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IN TIME OF EMERGENCY
This government publication has been electronically transcribed by a
volunteer member of LIVE FREE INTERNATIONAL, the country's largest non-
profit survival education group, in order to place basic emergency
information in the hands (and computers) of as many citizens as possible.
Live Free International does not necessarily endorse the views of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, and no endorsement by or association
with the Federal Emergency Management Agency is claimed or implied by Live
Free International.
Printed copies of this document may be ordered from-
U.S. General Services Administration
Consumer Information Center
P.O. Box 100
Pueblo, CO 81002
Write to them for current prices.
LIVE FREE INTERNATIONAL publishes a monthly newsletter, Directions,
and offers a series of papers dealing with various aspects of emergency
preparedness. We also offer a wide range of activities, including periodic
field exercises to teach and practice the skills of emergency preparedness
and self-sufficiency like our annual National Survival Week, held at our
National Training Center in Harrisburg, MO. Live Free membership costs
$20.00 per year, and overseas and life memberships are available.
For more information on our programs and services, write to:
LIVE FREE INTERNATIONAL
P.O. BOX 1743
HARVEY, IL 60426
Please enclose $2.00 to help with our printing and postage costs.
**************************************************************************
IN TIME OF EMERGENCY
a citizen's handbook on
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
For additional information contact:
Office of Public Affairs
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Washington, D.C. 20472
***FEMA Publication H-14***
Reprinted 1980
Electronic entry 1991 by J.P. Wieser - Live Free International
P.O. Box 1743 Harvey IL 60426
This is a public domain document.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
INTRODUCTION..........................................................iii
PART I: NUCLEAR ATTACK................................................vii
Chapter 1: Understanding the Hazards of Nuclear Attack............1
Chapter 2: Warning...............................................11
Chapter 3: Fallout Shelters, Public and Private..................17
Chapter 4: Improvising Fallout Protection........................29
Chapter 5: Shelter Living........................................35
Chapter 6: Fire Hazards..........................................45
Chapter 7: The Relocation Option.................................49
Chapter 8: Emergency Care of the Sick and Injured................57
PART II: MAJOR NATURAL DISASTERS.....................................71
Chapter 1: General Guidance......................................73
Chapter 2: Floods................................................77
Chapter 3: Hurricanes............................................83
Chapter 4: Tornadoes.............................................87
Chapter 5: Winter Storms.........................................89
Chapter 6: Earthquakes...........................................93
Chapter 7: Tidal Waves...........................................97
Page iii
INTRODUCTION
The primary purpose of this handbook, In Time Of Emergency, is to
save lives. It is addressed directly to the individual and the family to
provide them with information and guidance on what they can and should do
to enhance their survival in the event of nationwide nuclear attack or
other major disasters.
This guidance is general in nature and should supplement specific
instructions issued by local governments. Since special conditions exist
in some communities, local instructions issued by local governments may
differ slightly from this general guidance. In such cases, the local
instructions should be followed.
Cities and counties in all parts of the country, with the aid of
Federal and state governments, have developed and are continuing to
develop civil preparedness programs to reduce the loss of life and protect
property in the event of major peacetime emergencies and enemy attack.
Many lives have been saved and much suffering has been alleviated as a
result of these programs. People have been warned of impending storms and
similar dangers, told how to protect themselves, sheltered from the
elements, fed, clothed, treated for injury and illness, and given help in
resuming their normal lives.
Part I (pages viii - 68) is concerned with nuclear attack and basic
preparations to take.
Part II (pages 71 - 98) discusses preparations and emergency actions
that will help individuals cope with major natural disasters- floods,
hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, earthquakes, and tidal waves.
Special advice for rural families on emergency actions related to
crops and livestock is available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
PAGE viii
PART ONE - NUCLEAR ATTACK
In this uneasy age in which we live, strife abounds in many troubled
parts of the world. The weapons of modern warfare have become increasingly
powerful and numerous. Potential aggressors can deliver nuclear warheads
accurately on targets up to 8,000 miles away.
Despite continuing efforts to achieve and maintain peace, a nuclear
attack upon the United States remains a distinct possibility. In the face
of this threat, a strong civil defense is needed not only throughout
government, but on the part of the individual and the family. And that is
what this first section is all about- to help the individual and the
family prepare for the possibility of nuclear attack.
Much has been done to prepare for a possible nuclear attack. Public
fallout shelter space has been located for millions. Civil defense systems
also include warning and communication networks, preparations to measure
fallout radiation, emergency operating centers to direct lifesaving and
recovery operations, emergency broadcasting stations, local governments
organized for emergency operations, and large numbers of citizens trained
in emergency skills.
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 an attack.
Every family or individual should give special attention to plan for
shelter. depending upon your location and upon various circumstances, one
of three possible shelter options may be available to you:
1: Seek private shelter at home.
2: Seek public shelter in your own community.
3: Leave your community to seek shelter in a less dangerous area.
Part I of this handbook contains basic information on the threat of
nuclear attack. This guidance supplements specific instructions issued by
local governments. Special conditions may exist in some communities, and
instructions issued by local governments may differ slightly from the
general guidance in this handbook. In such cases, the local instructions
should be followed.
PAGE 1
UNDERSTANDING THE HAZARDS OF NUCLEAR ATTACK
The first step in preparing for a possible nuclear attack is to
understand the major hazards you would face if attack should come.
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, blast, and initial nuclear
radiation, 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. (These smaller particles would drift to
earth more slowly, losing much of their radioactivity before they reach
the ground, and would be spread by the upper winds over vast areas of the
world.)
PAGE 2
DIRECT EFFECTS OF 1 MT. BLAST (SURFACE BURST)
* overpressure in this zone > 12 P.S.I.
0.24 miles.................................................crater diameter
0.70 miles.........................................maximum fireball radius
1.70 miles............destruction of all but specially designed facilities
98% of people killed 2% of people injured
*overpressure in this zone 5 - 12 P.S.I.
3 miles......severe damage to commercial-type buildings & many fires
initiated
50% of people killed 40% of people injured 10% of people safe
*overpressure in this zone 2 - 5 P.S.I.
5 miles...moderate damage to commercial-type buildings, severe damage to
small residences & many fires initiated
5% of people killed 45% of people injured 50% of people safe
*overpressure in this zone 1 - 2 P.S.I.
7 miles...light damage to commercial-type buildings, moderate damage to
small residences & potential fire spread
25% of people injured 75% of people safe
*overpressure in this zone 0 - 1 P.S.I
beyond 7 miles.......................................potential fire spread
100% of people safe
(If burst is elevated to altitude maximizing the reach of blast damage,
moderate damage from blast and initial fires on a clear day are extended
from 5 miles to 8 miles.)
DIRECT EFFECTS OF 25 MT. BLAST (SURFACE BURST)
* overpressure in this zone >12 P.S.I.
0.70 miles.................................................crater diameter
2.50 miles.........................................maximum fireball radius
5 miles...............destruction of all but specially designed facilities
98% of people killed 2% of people injured
*overpressure in this zone 5 - 12 P.S.I.
8 miles...severe damage to commercial-type buildings & many fires
initiated
50% of people killed 40% of people injured 10% of people safe
*overpressure in this zone 2 - 5 P.S.I.
14 miles...moderate damage to commercial-type buildings, severe damage to
small residences & many fires initiated
5% of people killed 45% of people injured 50% of people safe
*overpressure in this zone 1 - 2 P.S.I.
22 miles...light damage to commercial-type buildings, moderate damage to
small residences & potential fire spread
25% of people injured 75% of people safe
*overpressure in this zone 0 - 1 P.S.I.
beyond 22 miles......................................potential fire spread
100% of people safe
(If burst is elevated to altitude maximizing the reach of blast damage,
moderate damage from blast and initial fires on a clear day are extended
from 14 miles to 22 miles.)
(FEMA graphic transcribed into table by Live Free International)
PAGE 3
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO PEOPLE
In a nationwide nuclear attack, people 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 or initial nuclear radiation of the
nuclear fireball.
People a few miles away- in the "light damage" 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 "light
damage" area would survive these hazards, but they would be further
endangered by radioactive fallout.
People who were outside the immediate damage 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 immediate damage areas. To
them- and to the people in the "light damage" areas who survived the
blast, heat, and fire- radioactive fallout would be the main danger.
What would happen to people in case of nuclear attack, therefore,
would depend primarily upon their nearness to a nuclear explosion.
TYPE OF PROTECTION NEEDED
People in the areas of heavy destruction would likely need protection
from various combinations of blast, initial radiation, heat, fire, and
radioactive fallout. This would call for shelters strong enough to resist
the blast pressure, made of heat- and fire-resistant materials, and
sufficiently dense or heavy and thick to protect from initial radiation
and radioactive fallout. Usually, shelters affording protection from
blast, heat, and fire would also provide appreciable protection from
radioactive fallout. Although many people in the "light damage" areas
would likely survive the blast. heat, and fire effects, they would still
need protection from radioactive fallout. By improvising blast and heat
protection with attendant improvement in fallout protection, the lives of
millions of additional people could be saved.
However, people caught in the area of the fireball would no doubt be
killed. Therefore, people living in or near likely target or high-risk
areas may wish to relocate in safer areas and take fallout shelter there.
(See Chapter 7, "The Relocation Option".) This would be a serious option
PAGE 4
for many to consider if a period of international tension permitting time
for such relocation should precede a nationwide nuclear attack.
For those people outside the immediate damage areas and for those
relocating to lower-risk areas prior to an attack, effective protective
measures can be taken against the danger of radioactive fallout.
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.
PAGE 5
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.
