The purpose of Poetslife is to promote the art and discipline of American Tactical Civil Defense for families and small businesses and to contribute practical American civil defense preparedness guidance for all Americans through my articles in the The American Civil Defense Association (TACDA.ORG) Journal of Civil Defense and leadership as the volunteer Vice President of TACDA.

Showing posts sorted by relevance for query waterbricks. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query waterbricks. Sort by date Show all posts

7/04/2019

WaterBricks for Safe Water Storage

WaterBricks ensure you and your family have a safe water supply and that it is stored correctly to be clean and pure when you need it. 
I have used them for almost 10 years and find them rugged, easy to fill and store, carry and stack, and very dependable when I’ve needed them.
They sell for $180 for 10. At $18 a brick, they are reasonably priced. 
They are made in the USA by a veteran-owned business.
Water supplies can be cut off or contaminated. That is a fact. It happens daily. Yet, water is essential to health and life. By purchasing WaterBricks now and filling them with fresh, clean, safe-to-drink water, you will have abundant water for your family when you need it most.
On average, each of us uses 3 to 4 gallons of water a day. If your water supply is cut off, you will need to be able to access at least that much water each day. They are an easy and affordable way to satisfy that need.
I depend on a deep well for water and so I have to have store water for myself and my family. These are the best water storage items I've found. They don't leak and protect water for a very long time.

Due to their ergonomic design and comfortable, easy grip handle, WaterBricks are easy to carry individually or two at a time. 
You can take them where ever you need them. You can load one in the trunk of your car for emergencies, as I do in my car and in my wife’s and children’s cars.
Once in a power outage I brought the 1.6 gallon containers up and added them to my bathroom and my kid’s bathrooms. 
I installed the spigots to use to brush our teeth, wash our faces, and to drink. We enjoyed an uninterrupted supply of clean, safe water.

Avoid the panic of running to the grocery store BEFORE a hurricane, flood, earthquake, snowstorm, or power outage. 
Enjoy the peace of mind of knowing you and your family have clean water to drink, clean, bath and use. 
It is something you can control. 
By doing so, you will have one less thing to be concerned about in the stress of an event.
Your pets will thank you, too.

How You Can Use WaterBricks

To successfully manage disasters, the U.S. Marines have used a strategy that is summarized in their saying, “Improvise, Adapt and Overcome” for years. WaterBricks are a tool to put that strategy into practice before, during, and after a disaster.

WaterBrick’s make water storage easy. They can be stored in bedrooms, basements, kitchens, living and family rooms, and closets. Due to their Lego®-like design, they may be stack as a cube or tower.

They are available in two sizes: 3.5 gallon and 1.6 gallon. These two sizes allow for long-term storage and short-term use. Each also has a sturdy, comfortable handle for carrying and a rugged screw on lid with an anti-leak gasket. This lid can be removed and a spigot lid added to regulate the flow of water from the container.
In addition to water storage, WaterBricks may also be used for: food storage, to build walls, as an emergency float, for field showers, as a flood barrier, as a hunting blind, to store medical supplies, for sand bags, and to build houses.

The Well Designed and Highly Useful Spigot

An often-overlooked feature of water storage and use is how you get the water you need to flow when you need it. Water delivery involves pouring it out (often hard and wasteful) or, for greater efficiency, using a water spigot. The water spigot that attaches to the WaterBrick meets that requirement.
It is a wonder of utilitarian engineering. The base is easy to screw on. It has a gasket that keeps it tight and prevents any leaking. The valve uses a simple handle that you turn to open the water flow. Turn the handle back and the flow stops.
What this excellent spigot design means is that in a disaster situation, with the stress and disruption each means, you do not have to worry about getting a safe, clean water quickly. This spigot is especially easy for children, the elderly, and disabled to use.
As my family discovered during our power outage, it is so much easier to brush your teeth or wash your face using the spigot.

Carrying Handle

The carrying handle is ergonomically designed to be comfortable in your hand when carrying them. Two eyelet hooks at the top of the unit make it easy to install and remove the handle. 

Rubber Gasket

Each WaterBrick has a serrated lid with a rubber gasket for easy gripping and turning. The gasket keeps the water from leaking.

