In Time Of Emergency by Department of Defense
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Department of Defense >> In Time Of Emergency
in time of
EMERGENCY
a citizen's handbook on
... NUCLEAR ATTACK
... NATURAL DISASTERS
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE
* * * * *
THIS HANDBOOK IS THE PROPERTY OF:
Name_____________________________________________
Address__________________________________________
LOCATION OF DESIGNATED FALLOUT SHELTER, OR SHELTER NEAREST TO:
Home_____________________________________________
School___________________________________________
Workplace________________________________________
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS:[1]
Ambulance________________________________________
Civil Defense____________________________________
Doctors__________________________________________
__________________________________________
Fire_____________________________________________
Health Department________________________________
Hospitals________________________________________
________________________________________
Police___________________________________________
Red Cross________________________________________
Utility Companies________________________________
________________________________
Weather Bureau___________________________________
Other____________________________________________
* * * * *
IN TIME OF EMERGENCY
A CITIZEN'S HANDBOOK ON
--NUCLEAR ATTACK
--NATURAL DISASTERS
The Office of Civil Defense gratefully acknowledges the assistance
provided by representatives of the following agencies and organizations
in the preparation of material for this handbook:
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Commerce; Environmental Science Services
Administration; Weather Bureau
U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; Public
Health Service
Office of Emergency Planning, Executive Office of the President
American Medical Association; Committee on Disaster Medical
Care
American National Red Cross
National Geographic Society
National Association of State Civil Defense Directors
United States Civil Defense Council
The Office of Civil Defense, however, is solely responsible for the
validity and accuracy of the information in the handbook.
* * * * *
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
PART I: NUCLEAR ATTACK
Chapter 1--Checklist of Emergency Actions
Chapter 2---Understand the Hazards of Nuclear Attack
Chapter 3--Know About Warning
Chapter 4--Fallout Shelters, Public and Private
Chapter 5--Improvising Fallout Protection
Chapter 6--Supplies for Fallout Shelters
Chapter 7--Water, Food, and Sanitation in a Shelter
Chapter 8--Fire Hazards
Chapter 9--Emergency Care of the Sick and Injured
PART II: MAJOR NATURAL DISASTERS
Chapter 1--General Guidance
Chapter 2--Floods and Hurricanes
Chapter 3--Tornadoes
Chapter 4--Winter Storms
Chapter 5--Earthquakes
Index
* * * * *
INTRODUCTION
A major emergency affecting a large number of people may occur anytime
and anywhere.
It may be a peacetime disaster such as a flood, tornado, fire,
hurricane, blizzard or earthquake. It could be an enemy nuclear attack
on the United States.
In any type of general disaster, lives can be saved if people are
prepared for the emergency, and know what actions to take when it
occurs.
With the aid of Federal and State governments, cities and counties in
all parts of the country are developing their local civil defense
systems--the fallout shelters, supporting equipment and emergency plans
needed to reduce the loss of life from an enemy attack.
While these local government systems have been set up mainly as
safeguards against nuclear attack, they have saved lives and relieved
suffering in many major peacetime disasters. People have been warned of
impending storms and similar dangers, told how to protect themselves,
sheltered from the elements, fed and clothed, treated for injury and
illness, and given help in resuming their normal lives. Experience has
shown that as cities, counties and towns develop their systems to
preserve life under nuclear attack conditions, they also become better
prepared to deal effectively with peacetime disasters.
In cooperation with the U.S. Office of Civil Defense and the States,
many local governments are improving their civil defense systems by
preparing community shelter plans. These plans include instructions to
local citizens on what to do in the event of nuclear attack.
This handbook, "In Time of Emergency," contains basic general
information on both nuclear attack and major natural disasters. This
general guidance supplements the specific instructions issued by local
governments. Since special conditions may exist in some communities, the
local instructions may be slightly different from this general guidance.
In those cases, the local instructions should be followed.
Part I (pages 3-68) is concerned with nuclear attack and basic actions
to take.
Part II (pages 69-86) discusses preparations and emergency actions that
will help individuals cope with major natural disasters--floods,
hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, and earthquakes.