PAGE 6
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.
SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF RADIATION EXPOSURE
Following are estimated short-term effects on humans of external
exposure to gamma radiation from fallout during a period of less than 1
week. The total exposure is given in terms of Roentgens (R), a unit for
measuring the amount of radiation exposure.
0 - 50 R...No visible effects.
50 - 200 R...Brief periods of nausea on day of exposure. 50% may
experience radiation sickness (nausea); 5% may require medical attention;
no deaths expected.
200 - 450 R...Most will require medical attention because of serious
radiation sickness. 50% deaths within two to four weeks.
450 - 600 R...Serious radiation sickness; all require medical attention.
Death for more than 50% within one to three weeks.
Over 600 R...Severe radiation sickness. 100% deaths in two weeks.
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
PAGE 7
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 receive 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.
Information from trained radiological monitors, using special
instruments to detect and measure the intensity of fallout radiation,
would be used to advise people when it is safe to leave shelter.
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.
PAGE 8
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 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 3, "Fallout Shelters, Public and Private," 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.
PAGE 9
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 containers. A small amount of radioactive material
might remain, but at the most it 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 that 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.
PAGE 10 IS BLANK
PAGE 11
Chapter 2
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 situations,
or as much as an hour or more in others.
How you received warning of an attack would depend on where you
happen 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 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
PAGE 12
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 siren,
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.
THE ATTENTION OR ALERT SIGNAL. This is used by some local
governments to get the attention of citizens in a time of threatened or
impending natural disaster, or some other peacetime emergency. The signal
itself is a 3- to 5- minute steady blast on sirens, whistles, horns, or
other devices. In most places, the Attention or Alert signal means that
the local government wants to broadcast important information on radios or
television concerning a peacetime disaster.
WHAT TO DO WHEN SIGNALS SOUND
1. If you should hear the Attack Warning Signal- unless your local
government has instructed you otherwise- go immediately to a public
fallout shelter or to your home fallout shelter. Turn on a radio, tune it
to any local station that is broadcasting, and listen for official
information. Follow whatever instructions are given.
PAGE 13
If you are at home and there is no public or private shelter
available, you may be able to improvise some last-minute protection for
yourself and your family by following the suggestions in Chapter 4,
"Improvising Fallout Protection."
2. If you should hear the Attention or Alert Signal, turn on a radio
or TV set, tune it to any local station, and follow the official
instructions being broadcast.
DON'T USE THE TELEPHONE
Whichever signal is sounding, don't use the telephone to obtain
further information and advice about the emergency. Depend on radio and
television, since the government will be broadcasting all the information
it has available. The telephone lines will be needed for official calls.
Help keep them open.
LEARN YOUR COMMUNITY'S SIGNALS NOW
As mentioned before, not all communities in the U.S. have outdoor
warning systems, and not all communities with outdoor warning systems have
adopted the two "standard" warning signals.
You should therefore find out now from your local Civil Defense
Office what signals are being used in your community; hat they sound like;
what they mean; and what actions you should take when you hear them. Then
memorize this information, or write it down on a card to carry with you at
all times. Also, post it in your home. Check at least once each year to
see if there are any changes.
IF THERE IS A NUCLEAR FLASH
It is possible- but extremely unlikely- that your first warning of an
enemy attack might be the flash of a nuclear explosion in the sky some
PAGE 14
distance away. Or there might be a flash after warning had been given,
possibly while you were on your way to shelter.
*TAKE COVER INSTANTLY. If there should be a nuclear flash- especially
if you are outdoors and feel warmth at the same time- take cover instantly
in the best place you can find. By getting inside or under something
within a few seconds, you might avoid being seriously burned by the heat
or injured by the blast wave of the nuclear explosion. If the explosion
were some distance away, you might have 5 to 15 seconds before being
seriously injured by the heat, and perhaps 15 to 60 seconds before the
blast wave arrived. Getting under cover within these time limits might
save your life or avoid serious injury. Also, to avoid injuring your eyes,
never look at the flash of an explosion or the nuclear fireball.
*WHERE TO TAKE COVER. You could take cover in any kind of a building,
a storm cellar or fruit cellar, a subway station, or tunnel; or even in a
ditch or culvert alongside the road, a highway underpass, a storm sewer, a
cave or outcropping of rock, a pile of heavy materials, a trench or other
excava-
PAGE 15
tion. Even getting under a parked automobile, bus or train, or a heavy
piece of furniture, would protect you to some extent. If no cover is
available, simply lie down on the ground and curl up. The important thing
is to avoid being burned by the heat, thrown about by the blast, or struck
by flying objects.
*BEST POSITION AFTER TAKING COVER. After taking cover you should lie
on your side in a curled-up position, and cover your head with your arms
and hands. This would give you some additional protection.
*MOVE TO A FALLOUT SHELTER LATER. If you protected yourself against
the blast and heat waves by instantly taking cover, you could get
protection from the radioactive fallout (which would arrive later) by
moving to a fallout shelter.
PAGE 16 IS BLANK
PAGE 17
Chapter 3
FALLOUT SHELTERS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
After a nuclear attack, fallout particles would drift down on most
areas of this country. To protect themselves from the radiation given off
by these particles, people in affected areas would have to stay in fallout
shelters for 2 or 3 days to as long as 2 weeks. Many people would go to
public fallout shelters, while others- through choice or necessity- would
take refuge in private or home fallout shelters.
IDENTIFYING PUBLIC SHELTERS
Most communities now have public fallout shelters that would protect
many of their residents against fallout radiation. Where there are still
not enough public shelters to accommodate all citizens, efforts are being
made to locate more. In the meantime, local governments plan to make use
of the best available shelter.
Most of the existing public shelters are located in larger buildings
and are marked with the standard yellow-and-black fallout shelter sign.
Other public shelters are in smaller buildings, subways, tunnels, mines
and other facilities. These also are marked with shelter signs, or would
be marked in a time of emergency.
LEARN THE LOCATIONS OF PUBLIC SHELTERS
An attack might come at any hour of the day or night. Therefore you
should find out now the locations of those public fallout shelters
designated by the local government for your use. If no designations have
yet been made, learn the locations of public shelters that are nearest to
you when you are at home, work, school, or any other place where you spend
considerable time.
This advice applies to all members of the family. Your children
especially should be given clear instructions now on where to find a
fallout shelter at all times of the day, and told what other actions they
should take in case an attack should occur.
PAGE 18
A HOME SHELTER MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE
Public fallout shelters usually offer some advantages over home
shelters. However, in many places- especially suburban and rural areas-
there are few public shelters. If there is none near you now, a home
fallout shelter may save your life.
The basements of some homes are usable as family fallout shelters as
they now stand, without any alterations or changes- especially if the
house has two or more stories, and its basement is below ground level.
However, most home basements would need some improvements in order to
shield their occupants adequately from the radiation given off by fallout
particles. Usually, householders can make these improvements themselves,
with moderate effort and at low cost.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN HOME SURVEY
If you do not have information about the fallout protection of your
basement, you may obtain it quickly as follows:
Select the answer in each multiple choice question which most nearly
applies to your home. Write the number of points selected in the blank
space provided opposite each question. Add the numbers written
PAGE 19
in the blanks. Write the sum in the blank opposite "TOTAL POINTS" and
compare your total with the "Shelter Protection" table.
1. How many stories are above the ground level in this house?
( ) One story...............................................11 points_____
( ) One and one-half stories.................................9 points_____
( ) Two stories..............................................6 points_____
( ) Three stories or more....................................3 points_____
2. What is the maximum exposure of any basement wall above the ground?
(Exclude exterior entrances of 3 feet width or less.)
( ) No basement (skip question 3)...........................15 points_____
( ) 3 feet or more...........................................8 points_____
( ) 2 to 3 feet..............................................3 points_____
( ) 1 to 2 feet..............................................1 point______
( ) less than 1 foot.........................................0 points_____
3. What is the principal material of the basement walls?
( ) Cinder block or concrete block...........................2 points_____
( ) Stone, brick, or poured concrete.........................0 points_____
4. What is the principal material of the first story walls?
( ) Solid brick or stone, concrete...........................3 points_____
( ) Other....................................................0 points_____
5. Is the home attached to or closer than 10 feet to another home or homes
of similar size and construction?
( ) No.......................................................2 points_____
( ) Yes, 1 side..............................................1 point______
( ) Yes, 2 sides.............................................0 points_____
__________________
------------------
TOTAL POINTS_____
Shelter potential: Up to 13 points- adequate
14 - 19 points- improvable at low cost
20 or more points- low
Remember, in this type of survey, the lowest number of points means
highest degree of fallout shielding.
SHIELDING MATERIAL IS REQUIRED
In setting up any home fallout shelter, the basic aim is to place
enough "shielding material" between the people in the shelter and the
fallout particles outside.
Shielding material is any substance that would absorb and deflect the
invisible rays given off by the fallout particles outside the house, and
thus reduce the amount of radiation reaching the occupants of the shelter.
The thicker, heavier, or denser the shielding material is, the more it
would protect the shelter occupants.
PAGE 20
Some radiation protection is provided by the existing, standard walls
and ceiling of a basement. But if they are not thick or dense enough,
other shielding material will have to be added.
Concrete, bricks, earth, and sand are some of the materials that are
dense or heavy enough to provide fallout protection. For comparative
purposes, 4 inches of concrete would provide the same shielding density
as:
-5 to 6 inches of bricks
-6 inches of sand or gravel___ may be packed into bags, cartons, boxes,
-7 inches of earth____________}or other containers for easier handling
-8 inches of hollow concrete blocks (6 inches if filled with sand)
-10 inches of water
-14 inches of books or magazines
-18 inches of wood.
