save me someday. And the kiddie pool up top? Just icing on the cake.

And are any of these airtight? Dunno, but since it’s only a big of radioactive dust that might just do a number on my front lawn for a spell, why worry?

Here’s the full article.