SUPPLIES FOR FALLOUT SHELTERS
People gathered in public and private fallout shelters to escape fallout radiation after a nuclear attack would have to stay there--at least part of the time--for a week or two.
During this time they would need certain supplies and equipment in order to stay alive and well, and to cope with emergency situations that might occur in their shelters.
This chapter tells you what supplies and equipment to take with you if you go to a public fallout shelter, and what items you should keep on hand if you plan to use a family fallout shelter at home.
What To Take to a Public Fallout Shelter
To augment the supply of food and liquids usually found in large buildings, most public fallout shelters are stocked--and others are being stocked--with emergency supplies. These include water containers, emergency food rations, sanitation items, basic medical supplies, and instruments to measure the radiation given off by fallout particles.
If the public shelter you will use in a time of attack contains these or other emergency supplies, you should plan to take with you only these additional items:
--Special medicines or foods required by members of your family, such as insulin, heart tablets, dietetic food or baby food.
--A blanket for each family member.
--A battery-powered radio, a flashlight, and extra batteries.
If the public shelter you are going to does not contain emergency supplies, you should take with you all the above items, plus as much potable liquids (water, fruit and vegetable juices, etc.) and ready-to-eat food as you can carry to the shelter.
If you intend to use a home fallout shelter, you should gather together now all the things you and your family would need for 2 weeks, even though you probably wouldn't have to remain inside shelter for that entire period.
All these items need not be stocked in your home shelter area. They can be stored elsewhere in or around your house, as long as you could find them easily and move them to your shelter area quickly in a time of emergency.
• The Absolute Necessities. There are a few things you must have. They are water, food, sanitation supplies, and any special medicines or foods needed by family members such as insulin, heart tablets, dietetic food and baby food.
• The Complete List. In addition to the absolute necessities, there are other important items. Some of them may be needed to save lives. At the least, they will be helpful to you. Here is a list of all major items--both essential and desirable.
WATER. This is even more important than food. Enough water should be available to give each person at least one quart per day for 14 days. Store it in plastic containers, or in bottles or cans. All should have tight stoppers. Part of your water supply might be "trapped" water in the pipes of your home plumbing system, and part of it might be in the form of bottled or canned beverages, fruit or vegetable juices, or milk. A water-purifying agent (either water-purifying tablets, or 2 percent tincture of iodine, or a liquid chlorine household bleach) should also be stored, in case you need to purify any cloudy or "suspicious" water that may contain bacteria.
FOOD. Enough food should be kept on hand to feed all shelter occupants for 14 days, including special foods needed by infants, elderly persons, and those on limited diets. Most people in shelter can get along on about half as much food as usual. If possible store canned or sealed-package foods, preferably those not requiring refrigeration or cooking. These should be replaced periodically. Here is a table showing the suggested replacement periods, in months, for some of the types of food suitable to store for emergency use.[3]
| Milk: | Months |
| Evaporated | 6 |
| Nonfat dry or whole dry milk, | |
| inmetal container | 6 |
| Canned meat, poultry, fish: | |
| Meat, poultry | 18 |
| Fish | 12 |
| Mixtures of meats, vegetables, | |
| cereal products | 18 |
| Condensed meat-and-vegetable | |
| soups | 8 |
| Fruits and vegetables: | |
| Berries and sour cherries, | |
| canned | 6 |
| Citrus fruit juices, canned | 6 |
| Other fruits and fruit juices,canned | 18 |
| Dried fruit, in metal container | 6 |
| Tomatoes, sauerkraut, canned | 6 |
| Other vegetables, canned | |
| (including dry beans anddry peas) | 18 |
| Cereals and baked goods: | |
| Ready-to-eat cereals: | |
| In metal container | 12 |
| In original paper package | 1 |
| Uncooked cereal (quick-cookingor instant): | |
| In metal container | 24 |
| In original paper package | 12 |
| Hydrogenated (or antioxidant-treated) | |
| fats, vegetable oil | 12 |
| Sugars, sweets, nuts: | |
| Sugar | will keep indefinitely |
| Hard candy, gum | 18 |
| Nuts, canned | 12 |
| Instant puddings | 12 |
| Miscellaneous: | |
| Coffee, tea, cocoa (instant) | 18 |
| Dry cream product (instant) | 12 |
| Bouillon products | 12 |
| Flavored beverage powders | 24 |
| Salt | will keep indefinitely |
| Flavoring extracts (e.g., pepper) | 24 |
| Soda, baking powder | 12 |
SANITATION SUPPLIES. Since you may not be able to use your regular bathroom during a period of emergency, you should keep on hand these sanitation supplies: A metal container with a tight-fitting lid, to use as an emergency toilet; one or two large garbage cans with covers (for human wastes and garbage); plastic bags to line the toilet container; disinfectant; toilet paper; soap; wash cloths and towels; a pail or basin; and sanitary napkins.
MEDICINES AND FIRST AID SUPPLIES. This should include any medicines being regularly taken, or likely to be needed, by family members. First aid supplies should include all those found in a good first aid kit (bandages, antiseptics, etc.), plus all the items normally kept in a well-stocked home medicine chest (aspirin, thermometer, baking soda, petroleum jelly, etc.). A good first aid handbook is also recommended.
INFANT SUPPLIES. Families with babies should keep on hand a two-week stock of infant supplies such as canned milk or baby formula, disposable diapers, bottles and nipples, rubber sheeting, blankets and baby clothing. Because water for washing might be limited, baby clothing and bedding should be stored in larger-than-normal quantities.
COOKING AND EATING UTENSILS. Emergency supplies should include pots, pans, knives, forks, spoons, plates, cups, napkins, paper towels, measuring cup, bottle opener, can opener, and pocket knife. If possible, disposable items should be stored. A heat source also might be helpful, such as an electric hot plate (for use if power is available), or a camp stove or canned-heat stove (in case power is shut off). However, if a stove is used indoors, adequate ventilation is needed.
CLOTHING. Several changes of clean clothing--especially undergarments and socks or stockings--should be ready for shelter use, in case water for washing should be scarce.
BEDDING. Blankets are the most important items of bedding that would be needed in a shelter, but occupants probably would be more comfortable if they also had available pillows, sheets, and air mattresses or sleeping bags.
FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT. Simple fire fighting tools, and knowledge of how to use them, may be very useful. A hand-pumped fire extinguisher of the inexpensive, 5-gallon, water type is preferred. Carbon tetrachloride and other vaporizing-liquid type extinguishers are not recommended for use in small enclosed spaces, because of the danger of fumes. Other useful fire equipment for home use includes buckets filled with sand, a ladder, and a garden hose.
GENERAL EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS. The essential items in this category are a battery-powered radio and a flashlight or lantern, with spare batteries. The radio might be your only link with the outside world, and you might have to depend on it for all your information and instructions, especially for advice on when to leave shelter.
Other useful items: a shovel, broom, axe, crowbar, kerosene lantern, short rubber hose for siphoning, coil of half-inch rope at least 25 feet long, coil of wire, hammer, pliers, screwdriver, wrench, nails and screws.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. In addition to such practical items as matches, candles, and civil defense instructions, some personal convenience items could be brought into the home shelter if space permits. These might include books and magazines, writing materials, a clock and calendar, playing cards and hobby materials, a sewing kit, and toiletries such as toothbrushes, cosmetics, and shaving supplies.