HOW TO PREPARE A HOME SHELTER
If there is no public fallout shelter near your home, or if you would
prefer to use a family-type shelter in a time of attack, you should
prepare a home fallout shelter. Here is how to do it:
PAGE 21
*A PERMANENT BASEMENT SHELTER. If your home basement- or one corner
of it- is below ground level, your best and easiest action would be to
build a fallout shelter there. If you have basic carpentry or masonry
skills, you probably could buy the necessary shielding material and do the
work yourself in a short time. If you decide to set up one of these
shelters, first get the free plan for it by writing to the U.S. Army AG
Publications Center, Civil Preparedness Section, 2800 Eastern Blvd.,
(Middle River), Baltimore, Maryland 21220. In ordering a plan, use the
full name shown for it.
[The FEMA sketches of these shelters have necessarily been omitted here,
as well as some of the related text. The names of the shelter plans are:
-Ceiling Modification Plan A
-Alternate Ceiling Modification Plan B
-Permanent Concrete Block or Brick Shelter Plan C
-Preplanned Snack Bar Shelter Plan D
-Preplanned Tilt-up Storage Unit Plan E
*A PERMANENT OUTSIDE SHELTER. If your home has no basement, or if you
prefer to have a permanent-type home shelter in your yard, you can obtain
free construction plans by writing to (the same address.)
-Outside Concrete Shelter, Plan H-12-1
-Aboveground Fallout Shelter, Plan H-12-2 ]
PAGES 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 FEMA sketches and explanatory text omitted
PAGE 28 BLANK
PAGE 29
Chapter 4
IMPROVISING FALLOUT PROTECTION
If an enemy attack should occur when you are at home, and you have
made no advance shelter preparations, you still might be able to improvise
a shelter either inside or outside your house. In a time of emergency, the
radio broadcasts may tell you whether you have time to improvise a shelter
or whether you should take cover immediately.
An improvised shelter probably would not give you as much protection
as a permanent or a preplanned family shelter, but any protection is
better than none, and might save your life.
The best place to improvise a shelter would be the basement or storm
cellar, if your home has one.
SHIELDING MATERIAL NEEDED
To improvise a shelter you would need shielding materials such as
those mentioned on page 20- concrete blocks, bricks, sand, etc. Other
things could also be used as shielding material, or to support shielding
material, such as:
-House doors that have been taken off their hinges (especially heavy
outside doors).
PAGE 30
-Dressers and chests (fill the drawers with sand or earth after they
are placed in position, so they won't be too heavy to carry and won't
collapse while being carried).
-Trunks, boxes, and cartons (fill them with sand or earth after they
are placed in position).
-Tables and bookcases.
-Books, magazines, and stacks of firewood or lumber.
-Flagstones from outside walks and patios.
IMPROVISING A BASEMENT SHELTER
Here are two ways of improvising fallout protection in the basement
of a home.
Set up a large, sturdy table or workbench in the corner of your
basement that is most below ground level.
On the table, pile as much shielding material as it will hold without
collapsing. Around the table, place as much shielding material as
possible.
When family members are "inside the shelter"- that is, under the
table- block the opening with other shielding material.
If you don't have a large table or workbench available- or if more
shelter space is needed- place furniture or large appliances in the corner
of the basement so they will serve as the "walls" of your shelter.
As a "ceiling" for it, use doors from the house that have been taken
off their hinges. On top of the doors, pile as much shielding material as
they will support. Stack other shielding material around the "walls" of
your shelter.
When all persons are inside the shelter space, block the opening with
shielding material.
USING A STORM CELLAR FOR FALLOUT PROTECTION
A below-ground storm cellar can be used as an improvised fallout
shelter, but additional shielding material may be needed to provide
adequate protection from fallout radiation.
PAGE 31
If the existing roof of the storm cellar is made of wood or other
light material, it should be covered with one foot of earth or an
equivalent thickness of other shielding material (see pages 21 and 22) for
overhead shielding from fallout. More posts or braces may be needed to
support the extra weight.
After the roof has been shielded, better protection can be provided
by blocking the entrance way with 8-inch concrete blocks or an equivalent
thickness of sandbags, bricks, earth, or other shielding material, after
all the occupants are inside the shelter. After particles have stopped
falling, the outside door may be left open to provide further ventilation.
If shielding material is not available for the entrance way, shelter
occupants should stay as far away from it as possible. They also should
raise the outside door of the storm cellar now and then to knock off any
fallout particles that may have collected on it.
USING THE CRAWL SPACE UNDER YOUR HOUSE
Some homes without basements have "crawl space" between the first
floor and the ground underneath the house. If you have this space under
your house- and if the house is set on foundation walls, rather than on
pillars- you can improvise fallout protection for your family there.
First, get access to the crawl space through the floor or through the
outside foundation wall. (A trapdoor or other entry could be made now,
before an emergency occurs.)
As the location for your shelter, select a crawl-space area that is
under the center of the house, as far away from the outside foundation
walls as possible.
PAGE 32
Around the selected shelter area, place shielding material-
preferably bricks or blocks, or containers filled with earth- from the
ground level up to the first floor of the house, so that the shielding
material forms the "walls" of your shelter area. On the floor above, place
other shielding material to form a "roof" for the shelter area.
If time permits, dig out more earth and make the shelter area deeper,
so that you can stand erect or at least sit up in it.
IMPROVISING AN OUTSIDE SHELTER
If your home has no basement, no storm cellar and no protected crawl
space, here are three ways of improvising fallout protection in your yard.
SHELTER UNDER A HOUSE SLAB
An excellent fallout shelter can be built by excavating under a small
portion of the house slab.
First, dig a trench alongside the house, preferably alongside an eave
to help keep out rainwater. Once the bottom of the slab foundation wall is
reached, dig out a space under the slab. The area can very in size, but it
should not extend back more than 4 feet from the outside edge of the
foundation wall.
Place support shoring under the slab, and pile dirt on top of the
slab inside the house to improvise overhead shielding from fallout
radiation.
You can add to the protection by making a lean-to over the entrance
trench, using boards or house doors, covering them with soil, and and
covering this with a polyethylene sheet to keep out rainwater.
OUTSIDE TRENCH SHELTER
Dig an L-shaped trench, about 4 feet deep and 3 feet wide. One side
of the L, which will be the shelter area, should be long enough to
accommodate all family members. The other side of the L can be shorter,
since its purpose is to serve as an entrance-way and to reduce the amount
of radiation getting into the shelter area.
Cover the entire trench with lumber (or with house doors that have
been taken off their hinges), except for about 2 feet on the short side of
the L, to provide access and ventilation.
PAGE 33
On top of the lumber or doors, pile earth 1 to 2 feet high, or cover
them with other shielding material.
If necessary, support or "shore up" the walls of the trench, as well
as the lumber or doors, so they will not collapse.
OUTSIDE LEAN-TO SHELTER
Dig a shallow ditch, 6 inches deep and 6 inches wide, parallel to and
4 feet from the outside wall of your house.
Remove the heaviest doors from the house. Place the bottoms of the
doors in the ditch (so they won't slip) and lean the doors against the
wall of the house.
On the doors, pile 12 to 18 inches of earth or sand. Stack or pile
other shielding material at the sides of the doors, and also on the other
side of the house wall (to protect you against radiation coming from that
direction.)
If possible, make the shelter area deeper by digging out more earth
inside it. Also dig some other shallow ditches, to allow rain water to
drain away.
BOATS AS IMPROVISED SHELTERS
If no better fallout protection is available, a boat with an enclosed
cabin could be used. However, in addition to emergency supplies such as
food, drinking water and battery-powered radio, you should have aboard the
items you would need (a broom, bucket, or pump-and-hose) to sweep off or
flush off any fallout particles that might collect on the boat.
The boat should be anchored or cruised slowly at least 200 feet
offshore, where the water is at least 5 feet deep. This distance from
shore would protect you from radioactive fallout particles that had fallen
on the nearby land. A 5-foot depth would absorb the radiation from
particles falling into the water and settling on the bottom.
If particles drift down onto the boat, stay inside the cabin most of
the time. Go outside now and then, and sweep or flush off any particles
that have collected on the boat.
PAGE 34 IS BLANK
PAGE 35
Chapter 5
SHELTER LIVING
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 t a public fallout shelter, and what items you should keep on
hand if you plan to use a family fallout shelter at home.
To augment the supplies of water and food normally found in or near
large structures where public fallout shelter is usually located, you
should plan to take the following with you:
-Special medications 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, flashlight, extra batteries for each, and
writing materials for taking notes on information given over the radio.
-As much potable liquids (water, fruit and vegetable juices, etc.)
and ready-to-eat food as you can carry to the shelter.
PAGE 36
STOCKS FOR A HOME 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 the shelter for
the 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. Each person will need
at least one quart of water per day. Some will need more. As explained on
pages 39 and 40, do not ration drinking water. 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 household chlorine bleach) should also be stored, in case you need
to purify any cloudy or "suspicious" water that may contain bacteria.