In addition to following the advice given in this handbook and the
instructions of their local governments, people can prepare themselves
better to meet any major disaster by taking training courses to develop
their "emergency skills." Especially recommended are these courses:
"PERSONAL AND FAMILY SURVIVAL" (12-hour course)--A basic orientation
course in civil defense, which also tells people how to improve their
protection against the effects of a nuclear attack.
"MEDICAL SELF-HELP" (16-hour course)--How to care for the sick and
injured if a doctor or nurse is not available.
"FIRST AID" (courses of various lengths)--How to help the sick and
injured until professional medical assistance is obtained.
"CARE OF THE SICK AND INJURED" (12-hour course)--How to care for
patients after they have received professional medical treatment.
Information on these free courses, which are given in most communities,
is available from local Civil Defense Offices, County Agricultural
Extension Agents, local public health departments, or American Red Cross
chapters. Special advice for rural families on emergency actions related
to crops and livestock is available from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture.
* * * * *
PART ONE
NUCLEAR ATTACK
A nuclear attack against the United States would take a high toll of
lives. But our losses would be much less if people were prepared to meet
the emergency, knew what actions to take, and took them.
A nationwide civil defense system now exists in the United States, and
is being enlarged and improved constantly. The heart of this system is
fallout shelter to protect people from the radioactive fallout that
would result from a nuclear attack. The system also includes warning and
communications networks, preparations to measure fallout radiation,
control centers to direct lifesaving and recovery operations, emergency
broadcasting stations, local governments organized for emergency
operations, large numbers of citizens trained in emergency skills, and
U.S. military forces available to help civil authorities and the public
in a time of emergency.
If an enemy should threaten to attack the United States, you would not
be alone. The entire Nation would be mobilizing to repulse the attack,
destroy the enemy, and hold down our own loss of life. Much assistance
would be available to you--from local, State and Federal governments,
from the U.S. armed forces units in your area, and from your neighbors
and fellow-Americans. If an attack should come, many lives would be
saved through effective emergency preparations and actions.
You can give yourself and your family a much better chance of surviving
and recovering from a nuclear attack if you will _take time now to:_
Understand the dangers you would face in an attack.
Make your own preparations for an attack.
Learn what actions you should take at the time of attack.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 1
CHECKLIST OF EMERGENCY ACTIONS
* KNOW YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
* Find out from your local government your local plan for
emergency action.
* Determine the specific actions you and members of your
family are expected to take.
* UNDERSTAND NUCLEAR ATTACK HAZARDS (See Chapter 2, page 9)
On the widespread threat of fallout, remember:
* The most dangerous period is the first 24 hours after
fallout arrives. But you might have to use fallout shelter
for up to two weeks.
* Highly dangerous amounts of fallout are visible. They look
like particles of sand or salt.
* There is little danger that adults could inhale or swallow
enough fallout particles to hurt them. Small children,
however, could be injured by drinking contaminated water or
milk.
* A person exposed to fallout radiation does _not_ become
radioactive. Radiation sickness is _not_ contagious; one
person cannot "catch it" from another person.
* KNOW THE ATTACK WARNING SIGNAL (See Chapter 3, page 17)
* On outdoor warning devices, the Attack Warning Signal is
a _3- to 5-minute_ wavering sound, or a series of short blasts
on whistles or horns.
* This signal means: An enemy attack against the United
States has been detected. _Take protective action_. (This
signal
has no other meaning, and will be used for no other purpose.)
* On warning, don't use the phone. Get information from radio.
* KNOW THE LOCATION OF FALLOUT SHELTER (See Chapter 4, page 23)
* Public shelters are marked like this.
* Good shelters can be prepared in homes with basements.
* IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE, IMPROVISE PROTECTION (See Chapter 5, page
33)
Remember:
* A basement corner below ground level, or a storm cellar, is
the best place to improvise fallout protection.
* For the best possible protection, use heavy and dense
materials
for shielding.