Additional WaterBrick Uses

Frozen WaterBricks may be stored in a refrigerator to preserve food or medications. Medications that require refrigeration can be kept usable during a power outage. Also, when the ice eventually melts, you can drink the resulting water.
Note: This is important to extending frozen food life during a power outage. And, if you need to keep insulin or other medications cold, this can be a lifesaver in the first few hours and days of the loss of power.
Although beyond the scope of this article, if you go to the WaterBrick company website (at the bottom of this article) you will see many other uses for them, such as to build furniture and shelter or to store ammunition, grain, food, coins, alcohol, sand bags, and more.

Dual Use Technology

WaterBricks are have so many uses they are a dual use technology. Unlike so many survival supplies that sit unused except in an emergency, they can be used year-round for multiple activities (parties, family events, company gatherings, hunting, etc.) that require safe, clean water.
You can fill them with water, sand or pea gravel and they will stop a bullet (see their website). You can use them dry to maintain a waterproof enclosure for storage. Or if you are camping or boating, you can bring a few along and have clean fresh water to drink, clean up, brush your teeth, wash your clothes or any other activity that requires water.
Or, to add weight for traction, place a few in the back of your pickup truck or car in the Winter. If you are stuck for a long time in the snow, you have water to survive.
With every disaster the first item that disappears from store shelves is water bottles. By keeping WaterBricks in your survival supplies, if you must flee, you can add them to your grab them to your grab and go kit and put them in your car or truck to use on the journey or at your next destination.
You can even include them for a picnic or tailgating with your favorite beverage!

WaterBrick Features

The main features of the WaterBrick product follow.
·         Made of tough, textured BPE-free HDPE (high density polyethylene resin)
·         3/32 inches thick
·         2 ½ pounds empty and 30 pounds full of water
·         Portable
·         Available in blue or tan
·         Each has two holes to help them be staked in place
·         Easy to carry
·         Easy to tie down and secure
·         Stackable (cross stacks and interlocks)
·         Interlocking male and female parts (Lego-like design)
·         Customize storage patterns
·         Save space (store under a bed, behind a couch, in a closet, etc.)
·         Versatile — May also store bulk food (beans, grain, oats, cereal, pet food), bullets, etc.
·         Durable and last for years
·         Useful for family and business events (parties, camping and others)

Standard Size Specifications

·         3.5 gallon container
·         9″ Width, 18″ Length, 6″ Height
·         Weight Empty – 2.52 pounds
·         150 can be cross stacked per pallet

Half Size Specifications

·         1.6 gallon container
·         9″ Width, 9″ Length, 6″ Height
·         Weight Empty – 1.17 pounds
·         300 can be stacked per pallet

Portable – At 3.5 gallons, it is small enough to carry with you in a time of need or to fit under beds or in the refrigerator.
Stackable – Cross stacks and interlocks up to 4 feet high in closets or the garage to create a bulk storage system. Insert standard ¾ inch PVC through the internal columns of these stackable containers for safer stacking heights.
Durable – These industrial-grade cross-stacking containers are durable enough to withstand a high impact air drop or be used as building blocks in transitional basic shelters. The ultra violet additive extends the product life up to 15 years.
Safe Dry Storage – Stores water, food, ammo or anything you want to keep dry. The resin used in this food grade container meets FDA standards and is BPA free making them safe storage containers for food and water (but not for fuels or oils).

Water Preserve Concentrate

Another useful product they offer at $17.95 is Water Preserver Concentrate. It is a liquid additive that disinfects, preserves and extends the safe storage life of emergency drinking water. It provides a guaranteed 5-year storage. It does not have the strong odor or taste of bleach.

One Final Caution: Never store water in used plastic milk cartons, water bottles, or soda bottles. All fall apart and in time are unsafe and unsanitary. They also break apart easily.
WaterBricks are an innovative, reasonably priced, multi-use disaster and emergency tool. I have used them for a decade and find them vital to a safe supply of clean, fresh water. 
They also have many other uses and are a vital addition to any family or businesses survival supplies.