PAGE 37
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 as usual and can survive without food for several
days if necessary. 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. (This table, and other suggestions concerning emergency
supplies of food and water, is contained in "Family Food Stockpile for
Survival," Home and Garden Bulletin No. 77, available to individuals free,
from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Communications,
Washington, D.C. 20250.)
months
Milk:
Evaporated.......................................................6
Nonfat dry or whole dry milk, in metal 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 fruit and fruit juices, canned............................18
Dried fruit, in metal container..................................6
Tomatoes, sauerkraut, canned.....................................6
Other vegetables, canned (including dry beans and dry peas).....18
Cereals and baked goods:
Ready-to-eat cereals:
In metal container..............................................12
In original paper package........................................1
Uncooked cereal (quick-cooking or instant):
In metal container..............................................24
In original paper package.......................................12
Sugars, sweets, and 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
Hydrogenated (or antioxidant-treated) fats, vegetable oil......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
PAGE 38
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, 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 the
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 list 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. Include writing materials for taking
notes on information given over the radio. Other useful items: a shovel,
broom, axe, crowbar, kerosene lanterns,
PAGE 39
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, a clock, and calendar, playing cards, and
hobby materials, a sewing kit, and toiletries such as toothbrushes,
cosmetics, and shaving supplies.
WATER, FOOD, AND SANITATION IN A SHELTER
At all times and under all conditions, human beings must have
sufficient water, adequate food and proper sanitation in order to stay
alive and healthy. With people living in a shelter- even for a week or
two- water and food might be scarce, and it would be difficult to maintain
normal sanitary conditions. Water and food supplies would have to be
"managed" - that is, kept clean, and used carefully by each person in the
shelter. Sanitation also would have to be managed and controlled, perhaps
by setting up emergency toilets and rules to insure that they are used
properly.
de the risk area, but within a reasonable distance, go there as soon
as possible. As relocation gets underway, it may be difficult or
impossible to get to the location of your choice.
PAGE 53
*If you do not have a definite location to go to...
You should proceed to the nearest reception area indicated by your
government officials.
*If you are a key worker...
If you have been designated by your employer as a key worker in an
essential industry, you may be expected to go with your family to a
reserved nearby reception area. You would probably not be expected to stay
in location at your high-risk area, but you would probably commute daily
to work from your assigned reception area. Protection would be provided
for you while in your high-risk location, and you would be able to join
your family after work.
HOW TO GET THERE
If you have a car, truck, camper, or recreational vehicle, drive it
to your designated reception area, using the route given by your local
officials. Remember that several days should be available for relocating
all those living in the high-risk area. Take the time you need to prepare
and pack.
Relocation routes will be designated to assure that residents will be
equally distributed among the reception counties so that there will be
adequate food and lodging for you and your family. If you use a route not
assigned to you, you may find the reception area you have chosen is
filled, and there is no room or accommodations for you. Follow the
relocation route to the reception county as indicated by your local
officials. Wherever possible, police officers will be on duty to advise
and direct you. Obey all instructions by law enforcement officers.
PAGE 54
If you get caught in a traffic jam, turn off your engine, remain in
your car, listen for official instructions, and be patient. Do not get out
of the line to find an alternate route. All routes will be crowded. If
traffic is stopped for an hour or more, do not leave your car for any
reason.
Be sure you have adequate gasoline when you start out. DO NOT BUY ANY
MORE GAS THAN YOU WILL NEED. Gasoline will be in short supply and will be
needed to provide you with food and other essential supplies. But if you
run out of gas or have other mechanical difficulties, move your car to the
side of the road out of traffic lanes to allow traffic to continue.
Service to stalled autos will be available during the evacuation period.
Leave your hood up as a sign that you are stalled, and you will be
assisted as soon as possible.
If you have no private means of transportation, public transportation
will probably be provided to move you to your reception area.
If you are physically unable to get to transportation, make
arrangements to be picked up and be transported to your reception area.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARRIVE
When you reach a major community or town in your assigned reception
county, proceed immediately to your assigned reception area.
At the center you will register yourself and your family. Reception
county officials will make every effort to assign you to a place to sleep,
in a larger building or possibly with a private household that has
volunteered to share their home.
PAGE 55
Lodging in Public Buildings...
If you are assigned to a public building such as a school, church, or
other temporary lodging center, do everything you can to help maintain
order and sanitary living conditions. Elect a leader and form working
groups to help local officials and volunteers with such tasks as:
*Cooking and feeding services
*Providing water supply
*Cleaning up trash and garbage
*Maintaining order
*Assuring quiet during sleeping hours
*Organizing recreation and religious activities
*Arranging medical care for the sick and assisting the handicapped
PAGE 56
HOW TO KEEP INFORMED
Listen to the radio for information and advice from national, State,
and local officials. You will be told when you should return home. DO NOT
RETURN HOME BEFORE YOU ARE ADVISED TO DO SO. It is impossible to predict
how long you will have to stay in the reception area. It could be only for
a few days or could last for a week or more.
If a nuclear attack should occur and the Emergency Broadcasting
System (EBS) is in operation, a number of radio stations will remain on
the air to provide emergency information.
All other radio stations will stop broadcasting. Those emergency stations
remaining on the air will provide you with information and instructions
that you will need.
FINDING FALLOUT SHELTER IN HOST AREAS
Many larger buildings have been designed as public fallout shelters.
They are marked by signs like this:
[yellow-and-black sign with trefoil radiation symbol on top and words
"Fallout Shelter" with directional arrows on bottom]
Host areas usually do not have enough shelters for their own
residents. Consequently, it will be necessary for many residents of host
counties AND FOR MOST CITY EVACUEES to upgrade to protection in the
building they are to stay in or to try to improvise their own fallout
protection.
Residents of host areas are encouraged to share their homes and
shelter facilities as far as possible. Both the residents of the host
areas and the city evacuees will have to WORK HARD FOR A DAY OR MORE to
construct improvised shelters to protect against fallout. In this case,
radiation protection would be "cheap as dirt." Upgrading existing
structures by piling earth outside them can be done by adding an average
of one cubic yard of earth for each 10 square feet of shelter space to be
developed (more for some buildings, less for others.) Moving a cubic yard
of earth is not easy- it's about 80 to 100 buckets full- but can be done
if everyone works for their survival.
Generally, shelter in host areas can be found in the following:
*Buildings which have been identified in the National Shelter Survey
and marked with a shelter sign.
*Home basements
*Buildings which can be upgraded to improve the fallout protection by
placing earth overhead and against the walls.
*Caves, mines, and tunnels.
*Expedient fallout shelters involving digging of trenches, movement
of earth, or use of materials at hand, such as tables, doors, bricks, or
books.
For specific information on improvising fallout protection, see
Chapter 4, "Improvising Fallout Shelters."
PAGE 57
Chapter 8
EMERGENCY CARE OF THE SICK AND INJURED
A nuclear attack on the United States would cause great numbers of
casualties, and there would be fewer doctors, nurses, and hospitals
available to care for them. Even in areas where no nuclear weapons
exploded, radioactive fallout could prevent doctors and nurses from
reaching sick or injured persons for a considerable period of time. People
would have to help each other during the emergency, and would have to
depend on their own knowledge of first aid and emergency medical care.
Both adults and teenagers can acquire these valuable skills now by
taking free courses that are offered in many communities, such as a First
Aid course.
The following information is no substitute for one of these courses.
The basic guidance may save lives during a nuclear emergency, however, by
helping untrained persons take care of the sick and injured when
professional medical assistance may not be immediately available.
PAGE 58
GENERAL RULES FOR ANY MEDICAL EMERGENCY
1. First of all, DO NO HARM. Often, well-meaning but untrained
persons worsen the injury or illness in their attempts to help. Get
competent medical assistance, if possible. Do not assume responsibility
for a patient if you can get the help of a doctor, nurse, or experienced
first-aid worker. But if no one better qualified is available, take charge
yourself.
2. LOOK FOR STOPPAGE OF BREATHING, AND FOR SERIOUS BLEEDING. These
are the two most life-threatening conditions you can do something about.
They demand IMMEDIATE treatment (see pages 59 and 62).
3. PREVENT SHOCK, OR TREAT IT. Shock, a serious condition of acute
circulatory failure, usually accompanies a severe or painful injury, a
serious loss of blood, or a severe emotional upset. If you EXPECT shock,
and take prompt action, you can prevent it or lessen its severity. This
may save the patient's life. (Treatment of shock is discussed on page 63.)
4. DON'T MOVE THE PATIENT IMMEDIATELY. Unless there is REAL DANGER of
the patient receiving further injury where he is, he should not be moved
until breathing is restored, bleeding is stopped, and suspected broken
bones are splinted.
5. KEEP CALM, AND REASSURE THE PATIENT. Keep him lying down and
comfortably warm, but do not apply heat to his body, or make him sweat.
6. NEVER ATTEMPT TO GIVE LIQUIDS TO AN UNCONSCIOUS PERSON. If he is
not able to swallow, he may choke to death or drown. Also, don't give him
any liquids to drink if he has an abdominal injury.
PAGE 59
IF THE PATIENT HAS STOPPED BREATHING
Quick action is required. You must get air into his lungs again
immediately or he may die. The best and simplest way of doing this is to
use mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration. Here is how to do it.
1. Place the patient on his back. Loosen his collar.
2. Open his mouth and use your fingers to remove any food or foreign
matter, If he has false teeth or removable dental bridges, take them out.
3. Tilt the patient's head back so that his chin points upward. Lift
his lower jaw from beneath and behind so that it juts out. This will move
his tongue away from the back of his throat, so it does not block the air
passage to his lungs. Placing a pillow or something else under his
shoulders will help get his head into the right position. Some patients
will start breathing as soon as you take these steps, and no further help
is necessary.
4. Open your mouth as wide as possible, and place it tightly over the
patient's mouth, so his mouth is completely covered by yours. With one
hand, pinch his nostrils shut.
PAGE 60
With your other hand, hold his lower jaw in a thrust-forward position and
keep his head tilted back. With a baby or small child, place your mouth
over both his nose and mouth, making a tight seal.