* PREPARE EMERGENCY SUPPLIES (See Chapter 6, page 39)
Especially important are:
* Water and other liquids.
* Food requiring no cooking.
* Special medicines.
* CONSERVE EMERGENCY SUPPLIES; MAINTAIN SANITATION (See Chapter 7, page
45)
* REDUCE FIRE HAZARDS (See Chapter 8, page 51)
* KNOW THE BASICS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE (See Chapter 9, page 55)
If no doctor is available, especially important are actions
to:
* Restore breathing.
* Stop serious bleeding.
* Treat for shock.
* Treat broken bones and burns.
* FOLLOW OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS
* * * * *
CHAPTER 2
UNDERSTAND THE HAZARDS OF NUCLEAR ATTACK
SUMMARY
1. The main hazards of a nuclear attack are blast, heat, fire, and
fallout radiation.
2. You _may_ be able to protect yourself against blast and heat by
getting inside a shelter or taking cover, before the nuclear explosions
occur. You may be able to avoid fire injuries by putting out small
fires or escaping from large fires that might occur in your area.
3. You _can_ protect yourself against fallout radiation by getting
inside a fallout shelter--if possible, before fallout particles begin
drifting down--and by staying there until you are told to come out by
authorities who have the equipment to measure radiation levels.
4. After a nuclear attack, food and water would be available to most
people, and it would be usable. If any fallout particles have collected,
they could be removed before the food is eaten or the water is
drunk. People suffering from extreme hunger or thirst should not be
denied food or water, even if the available supplies are not known to
be free of fallout particles or other radioactive substances.
5. Infants and small children should be fed canned or powdered milk
(if available) for awhile after the attack, unless the regular milk
supply is uncontaminated. They should not be given water that may
contain radioactive substances, if other water known to be pure is
available.
6. A person cannot "catch" radiation sickness from another person.
UNDERSTAND THE HAZARDS OF NUCLEAR ATTACK
When a nuclear bomb or missile explodes, the main effects produced are
intense light (flash), heat, blast, and radiation. How strong these
effects are depends on the size and type of the weapon; how far away the
explosion is; the weather conditions (sunny or rainy, windy or still);
the terrain (whether the ground is flat or hilly); and the height of the
explosion (high in the air, or near the ground).
All nuclear explosions cause light, heat and blast, which occur
immediately. In addition, explosions that are on or close to the ground
would create large quantities of dangerous radioactive fallout
particles, most of which would fall to earth during the first 24 hours.
Explosions high in the air would create smaller radioactive particles,
which would not have any real effect on humans until many months or
years later, if at all.[2]
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN AN ENEMY ATTACK
If the U.S. should be attacked, the people who happened to be close to a
nuclear, explosion--in the area of heavy destruction--probably would be
killed or seriously injured by the blast, or by the heat of the nuclear
fireball.
People a few miles away--in the "fringe area" of the explosion--would
be endangered by the blast and heat, and by fires that the explosion
might start. However, it is likely that most of the people in the fringe
area would survive these hazards.
People who were _outside_ the fringe area would not be affected by the
blast, heat or fire. Department of Defense studies show that in any
nuclear attack an enemy might launch against us, tens of millions of
Americans would be outside the fringe areas. To them--and to people in
the fringe areas who survived the blast, heat and fire--radioactive
fallout would be the main danger. Protective measures against this
danger can be taken.
WHAT IS FALLOUT?
When a nuclear weapon explodes near the ground, great quantities of
pulverized earth and other debris are sucked up into the nuclear cloud.
There the radioactive gases produced by the explosion condense on and
into this debris, producing radioactive fallout particles. Within a
short time, these particles fall back to earth--the larger ones first,
the smaller ones later. On the way down, and after they reach the
ground, the radioactive particles give off invisible gamma rays--like
X-rays--too much of which can kill or injure people. These particles
give off most of their radiation quickly; therefore the first few hours
or days after an attack would be the most dangerous period.
In dangerously affected areas the particles themselves would look like
grains of salt or sand; but the _rays_ they would give off could not be
seen, tasted, smelled or felt. Special instruments would be required to
detect the rays and measure their intensity.