For more detailed information on WaterBricks, see these links:

Website:          https://www.waterbrick.org/
Twitter:            https://twitter.com/WaterBrick


9/16/2013

WaterBricks for Emergencies


WaterBricks are a great way to store water, food, even  ammo, or to build furniture or shelter when needed. I have used them for some time and find them rugged, easy to fill, carry and stack, and very dependable. WaterBricks can be cross stacked and interlocked for easy storage and to build furniture or shelter.
I am on a well so I have to have a good source of emergency water, and these are the best water storage items I've ever found. They are like water LEGOs that stay in place, don't leak, and protect water for a very long time. I highly recommend WaterBricks, especially for those who are not connected to city water.
Note: These bricks can be frozen. This is important to extending frozen food life during a power outage. And, if you need to keep insulin cold for a diabetic, this can be a lifesaver in the first few hours and days of the loss of power.
You can order Waterbricks here. (online)
877 420 Water (phone)
1011 Crown Park Circle, Suite 100, Winter Garden, FL, www.WaterBrick.org

WaterBrick Features                                               Benefits

Notched Lid with Full Gasket
Notched design allows for an easy to open lid while the heavy duty full gasket provides a tight seal
Wide Lid Opening
An average adult can easily reach in for stored contents
Carry Handle
Offers easy comfort especially when carrying long distances on foot and, if necessary, is easily detachable
HDPE Plastic Resin
BPA free containers for water and food.  Made of resin that meets
FDA standards. Not for fuels or oils 
Ultra Violet Protectant
Non-bio degradable 15 year life or longer
Interlocking Male and Female Components
For stability and easy stacking while in transit on a pallet and when used as containers for water or food. Offers a smaller foot print thus saving storage space
Exterior Textured and Designed
Made to look like a real building block, rounded corners with texture & color to be aesthetically pleasing while showing like a finished product, all-in-one

AND...they can be used as sandbags to protect our military members: WaterBrick Sandbags.


10/12/2022

How to Mitigate Nuclear Weapons Effects

For an excellent talk about radiation and other effects of nuclear weapons, go to the TACDA (The American Civil Defense Association) presentation on YouTube by Sharron Packer.

And to best prepare yourself and your family to handle a nuclear event, I highly recommend you go to our TACDA (The American Civil Defense Association) Survival Store and get the items below.

More important, go to our archives and read our extensive collection of courses on nuclear and other disasters. It is your experience, brain, creativity, resourcefulness, grit, skill stack and knowledge that get you through a natural or manmade disaster. So bone up on your skills while also purchasing these items as a way of ensuring your survival and that of your family.

But you should buy and have on hand, at a minimum, the following TACDA items.

EMP Resistant Waterproof USB Drive to keep your essential data safe. Most small businesses go out of business after a fire or flood from loss of data, not the event. About 5% of the memory is our disaster preparation course work, so you can study up on that area. The other 95% is for you to back up your family and business data.

The Communist Chinese Party and the Chinese People Liberation's Army have been very open their plans to take down the United States via a cyber war. That war has been ongoing for approximately 20 years. Back up your data daily to ensure you can start over quickly after a major cyber or EMP attack. Even if that never happens, you have a device to store your data to start over after a major disaster event.

K-103 or Potassium Iodate to protect your thyroid from nuclear fallout absorption in your body. We have had to restock our supply multiple times, so be patient if you cannot get it delivered immediately. 
It is worth buying ours and not the cheap Chinese CCP knock off product. So many in California bought that sawdust when they were worried about the Fukishima cloud fallout.

WaterBricks are essential to keep enough clean, safe drinking and sanitary needs water available for the long term. Most means of storing water, like the milk cartons people recyle, are not safe of sanitary as bacteria grows in them. WaterBricks, in contrast, keep your water safe until you need it. 

Full Disclosure: I am the volunteer Vice President and have been writing civil defense articles for their Journal of Civil Defense for 15 years.

NOTE: Burns are the most far-reaching of any of the immediate nuclear weapons effects. Thermal radiation can cause burns through absorption of the energy by the skin, or by ignition of clothing as a result of fires started by the radiation. So stock up on burn treatment supplies. North American Rescue is your best source for burn treatment supplies.

Introduction
It's just regular science, not rocket science, and it is easy to learn again if we have the will to survive.

The energy characteristics and output from nuclear weapons differ significantly from conventional weapons.  Nuclear detonations exhibit much higher temperature within the fireball and produce peak temperatures of several hundred million degrees and intense x-ray heating that results in air pressure pulses of several million atmospheres. Conventional chemical explosions result in much lower temperatures and release the bulk of their energy as air blast and shock waves. 

In an atmospheric detonation, such as was deployed in Japan, it is the blast and thermal component of the nuclear explosion that is the major factor in destruction and death, not nuclear radiation, as the public believes.  The effective range of immediate harm to humans from nuclear radiation from the atmospheric explosion is much less than the effective range from blast and thermal heating. 
In order to limit the discussion of weapons effects to elementary terms, this discussion is based upon a single worst-case scenario. Probably the largest weapon that might be employed against a population would have a yield of less than one-megaton (or 1 million tons of TNT equivalent energy or simply 1 MT). However, a crude terrorist nuclear device would probably be in the range of a few thousand tons of TNT equivalent energy or a few KT).  The discussion here is based upon a nuclear detonation of 1 MT. 
 