5. Blow a good lungful of air into an adult patient's mouth,
continuing to keep his head tilted back and his jaw jutting out so that
the air passage is kept open. (Air can be blown through an unconscious
person's teeth, even though they may be clenched tightly together.) Watch
his chest as you blow. When you see his chest rise, you will know that you
are getting air into his lungs.
6. Remove your mouth from the patient's mouth, and listen for him to
breathe out the air you breathed into him. You also may feel his breath on
your cheek and see his chest sink as he exhales.
7. Continue your breathing for the patient. If he is an adult, blow a
good breath into his mouth every 5 seconds, or 12 times a minute, and
listen for him to breathe it back out again. Caution: If the patient is an
infant or small child, blow small puffs of air into him about 20 times a
minute. You may rupture his lung if you blow in too much air at one time.
Watch his chest rise to make sure you are giving him the right amount of
air with each puff.
PAGE 61
8. If you are not getting air into the patient's lungs, or if he is
not breathing out the air you blew into him, first make sure that his head
is tilted back and his jaw is jutting out in the proper position. Then use
your fingers to make sure nothing in his mouth or throat is obstructing
the air passage to his lungs. If this does not help, then turn him on his
side and strike him sharply with the palm of your hand several times
between the shoulder blades. This should dislodge any obstruction in the
air passage. Then place him again on his back, with his head tilted back
and his jaw jutting out, and resume blowing air into his mouth. If this
doesn't work, try closing his mouth and blowing air through his nose into
his lungs.
9. If you wish to avoid placing your mouth directly on the patient's
face, you may hold a cloth (handkerchief, gauze, or other porous material)
over his mouth and breathe through the cloth. But don't waste precious
time looking for a cloth if you don't have one.
10. Important: Even if the patient does not respond, continue your
efforts for 1 hour or longer, or wait until you are completely sure he is
dead. If possible, have this confirmed by at least one other person.
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TO STOP SERIOUS BLEEDING
1. Apply firm, even pressure to the wound with a dressing, clean
cloth, or sanitary napkin. If you don't have any of these, use your bare
hand until you can get something better. Remembers, you must keep blood
from running out of the patient's body. Loss of 1 or 2 quarts will
seriously endanger his life.
2. Hold the dressing in place with your hand until you can bandage
the dressing in place. In case of an arm or leg wound, make sure the
bandage is not so tight as to cut off circulation; and raise the arm or
leg above the level of the patient's heart. (But if the arm or leg appears
broken, be sure to splint it first.)
3. Treat the patient for shock.
4. If blood soaks through the dressing, do not remove the dressing.
Apply more dressings.
5. SPECIAL ADVICE ON TOURNIQUETS: Never use a tourniquet unless you
cannot stop excessive, life-threatening bleeding by any other method.
Using a tourniquet increases the chances that the arm or leg will have to
be amputated later. If you are forced to use a tourniquet to keep the
patient from bleeding to death (for example, when a hand or foot has been
accidentally cut off), follow these instructions carefully:
-Place the tourniquet as close to the wound as possible, between the
wound and the patient's
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heart.
-After the tourniquet has been applied, do not permit it to be
loosened (even temporarily, or even though the bleeding has stopped) by
anyone except a physician, who can control the bleeding by other methods
and replace the blood that the patient has lost.
-Get a physician to treat the patient as soon as possible.
PREVENTING AND TREATING SHOCK
Being "in shock" means that a person's circulatory system is not
working properly, and not enough blood is getting to the vital centers of
his brain and spinal cord.
These are the symptoms of shock: The patient's pulse is weak or
rapid, or he may have no pulse that you can find. His skin may be pale or
blue, cold, or moist. His breathing may be shallow or irregular. He may
have chills. He may be thirsty. He may get sick at his stomach and vomit.
A person can be "in shock" whether he is conscious or unconscious.
Important: All seriously injured persons should be treated for shock,
even though they appear normal and alert. Shock may cause death if not
treated properly, even though the injuries which brought on shock might
not be serious enough to cause death. In fact, persons may go into shock
without having any physical injuries.
Here is how to treat any person who may be in shock:
1. Keep him lying down and keep him from chilling, but do not apply a
hot water bottle or other heat to his body. Also, loosen his clothing.
2. Keep his head a little lower than his legs and hips. But if he has
a head or chest injury, or has difficulty in breathing, keep his head and
shoulders slightly lower than the rest of his body.
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3. Encourage him to drink fluids if he is conscious and not
nauseated, and if he does not have abdominal injuries. Every 15 minutes
give him a half-glass of this solution until he no longer wants it: One
teaspoonful of salt and a half-tablespoonful of baking soda to one quart
of water.
4. Do not give him alcohol.
BROKEN BONES
Any break in a bone is called a fracture. If you think a person may
have a fracture, treat it as though it were one. Otherwise, you may cause
further injury. For example, if an arm or leg is injured and bleeding,
splint it as well as bandage it.
With any fracture, first look for bleeding and control it. Keep the
patient comfortably warm and quiet, preferably lying down. If you have an
ice bag, apply it to the fracture to ease the pain. Do not move the
patient (unless his life is in danger where he is) without first applying
a splint or otherwise immobilizing the bone that may be fractured. Treat
the patient for shock.
A FRACTURED ARM OR LEG should be straightened out as much as
possible, preferably by having 2 persons gently stretch it into a normal
position. Then it should be "splinted"- that is, fastened to a board or
something else, to prevent motion and keep the ends of the broken bone
together. As a splint, use a board, a trimmed branch from a tree, a
broomstick, an umbrella, a roll of newspaper, or anything else rigid
enough to keep the arm or leg straight. Fasten the arm or leg to the
splint with bandages, strips of cloth, handkerchiefs, neckties, or belts.
After splinting, keep the injured arm or leg a little higher than the rest
of the patient's body. From time to time, make sure that the splint is not
too tight, since the arm or leg may swell, and the blood circulation might
be shut off. If the broken bone is sticking out through the skin but the
exposed part of it is clean, allow it to slip back
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naturally under the skin (but don't push it in) when the limb is being
straightened. However, if the exposed part of the bone is dirty, cover it
with a clean cloth and bandage the wound to stop the bleeding. Then splint
the arm or leg without trying to straighten it out, and try to find a
doctor or nurse to treat the patient.
A FRACTURED COLLARBONE should also be prevented from moving, until
the patient can get professional medical attention. It can be immobilized
by placing the arm on that side in a sling and then binding the arm close
to the body.
A FRACTURED RIB should be suspected if the patient has received a
chest injury or if he has pain when he moves his chest, breathes, or
coughs. Strap the injured side of his chest with 2-inch adhesive tape if
available, or with a cloth bandage or towel wrapped around and around his
entire chest.
Fractured bones in the NECK OR BACK are very serious, because they
may injure the patient's spinal cord and paralyze him or even kill him. He
should not be moved until a doctor comes (or a person trained in first
aid), unless it is absolutely necessary to move him to prevent further
injury. If a person with a back injury has to be moved, he should be place
gently on his back on a stiff board, door, or stretcher. His head, back,
and legs should be kept in a straight line at all times.
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A person with a neck injury should be moved gently with his head,
neck, and shoulders kept in the same position they were when he was found.
His neck should not be allowed to bend when he is being moved.
BURNS
Non-serious or superficial (first degree) burns should not be
covered- in fact, nothing need be done for them. However, if a first
degree burn covers a large area of the body, the patient should be given
fluids to drink as mentioned in item 2 following.
Some of the radioactive fallout on exposed skin may cause burns for
which the same action should be taken as for normal heat burns.
The most important things to do about serious (second or third
degree) burns are: (a) Treat the patient for shock, (b) Prevent infection,
and (c) Relieve pain. These specific actions should be taken:
1. Keep the patient lying down, with his head a little lower than his
legs and hips unless he has a head or chest wound, or has difficulty
breathing.
2. Have him drink a half-glass every 15 minutes of a salt-and-soda
solution (one teaspoonful of salt and a half-teaspoonful of baking soda to
a quart of water). Give him additional plain water to drink if he wants
it.
3. Cover the burned area with a dry, sterile gauze dressing. if gauze
is not available, use a clean cloth, towel, or pad.
4. With soap and water, wash the area around the burn (not the burn
itself) for a distance of several inches, wiping away from the burn. The
dressing will help prevent surface washings from getting into the burned
area.
5. Use a bandage to hold the dry dressing firmly in place against the
burned area. This will keep moving air from reaching the burn and will
lessen the pain. Leave dressings and bandage in place as long as possible.
6. If adjoining surfaces of skin are burned, separate them with gauze
or cloth to keep them from sticking together (such as between
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toes or fingers, ears and head, arms and chest).
7. If the burn was caused by a chemical- or by fallout particles
sticking to the skin or hair- wash the chemical or the fallout particles
away with generous amounts of plain water, then treat the burn as
described above.
What NOT to do about burns:
-Don't pull clothing over the burned area (cut it away, if
necessary).
-Don't try to remove any pieces of cloth, or bits of dirt or debris,
that may be sticking to the burn.
-Don't try to clean the burn; don't use iodine or other antiseptics
on it; and don't open any blisters that may form on it.
-Don't use grease, butter, ointment, salve, petroleum jelly, or any
type of medication on severe burns. Keeping them dry is best.
-Don't breathe on a burn, and don't touch it with anything except a
clean dressing.
-Don't change the dressings that were initially applied to the burn,
until absolutely necessary. Dressings may be left in place for a week, if
necessary.