FALLOUT WOULD BE WIDESPREAD
The distribution of fallout particles after a nuclear attack would
depend on wind currents, weather conditions and other factors. There is
no way of predicting in advance what areas of the country would be
affected by fallout, or how soon the particles would fall back to earth
at a particular location.
Some communities might get a heavy accumulation of fallout, while
others--even in the same general area--might get little or none. No area
in the U.S. could be sure of _not_ getting fallout, and it is probable
that some fallout particles would be deposited on most of the country.
Areas close to a nuclear explosion might receive fallout within 15-30
minutes. It might take 5-10 hours or more for the particles to drift
down on a community 100 or 200 miles away.
Generally, the first 24 hours after fallout began to settle would be the
most dangerous period to a community's residents. The heavier particles
falling during that time would still be highly radioactive and give off
strong rays. The lighter particles falling later would have lost much of
their radiation high in the atmosphere.
FALLOUT CAUSES RADIATION SICKNESS
The invisible gamma rays given off by fallout particles can cause
radiation sickness--that is, illness caused by physical and chemical
changes in the cells of the body. If a person receives a large dose of
radiation, he will die. But if he receives only a small or medium dose,
his body will repair itself and he will get well. The same dose received
over a short period of time is more damaging than if it is received over
a longer period. Usually, the effects of a given dose of radiation are
more severe in very young and very old persons, and those not in good
health.
No special clothing can protect people against gamma radiation, and no
special drugs or chemicals can prevent large doses of radiation from
causing damage to the cells of the body. However, antibiotics and other
medicines are helpful in treating infections that sometimes follow
excessive exposure to radiation (which weakens the body's ability to
fight infections).
Almost all of the radiation that people would absorb from fallout
particles would come from particles _outside_ their own bodies. Only
simple precautions would be necessary to avoid swallowing the particles,
and because of their size (like grains of sand) it would be practically
impossible to inhale them.
People exposed to fallout radiation do _not_ become radioactive and
thereby dangerous to other people. Radiation sickness is not contagious
or infectious, and one person cannot "catch it" from another person.
PROTECTION IS POSSIBLE
People can protect themselves against fallout radiation, and have a good
chance of surviving it, by staying inside a fallout shelter. In most
cases, the fallout radiation level outside the shelter would decrease
rapidly enough to permit people to leave the shelter within a few days.
Even in communities that received heavy accumulations of fallout
particles, people soon might be able to leave shelter for a few minutes
or a few hours at a time in order to perform emergency tasks. In most
places, it is unlikely that full-time shelter occupancy would be
required for more than a week or two.
MANY KINDS OF FALLOUT SHELTERS
The farther away you are from the fallout particles outside, the less
radiation you will receive. Also, the building materials (concrete,
brick, lumber, etc.) that are between you and the fallout particles
serve to absorb many of the gamma rays and keep them from reaching you.
A fallout shelter, therefore, does not need to be a special type of
building or an underground bunker. It can be _any space_, provided the
walls and roof are thick or heavy enough to absorb many of the rays
given off by the fallout particles outside, and thus keep dangerous
amounts of radiation from reaching the people inside the structure.
A shelter can be the basement or inner corridor of any large building;
the basement of a private home; a subway or tunnel; or even a backyard
trench with some kind of shielding material (heavy lumber, earth,
bricks, etc.) serving as a roof.
In addition to protecting people from fallout radiation, most fallout
shelters also would provide some limited protection against the blast
and heat effects of nuclear explosions that were not close by.
Chapter 4 (pages 23-32) discusses the various types of fallout shelters
that people can use to protect themselves in case of nuclear attack.
FOOD AND WATER WOULD BE AVAILABLE AND USABLE
From many studies, the Federal Government has determined that enough
food and water would be available after an attack to sustain our
surviving citizens. However, temporary food shortages might occur in
some areas, until food was shipped there from other areas.