 Yield
The destructive power of a nuclear weapon, when compared to the same amount of energy produced by TNT is defined as the ‘yield’ of the nuclear weapon. A 20-kiloton (KT) weapon, such as was detonated over Japan in World War II was equivalent in energy yield to 20,000 tons of TNT.  A 1-MT yield weapon is equivalent to 1 million tons of TNT. 

Types of Nuclear Weapons
Nuclear Weapons are much smaller in volume and mass than conventional weapons.  But nuclear detonation produce energy release thousands of times greater and over a shorter time period (chemical explosion – milliseconds, nuclear explosions – microseconds). The energy from a nuclear detonation can result from two basic nuclear processes—nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. 
The first nuclear weapons were only fission devices made from either uranium-235 (a relatively scarce isotope of uranium), or from a man-made isotope of plutonium, namely Plutonium-239. 

When certain isotopes of uranium or plutonium (U-235 or Pu-239 or fissile isotopes) are bombarded with neutrons, the nucleus of these isotopes can split apart (fission) releasing about 200 million electron volts of energy.  This energy release is about a 100 million times greater than the burning (oxidation) of a carbon atom in a fossil fuel.  Furthermore, during the fission process additional neutrons are released (typically two or more) and these neutrons can fission other fissile isotopes. This process if carefully designed can lead to a rapidly increasing chain reaction releasing a great amount of energy before the remaining fissile material is blown apart by the rapid increase of energy. Indeed, the essential design feature in the design of an effective nuclear weapon is containing the fissile material together for sufficient time to liberate the energy yield desired. 

The fusion and fission reactions produce energy in different ways.  Fusion occurs when two light isotopes (usually deuterium and tritium – heavy isotopes of hydrogen) at very high temperatures and pressures, unite and form a heavier isotope (usually helium). A fission reaction can produce both the high temperature and high radiation pressure required for fusion to occur and so in the design of all fusion weapons (often called thermonuclear systems) a primary fission reaction is used to initiate the secondary fusion reaction. One pound of the hydrogen isotope can release as much energy as is found in 26,000 tons of TNT.
 During the fusion process, high-energy neutrons are also liberated as in fission. These high-energy neutrons can cause a fission reaction in the abundant isotope, uranium-238. Some large yield, thermonuclear weapons use this fission-fusion-fission process.

Types of Bursts
Phenomena from weapons effects vary with the type of burst. The desired effects to be maximized dictate the burst type. The burst types fall into four basic categories:
 ·         Surface Burst
·         Air Burst
·         High Altitude Burst
·         Subsurface & Underwater Bursts

 Surface bursts maximize the reach of high overpressures and would most probably be used against hardened strategic targets such as missile launch control centers, harbors and submarine pens, and large airports. Destruction of ICBM silos, and deep underground shelters require ground bursts of 300 KT and greater. Ground bursts are also indicated if a planner wishes to maximize residual fallout radiation.
 An airburst is defined as an explosion that occurs below 100,000 feet elevation, but high enough so that the fireball of this explosion does not reach the surface of the earth. Airbursts extend the range of lower overpressures. Maximum blast damage of soft targets (such as cities) would occur from airbursts of MT yield weapons. Smaller yield air bursts exploded at optimum height of burst give more targeting flexibility in destroying important targets in a large city while allowing collateral damage to be held to a minimum. 

Bursts occurring above 100,000 feet elevation are defined as ‘high-altitude bursts’.  High altitude bursts are designed to cause an electro-magnetic pulse (EMP).  These high altitude radiations interact with the atmosphere and cause rapid EM changes and ionization, which seriously effect radio and radar signals and other critical electrical power dependent equipment. 
Most of the shock energy in underground or underwater detonations is contained below the surface. Much of the thermal and nuclear radiation is absorbed within a short distance of the explosion, contaminating the earth or water with radioactive fission products. 
Subsurface bursts are generally used during testing to minimize radiation fallout, or in wartime by means of burrowing missiles, which penetrate below the surface to destroy underground facilities. 