RADIATION SICKNESS
Radiation sickness is caused by the invisible rays given off by
particles of radioactive fallout. If a person has received a large dose of
radiation in a short period of time- generally, less than a week- he will
become seriously ill and probably will die. But if he has received only a
small or medium dose, his body will repair itself and he will get well. No
special clothing can protect a person from gamma radiation, and no special
medicines can protect him or cure him of radiation sickness.
Symptoms of radiation sickness may not be noticed for several days.
The early symptoms are lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue,
weakness, and headache. Later, the patient may have sore mouth, loss of
hair, bleeding gums, bleeding under the skin, and diarrhea. But these same
symptoms can be caused by other diseases, and not everyone who has
radiation sickness shows all these symptoms, or shows them all at once.
PAGE 68
PAGE 69
PART TWO
MAJOR NATURAL DISASTERS
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PAGE 71
PART TWO
MAJOR NATURAL DISASTERS
Disasters and other emergencies affecting large areas and many people
can sometimes develop quickly. Flash floods and earthquakes, for example,
can strike with little or no advance warning.
Other types of disasters and emergencies are preceded by a build-up
period that provides more time for taking effective protective measures.
For example, the paths of a hurricane are traced for days, and people in
likely danger areas are notified several hours before the storm is
expected to strike land. In many cases, floods can also be predicted to
provide considerable warning time for people in the danger areas. Even in
cases of tornadoes, the forecast of weather conditions frequently permits
some warning of possible disaster. Winter storms, blizzards, heavy snows,
ice storms, or freezing rains- also may pose hazards of disaster
proportions which lend themselves to reasonable prediction.
Some of these disasters or emergencies are more likely to occur in
certain parts of the country. For example, hurricanes are more common
along the Gulf and Atlantic Coast States, and tornadoes are more frequent
in midwestern and southern States. Yet, no area is entirely free from
possible disasters or emergencies of one type or another.
Many of the actions recommended in Part 1 of this handbook to help
you prepare for and live through a nuclear attack- such as learning the
warning signals, stocking emergency supplies, taking a course in emergency
skills, and knowing how to fight fires at home- also would help you in
case a major natural disaster occurs in your area.
Part II of this handbook is intended to help you prepare for those
natural disasters that may occur in your area, and tell you the right
actions to take if they occur.
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PAGE 73
Chapter 1
GENERAL GUIDANCE
There are certain things you can learn and do that will help you get
ready for, and cope with, almost any type of emergency.
Perhaps the most basic thing to remember is to keep calm. This may
mean the difference between life and death. In many disasters, people have
been killed or injured needlessly because they took thoughtless actions
when they should have done something else- or or done nothing at all just
then.
In a time of emergency, taking proper action may save your life. Take
time to think, and then take the considered action that the situation
calls for. Usually, this will be the action you have planned in advance,
or the action you are instructed to take by responsible authorities.
Here is other guidance that applies to most types of peacetime
emergencies.
WARNING
LEARN YOUR COMMUNITY'S WARNING SIGNALS. In most communities having
outdoor warning systems, the Attack Warning Signal is a wavering sound on
the sirens, or a series of short blasts on whistles, horns, or other
devices. This signal will be used only to warn of an attack against the
United States.
Many communities also are using an Attention or Alert Signal, usually
a 3- to 5- minute steady blast to get the attention of their people in a
time of threatened or impending peacetime emergency. In most places, the
Attention or Alert Signal means that people should turn on their radio or
television set to hear important emergency information being broadcast.
You should find out now, before any emergency occurs, what warning
signals are being used in your community, what they sound like, what they
mean, and what actions you should take when you hear them.
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Also, whenever a major storm or other peacetime disaster threatens,
keep your radio or television set turned on to hear weather reports and
forecasts (issued by the National Weather Service of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration), as well as other information and advice
that may be broadcast by your local government.
When you are warned of an emergency, get your information on the
radio or television. Use your telephone only to report important events
(such as fires, flash floods, or tornado sightings) to the local
authorities. If you tie up the telephone lines simply to get information,
you may prevent emergency calls from being completed.
EMERGENCY SUPPLIES
A major disaster of almost any kind may interfere with your normal
supplies of food, water, heat, and other day-to-day necessities. You
should keep on hand, in or around your home, a stock of emergency supplies
sufficient to meet your needs for a few days or preferably for a week.
If you stayed at home during the disaster, these supplies would help
you live through the period of emergency without hardships. If you had to
evacuate your home and move temporarily to another location, your
emergency supplies could be taken with you and used en route or after you
arrived at the new location (where regular supplies may not be available).
Even if you only had to move to an emergency shelter station set up by a
local agency, these supplies might be helpful to you, or make your stay
easier.
The most important items to keep on hand are water (preferably in
plastic jugs or other stoppered containers); canned or sealed-package
foods that do not require refrigeration or heat for cooking; medicines
needed by family members, and a first aid kit; blankets or sleeping bags,
flashlights or lanterns, a battery-powered radio; and perhaps a covered
container to use as an emergency toilet. In addition, an automobile in
good operating condition with an ample supply of gasoline may be necessary
in case you have to leave your home.
In those parts of the country subject to hurricanes or floods, it is
also wise to keep on hand certain emergency materials you may need to
protect your home from wind and water- such as plywood sheeting or lumber
to board up your windows and doors, and plastic sheeting or tarpaulins to
protect furniture and appliances.
PAGE 75
FIRE PROTECTION AND FIRE FIGHTING
Fires are a special hazard in time of disaster. They may start more
readily, and the help of the fire department may not be available quickly.
Therefore, it is essential that you:
1. Follow the fire prevention rules given on page 45, and be
especially careful not to start fires.
2. Know how to put out small fires yourself. (See pages 45 to 48.)
3. Have on hand simple tools and equipment needed for fire fighting.
(See page 38.)
4. Install smoke or heat detectors to save lives and protect property
by detecting fires promptly.
AFTER A NATURAL DISASTER
Use extreme caution in entering or working in buildings that may have
been damaged or weakened by the disaster, as they may collapse without
warning. Also, there may be gas leaks or electrical short circuits.
Don't take lanterns, torches, or lighted cigarettes into buildings
that have been flooded or otherwise damaged, since there may be leaking
gas lines or flammable material present.
Stay away from fallen or damaged electric wires, which may still be
dangerous.
Check for leaking gas pipes in your home. Do this by smell only-
don't use matches or candles. If you smell gas, do this: (1) Open all
windows and doors, (2) Turn off the main gas valve at the meter, (3) Leave
the house immediately, (4) Notify the gas company or the police or fire
department, (5) Don't re-enter the house until you are told it is safe to
do so.
If any of your electrical appliances are wet, first turn off the main
power switch in your house, then unplug the wet appliance, dry it out,
reconnect it, and finally, turn on the main power switch. (Caution: Don't
do any of these things while you are wet or standing in water.) Is fuses
blow when the electric power is restored, turn off the main power switch
again and then inspect for short circuits in your home wiring, appliances,
and equipment.
Check your food and water supplies before using them. Foods that
require refrigeration may be spoiled if electric power has been off for
some time. Also, don't eat food that has come in contact with
PAGE 76
flood waters. Be sure to follow the instructions of local authorities
concerning the use of food and water supplies.
If needed, get food, clothing, medical care or shelter at Red Cross
stations or from local government authorities.
Stay away from disaster areas. Sightseeing could interfere with first
aid or rescue work, and may be dangerous as well.
Don't drive unless necessary, and drive with caution. Watch for
hazards to yourself and others, and report them to local authorities.
Write, telegraph, or telephone your relatives, after the emergency is
over, so they will know you are safe. Otherwise local authorities may
waste time locating you- or if you have evacuated to a safer location,
they may not be able to find you. (However, do not tie up the phone lines
if they are still needed for official emergency calls.)
Do not pass on rumors or exaggerated reports of damage.
Follow the advice and instructions of your local government on ways
to help yourself and your community recover from the emergency.
PAGE 77
Chapter 2
FLOODS
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, through its
Weather Service River Forecast Centers and River District offices, issues
flood forecasts and warnings when rainfall is enough to cause rivers to
overflow their banks or when melting snow combines with rainfall to
produce similar effects.
Flood warnings are forecasts of impending floods, and are given to
you by radio and television and through local government emergency forces.
The warning message tells the expected severity of flooding (minor,
moderate, or major), the affected river, and when and where the flooding
will begin. Careful preparations and prompt response will assure personal
safety and reduce property loss.
BEFORE THE FLOOD
1. Find out how many feet your property is above or below possible
flood levels so when predicted flood levels are broadcast, you can
determine if you may be flooded.
2. Keep a stock of food which requires little cooking and no
refrigeration. Regular electric service may be disrupted.
3. Keep a portable radio, emergency cooking equipment, and
flashlights in working order.
4. Keep first aid supplies and any medicines needed by members of
your family.
5. Keep your automobile fueled. If electric power is cut off, filling
stations may not be able to operate pumps for several days.
6. Keep materials like sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting, and
lumber handy for emergency waterproofing. But if flooding is imminent, do
not stack sandbags around the outside walls of your house to
PAGE 78
keep flood waters out of your basement. Water seeping downward through the
earth (either beyond the sandbags or over them) may collect around the
basement walls and under the floor, creating pressure that could damage
the walls or else raise the entire basement and cause it to "float" out of
the ground. In most cases, it is better to permit the flood waters to flow
freely into the basement (or flood the basement yourself with clean water,
if you feel sure it will be flooded anyway). This will equalize the water
pressure on the outside of the basement walls and floors, and thus avoid
structural damage to the foundation and the house.
7. Store drinking water in closed, clean containers. Water service
may be interrupted.