Most of the Nation's remaining food supplies would be usable after an
attack. Since radiation passing through food does not contaminate it,
the only danger would be the actual swallowing of fallout particles that
happened to be on the food itself (or on the can or package containing
the food), and these could be wiped or washed off. Reaping, threshing,
canning and other processing would prevent any dangerous quantities of
fallout particles from getting into processed foods. If necessary to
further protect the population, special precautions would be taken by
food processors.
Water systems might be affected somewhat by radioactive fallout, but the
risk would be small, especially if a few simple precautions were taken.
Water stored in covered containers and water in covered wells would not
be contaminated after an attack, because the fallout particles could not
get into the water. Even if the containers were not covered (such as
buckets or bathtubs filled with emergency supplies of water), as long as
they were indoors it is highly unlikely that fallout particles would get
into them.
Practically all of the particles that dropped into open reservoirs,
lakes, and streams (or into open containers or wells) would settle to
the bottom. Any that didn't would be removed when the water was filtered
before being pumped to consumers. A small amount of radioactive material
might dissolve in the water, but at most this would be of concern for
only a few weeks.
Milk contamination from fallout is not expected to be a serious problem
after an attack. If cows graze on contaminated pasture and swallow
fallout particles that contain some radioactive elements, their milk
might be harmful to the thyroid glands of infants and small children.
Therefore, if possible, they should be given canned or powdered milk for
a few weeks if authorities say the regular milk supply is contaminated
by radioactive elements.
In summary, the danger of people receiving harmful doses of fallout
radiation through food, water or milk is very small. People suffering
from extreme hunger or thirst should not be denied these necessities
after an attack, even if the only available supplies might contain
fallout particles or other radioactive substances.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 3
KNOW ABOUT WARNING
SUMMARY
BEFORE AN EMERGENCY
1. Learn what outdoor warning signals are used in your community, what
they sound like, what they mean, and what actions you should take when
you hear them.
2. Make sure you know the difference between the Attack Warning Signal
and the Attention or Alert Signal (if both are used in your community).
DURING AN EMERGENCY
1. When you hear the warning signals, or warning information is
broadcast, take prompt action.
2. If the Attack Warning Signal sounds, go to a fallout shelter
immediately (unless your local government has told you to do something
else). After you are in shelter, listen to a radio for more information
and instructions.
3. If there is no public or private shelter you can go to, try to
improvise some fallout protection. As a last resort, take cover in the
best available place.
4. If there should be a nuclear flash--especially if you feel the warmth
from it--take cover _instantly_, and then move to a fallout shelter
later.
KNOW ABOUT WARNING
An enemy attack on the United States probably would be preceded by a
period of international tension or crisis. This crisis period would help
alert all citizens to the _possibility_ of attack.
If an attack actually occurs, it is almost certain that incoming enemy
planes and missiles would be detected by our networks of warning
stations in time for citizens to get into shelters or at least take
cover. This warning time might be as little as 5-15 minutes in some
locations, or as much as an hour or more in others.
How you received warning of an attack would depend on where you happened
to be at that time. You might hear the warning given on radio or
television, or even by word-of-mouth. Or your first notice of attack
might come from the outdoor warning system in your own city, town or
village.
Many U.S. cities and towns have outdoor warning systems, using sirens,
whistles, horns or bells. Although they have been installed mainly to
warn citizens of enemy attack, some local governments also use them in
connection with natural disasters and other peacetime catastrophes.
Different cities and towns are using their outdoor warning systems in
different ways. Most local governments, however, have decided to use a
certain signal to warn people of an enemy attack, and a different signal
to notify them of a peacetime disaster.
THE STANDARD WARNING SIGNALS
The two "standard" signals that have been adopted in _most_ communities
are these:
THE ATTACK WARNING SIGNAL. This will be sounded only in case of enemy
attack. The signal itself is a 3- to 5-minute _wavering sound_ on the
sirens, or a _series of short blasts_ on whistles, horns or other
devices, repeated as deemed necessary. The Attack Warning Signal means
that an actual enemy attack against the United States has been detected,
and that protective action should be taken immediately. This signal has
no other meaning, and will be used for no other purpose.