Thermal Radiation Exposure
Within less than a millionth of a second of the detonation, large amounts of energy in the form of invisible x-rays are absorbed within just a few meters of the atmosphere.  This leads to the formation of an extremely hot and luminous ionized mass called the fireball or plasma.  Even at a distance of 50 miles from a 1 MT burst, this fireball would appear as many times the brightness of the noonday sun.
The heat from the fireball is emitted in the form of thermal radiation or EM in the ultra violet, visible, and Infrared range.  The EM pulse travels at the speed of light and can persist up to several seconds, depending on the yield of the weapon, local clouds, and the height of the burst.  The thermal pulse from a 1-MT weapon lasts about 8 seconds.  If we were far enough away from the blast, and could drop and cover quickly, we would minimize the burns caused by this pulse.  At 8 miles from the detonation, only minimal structural damage takes place, but flash burns caused by the thermal pulse at that distance would cause severe burns if people were unprotected. Every effort should be made to limit exposure time. ‘Drop and cover’ is still a wise exercise to practice during a nuclear attack. 

Thermal Radiation Burns

Skin burns are classified as 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree. Third degree burns can occur out to 8.5 miles from a 1-MT burst. 
Second-degree burns occur at about the same range as the 1.4-psi overpressure level, which is about 10 miles from ground zero for a 1-MT airburst.  First-degree burns can occur from 10 to 12 miles from ground zero. Evasive actions are required in order to limit harm.

Evasive Actions
Much burn injury from large yield weapons can be avoided in the low overpressure area (1 psi to 2 psi), if protective shielding is found in the first seconds. The evasive action of ‘drop and cover’ should again be taught and exercised.
If there is any warning of incoming missiles, the best available shelter should be taken. Ditches, culverts, basements, or large structures would provide some shielding against the thermal pulse.
Materials inside rooms of buildings (such as curtains, upholstery, or papers) could be ignited by the thermal pulse of a nuclear blast. If sheltering in the home, efforts must be taken to extinguish fires that may be ignited in the home.
In areas of overpressure less than 2 psi, many residences will remain intact. Test results suggested that if there is adequate warning time, light colored drapes should be closed to shield upholstered furniture and beds from the thermal pulse, and electricity and gas should be turned off to avoid secondary fires. 
Experience has shown that ignition, such as would occur in upholstery, might remain smoldering and later rekindled. It is advisable to check for primary fires after the initial blast and then to check again after 15 minutes in order to extinguish any secondary fires that may be rekindled. Fire extinguishers should be supplied in your sheltered area for this purpose. 
Care should be taken never to look at the fireball. Because of the focusing action of the eye lens, the eyes can be temporarily or permanently injured and blinding may occur. 
Underground shelters will give total protection from the thermal pulse.  Of course, this requires an effective warning system to know when to enter the shelter. 
f there is an escalating crisis we should enter our shelters and remain there.  It is more probable, however, that a nuclear attack would come as a surprise–particularly from a terrorist attack.   The only initial warning may come from the electro-magnetic pulse. 

EMP Cause
All nuclear explosives induce sudden electrical currents and voltages, which can damage or destroy unprotected electrical and solid-state electronic equipment within line-of-sight of the explosion. The size of the area affected by an EMP increases with the height of the burst.  In a nuclear explosion 50 miles above the ground, the affected area on the earth will have a radius of about 600 miles.  A high altitude EMP (HEMP) from a nuclear explosion detonated at an altitude of 200 miles could produce a rapid electrical energy pulse on the order of 60,000 volts per square meter and could affect and even disable equipment within the entire continental United States.   Smaller EMP pulses produced at lower altitudes could cause cascading failures in an already stressed electric power infrastructure (transmission lines, transformers, etc) and also telecommunications. 
The affects of this type of weapon would not pose an immediate danger to people.  However, it could damage satellites, and computerized ignitions in automobiles disrupt telephone and radio communications, destroy navigational aids and computers, and would most probably cause electrical power distribution to be lost for many months.  Transportation would be paralyzed, food refrigeration and distribution would cease and water purification and sewer systems might fail. Financial institutions, hospitals, trade and production of goods and services would cease functioning.  Key infrastructures and utilities are interdependent and very vulnerable to electrical power interruption.  A recent report to the Congress stated “an EMP could have irreversible affects on our country’s ability to recover”. (Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack; Volume 1: Executive Report 2004).
Terrorist countries and their organizations understand our vulnerability and could use relatively unsophisticated missiles armed with nuclear weapons to produce a high altitude EMP (HEMP). 
Many nuclear strategists believe that if our country were attacked in a limited exchange or full-scale nuclear war, the attack would be initiated with a high altitude EMP to disable telecommunications. If this weapon were deployed by a satellite, we would likely have no warning before the explosion occurred.  Immediately after the HEMP, missiles would be launched against targets in the United States. 