8. If flooding is likely, and time permits, move essential items and
furniture to upper floors of your house. Disconnect any electrical
appliances that can't be moved- but don't touch them if you are wet or
standing in water.
EVACUATION
If you are warned to evacuate your home and move to another location
temporarily, there are certain things to remember and do. Here are the
more important ones:
*FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AND ADVICE OF YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. If you
are told to evacuate, do so promptly. If you are instructed to move to a
certain location, go there- don't go anywhere else. If certain travel
routes are specified or recommended, use those routes rather than trying
to find your own. (It will help if you have previously become familiar
with the routes likely to be used.) If you are told to shut off your
water, gas, or electric service before leaving home, do so. Also find out
on the radio where emergency housing and mass feeding stations are
located, in case you need to use them.
*SECURE YOUR HOME BEFORE LEAVING. If you have time, and if you have
not received other instructions from your local government, you should
take the following actions before leaving your home:
-Bring outside possessions inside the house, or tie them down
securely. This includes outdoor furniture, garbage cans, garden tools,
signs and other movable objects that might be blown or washed away.
-As already suggested, move furniture and other movable objects to
the upper floor of your house. Disconnect any electrical appliances or
equipment that cannot be moved- but don't touch them if you are wet or
standing in water.
-Lock house doors and windows. Park your car in the garage or
driveway, close the windows, and lock it (unless you are driving to your
new temporary location).
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*TRAVEL WITH CARE. If your local government is arranging
transportation for you, precautions will be taken for your safety. But if
you are walking or driving your own car to another location, keep in mind
these things:
-Leave early enough so as not to be marooned by flooded roads.
-Make sure you have enough gasoline in your car.
-Follow recommended routes.
-As you travel, keep listening to the radio for additional
information and instructions from your local government.
-Watch for washed-out or undermined roadways, earth slides, broken
sewer or water mains, loose or downed electric wires, and falling or
fallen objects.
-Watch out for areas where rivers or streams may flood suddenly.
-Don't try to cross a stream or a pool of water unless you are
certain that the water will not be over your knees, or above the middle of
your car's wheels, all the way across. Sometimes the water will hide a
bridge or a part of the road that has been washed out. If you decide it is
safe to drive across it, put your car in low gear and drive
PAGE 80
very slowly to avoid splashing water into your engine and causing it to
stop. Also, remember that your brakes may not work well after the wheels
of your car have been in deep water. Try them out a few times when you
reach the other side.
AFTER THE FLOOD
1. Do not use fresh food that has come in contact with flood waters.
2. Test drinking water for potability. Wells should be pumped out and
the water tested before drinking.
3. Do not visit disaster area. Your presence will probably hamper
rescue and other emergency operations.
4. Do not handle live electrical equipment in wet areas. Electrical
equipment should be checked and dried before being returned to service.
5. Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights, not oil or gas
lanterns or torches, to examine buildings. Flammables may be inside.
6. Report broken utility lines to police, fire, or other appropriate
authorities.
7. Keep tuned to your radio or television station for advice and
instructions of your local government on where to obtain medical care,
where to get assistance for such necessities as housing, clothing, and
food, and how to help yourself and your community to recover.
SPECIAL ADVICE ON FLASH FLOODS
In many areas, unusually heavy rains may cause quick or "flash"
floods. Small creeks, gullies dry streambeds, ravines, culverts, or even
low-lying ground frequently flood quickly and endanger people, sometimes
before any warning can be given.
National Weather Service offices issue two types of flash flood
advisories: a flash flood watch and a flash flood warning. A flash flood
watch means that heavy rains occurring or expected to occur may soon cause
flash flooding in certain areas, and citizens should be alert to the
possibility of a flood emergency which will require immediate action. A
flash flood warning means that flash flooding is occurring or imminent on
certain streams or designated areas, and precautions should be taken
immediately by those threatened.
In a period of heavy rains, be aware of the hazard of flash floods
and be prepared to protect yourself against it. If you see any possibility
of a flash flood occurring where you are, move immediately to a safer
location (don't wait for instructions to move) and then notify your local
authorities of the danger, so other people can be warned.
Especially during periods of heavy rainfall:
-STAY AWAY FROM NATURAL STREAMBEDS, arroyos, and other drainage
channels during and after rainstorms. Water runs off the higher elevations
very rapidly, causing the natural drainage system to overflow with rushing
floodwaters and their deadly cargo of rocks, mud, smashed trees, and other
debris.
-USE YOUR MAPS. Know where you are, and whether you are on locally
low ground. Remember: You don't have to be at the bottom of a hill to be a
target for the dangers of flash flooding.
-KNOW WHERE THE HIGH GROUND IS and how to get there in a hurry.
Remember: many roads and trails parallel existing drainage patterns, and
may be swept away by flood waters.
-STAY OUT OF FLOODED AREAS; the water may still be rising, and the
current is unusually swift. Never try to cross a flowing stream on foot if
the water is above your knees.
-ABANDON STALLED VEHICLES IN FLOODED AREAS if you can do so safely.
Flood waters may rise and sweep the vehicle (and its occupants) away. Many
deaths have resulted from attempts to move stalled vehicles.
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PAGE 83
Chapter 3
HURRICANES
The National Weather Service issues advisories when hurricanes are
approaching the United States mainland.
A hurricane watch means a hurricane may threaten coastal and inland
areas. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are a real
possibility; it does not mean that they are imminent. When a hurricane
watch is issued, everyone in the area covered by the watch should listen
for further advisories and be prepared to act promptly if a hurricane
watch is issued.
A hurricane warning becomes part of advisories when a hurricane is
expected to strike an area within 24 hours. Advisories containing
hurricane warnings may also include an assessment of flood danger in
coastal and inland areas, small craft warnings, gale warnings for the
storm's periphery, estimated storm effects, and recommended emergency
procedures.
HURRICANE WARNING: SAFETY ACTIONS
When your area reads a hurricane warning:
1. Keep your radio or television on and listen for the latest Weather
Service advisories as well as special instructions from your local
government. Also listen for tornado watches and warnings. Tornadoes
spawned by a hurricane are among the storm's worst killers.
2. Plan your time before the storm arrives and avoid the last-minute
hurry which might leave you marooned or unprepared.
3. Leave low-lying areas that may be swept by high tides or storm
waves.
4. Leave mobile homes for more substantial shelter. Unless properly
anchored, mobile homes are particularly vulnerable to overturning during
strong winds.
5. Moor your boat securely before the storm arrives, or move it to a
designated safe area. When your boat is moored, leave it, and don't return
once the wind and waves are up.
6. Board up windows or protect them with storm shutters or tape.
Danger to small windows is mainly from wind-driven debris. Large windows
may be broken by wind pressure.
7. Secure outdoor objects that might be blown away. garbage cans,
garden tools, toys, signs, porch furniture, and a number of other harmless
items become missiles of destruction in hurricane winds. Anchor them or
store them inside before the storm strikes.
PAGE 84
8. Store drinking water in clean bathtubs, jugs, bottles, and cooking
utensils. Your town's water system may be contaminated or damaged by the
storm.
9. Check your battery-powered equipment. Your radio may be your only
link with the world outside the hurricane, and emergency cooking
facilities and flashlights will be essential if utility services are
interrupted.
10. Keep your car fueled. Service stations may be inoperable for
several days after the storm strikes, because of flooding or interrupted
electrical power.
11. Stay at home if it is sturdy and on high ground. If not- and
especially if local authorities order an evacuation of your area- move to
a designated shelter and stay there until the storm is over.
`12. Remain indoors during the hurricane. Travel is extremely dangerous
when winds and tides are whipping through your area. Don't be fooled by
the "eye" of the hurricane. if the storm center passes directly overhead,
there will be a lull in the wind lasting from a few minutes to half an
hour or more. Stay in a safe place unless emergency repairs are absolutely
necessary. But remember, at the other side of the "eye" the winds will
increase rapidly to hurricane force, and will come from the opposite
direction.
EVACUATION
If you are advised to evacuate your home and move to another location
temporarily (including predesignated hurricane shelters), there are
certain things to remember and do. Here are the most important ones:
PAGE 85
*FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AND ADVICE OF YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. If you
are advised to evacuate, do so promptly. If you are told to move to a
certain location, go there- don't go anywhere else. If certain travel
routes are specified or recommended, use these routes rather than trying
to find short cuts of your own. If you are told to shut off your water,
gas, or electric service before leaving home, do so. Also, find out from
the radio or television where emergency housing and mass feeding stations
are located, in case you need to use them.
*TRAVEL WITH CARE. If your local government is arranging
transportation for you, precautions will be taken for your safety. But if
you are walking or driving your own car to another location, keep these
things in mind.
-Leave early enough so as not to be marooned by flooded roads, fallen
trees, and wires.
-Make sure you have enough gasoline for your car.
-Follow recommended routes.
-As you travel, keep listening to the radio for additional
information and instructions from your local government.
AFTER THE HURRICANE
When the hurricane has passed:
1. Remain in shelter until informed by local authorities that it is
safe to leave.
2. Keep tuned to your local radio or television station for advice
and instructions from your local government on:
-Where to go to obtain emergency medical care in your area.
-Where to go for necessary emergency assistance for housing,
clothing, food.
-Ways to help yourself and your community recover from the emergency.
3. Stay out of disaster areas. Sightseeing interferes with essential
rescue and recovery work, and may be dangerous as well.
4. Drive carefully along debris-filled streets. Roads may be
undermined and may collapse under the weight of a car.
5. Avoid loose or dangling wires, and report them immediately to your
power company or to the local police or fire department.
