Expedient shelter handbook. Final report

Abstract

This aanual is designed to assist local civil defense organiza tions prepare plans consistent with the changing strategic conditions of the seventies. The Defense Civil Preparedness Agency is aoving into a new program of "all-hazards, all-contingencies" planning which will involve developing a crisis-oriented evacuation capability. This capability will increase the survivability of the population in the event of a. nuclear attack and will be a counter agrinst certain "nuclear blackmail" threats. Planning for t>e development of shelter capabilities for either an "in-place" or evacuated posture will re quire an ability to rapidly build large numbet3 of new expedient skelters in addition to upgrading existing f&llout shelters. {Ex pedient shelters are shelters which can be built under crisis con ditions, within 48 hours using only locally available materials, equipment, and labor.)Detailed step-by-step instructions and pictorial design draw ings of fifteen expedient shelters are included in the Appendices. The instructions and drawings for any of these shelters can be pre printed by local CD. organizations for rapid dissemination in a crisis. The shelter designs are simple enough that thev can be built by ordinary Americans, even ones who have had no previous building experience and who have no guidance other than these draw ings in! instructions. Many of the designs have been proof-tested (i.e., built under simulated crisis conditions by unskilled urban or rural people with no prior preparation other than reading these instructions for building one of these shelters). Designs and in structions for building Kearny A>.r Pumps (KAI-'s) and an expedient, quick-closing blast door are also included in the Appendices.It is recommended that all of these shelters, especially the designs that have not yet been built by average citizens, be proof-tested under simulated crisis conditions by ordinary civilians and that the experiences so gained be used to refine and improve the designs and instructions. It is recommended that all of these shelters, especially the designs that have not yet been bu.Ut by average citizens, be proof-tested under simulated crisis conditions by ordinary civilians and that the experiences so gained be used to refine and improve the designs and Instructions.