Every occurrence of sudden power failure should be viewed as possibly having been caused by a high altitude nuclear explosion.   Certain simple tests will quickly reveal an EMP verses power loss from a natural cause. 

EMP Detection     
If an electrical power drop is detected, immediately check a corded phone to see if the telephones are functioning.  If there is no dial tone, you should do a second test using a battery-powered radio.  Approximately 5% of the radio stations in the United States have been hardened against EMP and could continue transmitting.  However, if you are unable to access several radio stations that normally transmit in your area, you should take shelter immediately.  Contact radio stations within your area to locate frequencies that may continue to transmit during this kind of an emergency. 
A simple power drop alarm can be constructed in the event the EMP was to occur while you are sleeping.  Ask a certified electrician to construct such an alarm using a relay switch, a 12-volt gel-cell battery, and a horn.  However, no solid-state electronics should be employed in the construction of this alarm. 

Protection of Equipment
During an escalating crises and when not in use, all sensitive equipment should be unplugged from the wall outlets.  Power cords should be wound into a coil.  Wherever possible, electronic equipment should be stored in an encompassing metal cage called a ‘Faraday cage’.  Metal garbage cans with tight fitting lids make good Faraday cages.  Insulate your equipment with toweling or cardboard before placing it into the can.  It is not necessary or even advisable to ground the can.  As a further precaution, fold metal screening material over the lip of the can before closing the lid to assure tight metal-to-metal contact. Do not place the can directly on a concrete floor. 
Ammunition boxes make good Faraday cages.  Remove any gasket material from the lid and sand the painted areas where the lid fits to the body of the can.  Do not store the can on metal shelves, which contact a concrete floor. 
Microwave ovens (not plugged in to an outlet) also make good Faraday cages.
Radios should not be attached to any antenna longer than 30 inches.  Remove all removable antennas and push all retractable antennas to the shortest possible length. 

Blast Effect and Over-pressure
In a 1 MT yield weapon, 10 seconds after the blast, the fireball is over a mile wide. In one minute it has grown to 4 1/2 miles from the point of burst. 
At the same time the fireball is forming and growing, a high-pressure wave develops and moves outward from the fireball. This blast wave is a moving wall of highly compressed air called a shock wave. In 10 seconds the blast wave has traveled 3 miles. In 50 seconds, it has traveled 12 miles and is then moving at slightly greater than the speed of sound (1000 feet per second).
We measure this pressure in pounds per square inch (psi). Normal ambient atmospheric pressure is about 15 psi. Any pressure over and above this level is considered to be ‘over-pressure’. 
Many unsheltered people can withstand and survive this shock wave and blast effect if they are outside the 5-mile radius of the detonation. 

Dynamic Effect
High velocity winds are associated with the blast effect, and the effects from the wind blast must be added to the effects of over-pressure. This effect is called the dynamic pressure. Dynamic pressure is proportional to the square of the wind velocity and the density of the air behind the shock front. 
Divers experience about l0 psi of over-pressure at a 23-foot depth and 20 psi at a 45-foot depth. If acclimatization to the pressure increase has been gradual, no ill effects will be experienced even though the pressure differential seems amazingly large.  Over-pressures experienced in a blast, however, are complicated by the sudden dynamic (blast wind) effect. 
A 20-psi over-pressure is associated with a wind velocity of 500 mph and without proper shelter; over-pressures of this strength cannot be survived. Injuries at over-pressures under 20 psi are due almost entirely to this dynamic effect. Blast winds at even 1-psi over-pressure can cause injury from flying glass fragments and other small sharp objects. 
The over-pressure from a 1-MT weapon at 4 miles is approximately 5 psi and the wind velocity is about 160 mph. At this distance it is generally believed people could survive outside a hardened blast shelter if they can find adequate sheltering which would give protection from the blast wind. Structures such as culverts, ditches, tunnels, caves, mines and basements could give adequate protection at this over-pressure level if the occupants were protected from falling debris. At over-pressures over 5-psi, however, a residential basement would not provide adequate blast protection. A discussion of expedient shelters is given in another lesson.
Many thousands of people live and work in areas considered by planners to be under the 5-psi over-pressure range, and would be saved if they can seek shelter in their basements. 

Radiation Effect and Fallout
Radiation is the most far reaching of all the weapons effects.  If the fireball of the weapon touches the ground, the blast is defined as a ground burst. In a ground burst, rock, soil, and other material in the area will be vaporized and taken up into the cloud.  Strong winds cause dust, dirt, and other particles to be sucked up into the fireball as well.  All of this debris is then mingled with fission products and radioactive residues and becomes radioactive itself.  As it cools, the debris falls from the cloud onto the ground. This material is what we call radioactive fallout.  It has been estimated that for every ton of yield, an equivalent one-half to one ton of matter is vaporized into the fireball.  In a one megaton explosion, there could be as much as 500,000 to l million tons of dirt and debris taken into the fireball, which will later fall to the ground as radioactive fallout. 

Protection From Fallout
Time – Radiation diminishes with time in a process called radioactive decay.  Each radioactive isotope has a unique ‘half-life’.  This is defined as the time required for the radioactivity of that isotope to diminish (or decay) to one half of its original value. The passage of 10 half lives for a given radioactive material reduces its activity by a factor of 1000. 
During the fission process in a nuclear detonation, hundreds of isotopes with different decay patterns are produced.  It has been found that the average decay rate for these radioactive products can be estimated with the 7 / 10 rule.  Simply stated, this rule states that for every seven-fold increase in time after detonation, there is a ten-fold decrease in the radiation exposure level. 

7/10 RULE – To estimate radiation levels from fallout by this rule, at 7 hours after the detonation, the level of radiation would be expected to be 1/10th of the original level.  At seven times seven hours (49 hours or about 2 days), the level would be 1/100th of the original level.   At seven times 2 days (or two weeks) the level would be 1/1000th of the original level. 

Distance – Radiation levels diminish with distance as well as time.  In a localized event, everyone within the area of radioactive fallout should find shelter or evacuate and move as far as possible from the location of the radioactive material. 

Shielding – Shielding also decreases (attenuates) radiation levels.  Four inches of soil will attenuate half of the gamma radiation from fallout.  This is called the ‘half-value’ thickness for shielding.  One ‘half value’ thickness gives a protection factor (PF) of 2. This rule is multiplicative.  A total of 8 inches of soil will provide additional reduction, or a PF of (2 x 2)=4.  Four more inches (a total of 12 inches of soil) will provide 3 halving thicknesses, or a PF of (2 x 2 x 2)=8.  The half value thickness for concrete is about 3 inches.  Ten layers of the halving thickness for any shield provide a protection factor of over 1000. 

Alpha Radiation
Alpha particles have a range of about 2 inches in air, and are completely stopped by the outside layers of the skin.  Therefore, alpha particles are not an external hazard.  However, they can do considerable damage internally. So it is essential not to breathe in or ingest alpha contaminated materials. Ventilation systems in fallout shelters should be fitted with filters to remove these materials from the breathable air. 

Beta Radiation
Energetic electrons (called Beta Particles) have a range of up to 12 feet.  Most fission products are beta emitters.  Beta radiation poses a small external hazard if the fission products in the fallout come into actual contact with the skin and remains there for an appreciable time.  This contact may result in a skin burn referred to as “beta burn”, which causes damage similar to sunburn.  Fallout should be brushed and/or washed from the hair and skin as soon as possible. 
Beta emitters cause considerable damage if they enter the body.  Alpha and Beta particles in fallout can enter the body through the digestive tract (through consumption of contaminated food and water), through the lungs, (by breathing contaminated air), or through wounds. 
Some radioactive elements tend to concentrate in specific organs in the body. The body cannot distinguish between the stable chemical element and the radioactive isotope of that chemical element.  Radioactive strontium and barium are similar in chemical nature to stable calcium and may be deposited in the bones. 
Care should be taken not to eat food, which has been contaminated with radioactive materials.  If the food has been carefully washed, however, it can safely be eaten.  Potatoes and carrots can be peeled; apples and other hard skinned fruits and vegetables can be washed clean of surface contamination.  Soft foods, such as strawberries, lettuce, bread, and such are not easily decontaminated and should be discarded unless they are known to be uncontaminated.  Canned food containers should be washed before opening. 
Animals, which have been exposed to radiation, may have significant levels of strontium and barium in fur and in their bodies.  These animals, if healthy appearing, may be slaughtered and eaten, if the bones and organs are discarded before the meat is cooked.
Iodine-131 generally poses the largest threat to humans because iodine chemicals are deposited in the thyroid.  Iodine can enter shelters in a gaseous form.  Ventilation systems must have good high efficiency filters to filter this radioactive element from the breathable air.
Thyroid blocking agents (TBA) are available commercially.  They are inexpensive and have a long shelf life.  TBA consists of iodine in the form of potassium iodide or iodate.  The thyroid fills with the healthy iodide and the radioactive iodine is then removed biologically from the body.  Regular iodine is poisonous and should not be taken internally.  Use only the commercial TBA at its recommended dosages.
TBA agents have an extremely bitter taste and will need to be consumed with other foods in order to cover the taste.  Children, in particular, will find the TBA to be distasteful.  The tablet form of TBA is more easily consumed than the liquid from the crystalline form. 
Iodine 131 has a half-life of 8 days and will be a threat for 10 half-lives, or approximately 3 months.  Enough thyroid-blocking agent should be stored for each person in the shelter for a 3-month period.  If there is no warning of an attack, TBA should be taken as soon as possible after a nuclear attack.  However, TBA is a strong medicine that has some undesirable side affects.  It should not be taken unless a nuclear attack has occurred or is believed to be eminent. TBA should be left in its originally packaging whenever possible until needed. 

Gamma Radiation
Gamma radiation is highly penetrating electromagnetic radiation and poses a sustained exposure threat for the first 2 weeks after a ground burst.  Gamma radiation is measured in Roentgens.  In a full-scale nuclear attack, over a two-week period, the accumulated radiation dose in some areas can be several thousand Roentgens. 
Gamma Radiation is reduced or attenuated by limiting time near the gamma source, distance from the source, and shielding (placing material mass between you and the source).  If whole body exposure is limited to less than 175 Roentgens, no medical care should be needed and there will be few if any anticipated deaths.  To attenuate the exposure anticipated in a full-scale nuclear attack to this level, a minimum radiation protection factor of 40 would be required. 
If at any time the dose rate exceeds 10 Roentgens per hour, the total exposure will exceed the 175 Roentgen level.  (Note that the value of 1 Roentgen is equivalent to about 1 rad or 1 rem). 
TABLE – RADIATION PENALTY TABLE
Acute Effects
Accum. Exposure
1 Week
Accum. Exposure
1 Month
Accum. Exposure
4 Months
Medical Care Not Needed
150 Roentgens
200 Roentgens
300 Roentgens
Some Need Medical Care
Few if Any Deaths
250 Roentgens
350 Roentgens
500 Roentgens
Most Need Medical Care
50% + may die
450 Roentgens
600 Roentgens
600 Roentgens
Lethal Dose
600 Roentgens


The accumulated exposure should not exceed those in the first row.  
If radiation levels reach 10/R/hr in the sheltered area, the doses in the first row will probably be exceeded.   
In this eventuality, the shielding in the sheltered area should be increased.  
In a full scale attack, about 35% of our population would be expected to exceed the above doses. 

EXPOSURE AT 30 MILES DOWNWIND (500 KT surface burst, 15 mph wind)
Time
In Open
In Shelter PF 15
In Shelter PF 40
1 Week
3450 Roentgens
230 Roentgens
86 Roentgens
1 Month
4100 Roentgens
273 Roentgens
103 Roentgens
4 Months
4500 Roentgens
300 Roentgens
113 Roentgens

Initial Radiation
Initial radiation exposure is considered to take place in about the first minute after the nuclear explosion.  
During the fission and fusion process, high-energy neutrons, x-rays and gamma rays are expelled from the fireball.
The threat of this initial radiation exposure from the nuclear explosion is confined to a radius of about 1.5 miles from ground zero. 
A very small percentage of the surviving unprotected population would be within range of this initial radiation.  
The blast and thermal effects would be fatal within this radius for unsheltered people.  
However, in a hardened blast and radiation shelter, people could survive all nuclear weapons effects, including initial radiation, at distances of 1/2 mile or more from ground zero. 
In the absence of a hardened shelter, any practical, available, expedient shelter should be utilized, since some shielding protection is offered from blast, thermal heating, and nuclear radiation.
See...not so complex. 

Given the current nuclear threat, Americans need to learn again what they once knew for how to counter the effects of nuclear weapons.

The first step is learning what it is...as above.