6. Report broken sewer or water mains to the water department.
7. Prevent fires. Lowered water pressure may make fire fighting
difficult.
8. Check refrigerated food for spoilage if the power has been off
during the storm.
REMEMBER: Hurricanes moving inland can cause severe flooding. Stay
away from river banks and streams until all potential flooding is past.
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PAGE 87
Chapter 4
TORNADOES
A tornado is a violent storm with whirling winds of tremendous speed.
It appears as a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud, from gray to black in
color, which extends towards the ground from the base of a thundercloud. A
tornado spins like a top and may sound like the roaring of an airplane or
locomotive. These shortlived storms are the most violent of atmospheric
phenomena, and over a small area, the most destructive. They frequently
accompany the advance of hurricanes.
*When a tornado watch (forecast) is announced, this means that
tornadoes are expected in or near your area. Keep your radio or television
set tuned to a local station for information and advice from your local
government and the Weather Service. Also, keep watching the sky,
especially to the south and southwest. (When a tornado watch is announced
during the approach of a hurricane, however, keep watching the sky to the
east). If you see any revolving, funnel-shaped clouds, report them by
telephone immediately to your local police department, sheriff's office,
or Weather Service office. But do not use the telephone to get information
and advice- depend on radio and television.
PAGE 88
*When a tornado warning is issued, take shelter immediately. The
warning means that a tornado has actually been sighted, or has been
indicated by radar, and this or other tornadoes may strike in your
vicinity. You must take action to protect yourself from being blown away,
struck by falling objects, or injured by flying debris. Your best
protection is an underground shelter or cave, or a substantial steel-
framed or reinforced concrete building. But if none of these is available,
there are other places where you can take refuge:
* IF YOU ARE AT HOME, go to your underground storm cellar or your
basement fallout shelter, if you have one. If not, go to a corner of your
home basement and take cover under a sturdy workbench or table (but not
underneath heavy appliances on the floor above). If your home has no
basement, take cover in the center part of the house, on the lowest floor,
in a small room such as a closet or bathroom, or under sturdy furniture.
Stay away from windows to avoid flying debris. Do not remain in a trailer
or mobile home if a tornado is approaching; take cover elsewhere.
* IF YOU ARE AT WORK in a building, go to an interior hallway on the
lowest floor, or to the designated shelter area.
* IF YOU ARE AT SCHOOL, follow the instructions of school
authorities. These usually involve taking shelter in interior hallways on
the lowest floor, and staying out of structures with wide, free-span
roofs, such as auditoriums and gymnasiums.
* IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE IN OPEN COUNTRY, drive away from the tornado's
path, at a right angle to it. If there isn't time to do this- or if you
are walking- take cover and lie flat in the nearest depression, such as a
ditch, culvert, excavation, or ravine.
PAGE 89
Chapter 5
WINTER STORMS
Here is advice that will help you protect yourself and your family
against the hazards of winter storms- blizzards, heavy snows, ice storms,
freezing rain, or sleet.
* KEEP POSTED ON WEATHER CONDITIONS. Use your radio, television, and
newspapers to keep informed of current weather conditions and forecasts in
your area. Even a few hours warning of a storm may enable you to avoid
being caught in it, or at least be better prepared to cope with it. You
should also understand the terms commonly used in weather forecasts:
-A blizzard is the most dangerous of all winter storms. It combines
cold air, heavy snow, and strong winds that blow the snow about and may
reduce visibility to only a few yards. A blizzard warning is issued when
the Weather Service expects considerable snow and winds of 35 miles per
hour or more. A severe blizzard warning means that a very heavy snowfall
is expected, with winds of at least 45 miles per hour and temperature of
10 degrees or lower.
-A heavy snow warning usually means an expected snowfall of 4 inches
or more in a 12-hour period, or 6 inches or more in a 24-hour period.
Warnings of snow flurries, snow squalls, or blowing and drifting snow are
important mainly because visibility may be reduced and roads may become
slippery or blocked.
PAGE 90
-Freezing rain or freezing drizzle is forecast when expected rain is
likely to freeze as soon as it strikes the ground, putting a coating of
ice or glaze on roads and everything else that is exposed. If a
substantial layer of ice is expected to accumulate from the freezing rain,
an ice storm is forecast.
-Sleet is usually small particles of ice, usually mixed with rain. If
enough sleet accumulates on the ground, it will make the roads slippery.
* BE PREPARED FOR ISOLATION AT HOME. If you live in a rural area,
make sure you could survive at home for a week or two in case a storm
isolated you and made it impossible for you to leave. You should:
-Keep an adequate supply of heating fuel on hand and use it
sparingly. Your regular supplies may be curtailed by storm conditions. If
necessary, conserve fuel by keeping the house cooler than usual, or by
"closing off' some rooms temporarily. Also, have available some kind of
emergency heating equipment and fuel so you could keep at least one room
of your house warm enough to be livable. This could be a camp stove with
fuel, or a supply of wood or coal if you have a fireplace. If your furnace
is controlled by a thermostat and your electricity is cut off by a storm,
the furnace probably would not operate and you would need emergency heat.
-Stock an emergency supply of food and water, as well as emergency
cooking equipment such as a camp stove. Some of this food should be of the
type that does not require refrigeration or cooking.
-Make sure you have a battery-powered radio and extra batteries on
hand, so that if your electric power is cut off you could still hear
weather forecasts, information, and advice broadcast by local authorities.
Also, flashlights or lanterns would be needed.
- Keep on hand the simple tools and equipment needed to fight a fire.
Also, be certain that all family members know how to take precautions that
would prevent fire at such a time, when the help of the fire department
may not be available.
*DRESS FOR THE SEASON. If you spend much time outdoors, wear several
layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than a single
layer of thick clothing. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Use a hood to
protect your head and face, and to cover your mouth to protect your lungs
from the extremely cold air.
* TRAVEL ONLY IF NECESSARY. Avoid all unnecessary trips. If you must
travel, use public transportation if possible. However, if you are forced
to use your automobile for a trip of any distance, take these precautions:
-Make sure your car is in good condition, properly serviced, and
equipped with chains or snow tires.
PAGE 91
-Take another person with you if possible.
-Make sure someone knows where you are going, your approximate
schedule, and your estimated time of arrival at your destination.
-Have emergency "winter storm supplies" in the car, such as a
container of sand, shovel, windshield scraper, tow chain, or rope, extra
gasoline, and a flashlight. It is also good to have with you heavy gloves
or mittens, overshoes, extra woolen socks, and winter headgear to cover
your head and face.
-Travel by daylight and use major highways if you can. Keep the car
radio turned on for weather information and advice.
-Drive with all possible caution. Don't try to save time by traveling
faster than road and weather conditions permit.
-Don't be daring or foolhardy. Stop, turn back, or seek help if
conditions threaten that may test your ability or endurance, rather than
risk being stalled, lost, or isolated. If you are caught in a blizzard,
seek refuge immediately.
PAGE 92
* KEEP CALM IF YOU GET IN TROUBLE. If your car breaks down during a storm,
or if you become stalled or lost, don't panic. Think the problem through,
decide what's the safest and best thing to do, and then do it slowly and
carefully. If you are on a well-traveled road, show a trouble signal. Set
your directional lights to flashing, raise the hood of your car, or hang a
cloth from the radio aerial or car window. Then stay in your car and wait
for help to arrive. If you run the engine to keep warm, remember to open a
window enough to provide ventilation and protect you from carbon monoxide
poisoning.
Wherever you are, if there is no house or other source of help in
sight, do not leave your car to search for assistance, as you may become
confused and get lost.
* AVOID OVEREXERTION. Every winter many unnecessary deaths occur
because people- especially older persons, but younger ones as well- engage
in more strenuous physical activity than their bodies can stand. Cold
weather itself, without any physical exertion, puts an extra strain on
your heart. If you add to this physical exercise, especially exercise that
you are not accustomed to- such as shoveling snow, pushing an automobile,
or even walking fast or far- you are risking a heart attack, a stroke, or
damage to your body. In winter weather, and especially in winter storms,
be aware of this danger, and avoid overexertion.
PAGE 93
Chapter 6
EARTHQUAKES
An earthquake is the shaking or trembling or the crust of the earth,
caused by underground volcanic forces or by breaking and shifting of rock
beneath the surface. In recent years considerable progress has been made
towards developing the science of earthquake prediction, but techniques
for making precise predictions of earthquakes do not yet exist.
The actual earth movement of an earthquake, frightening as it is,
seldom is a direct cause of death or injury. The earth does not yawn open,
gulp down a neighborhood, and slam shut. The earth movement, however, can
cause buildings and other structures to shake or collapse. Most casualties
result from falling objects and debris, splintering glass, and fires.
DURING AN EARTHQUAKE
1. Stay calm. Don't run or panic. If you take the proper precautions,
the chances are you will not be hurt.
2. Stay where you are. If outdoors, stay outdoors. If indoors, stay
indoors. Most injuries occur as people are entering or leaving buildings.
PAGE 94
3. If the shaking catches you indoors, stay indoors. Take cover under
a desk, table, bench, or against inside walls and doorways. Stay away from
glass, windows, and outside doors.
4. Don't use candles, matches, or other open flames either during or
after the tremor. Douse all fires.
5. If the earthquake catches you outside, move away from buildings
and utility wires. Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops.
6. Don't run through or near buildings. The greatest danger from
falling debris is just outside doorways and close to outer walls.
7. If you are in a moving car, stop as quickly as safety permits, nut
stay in the vehicle. A car may jiggle fearsomely on its springs during an
earthquake, but it is a good place to stay until the shaking stops. When
you drive on, watch for hazards created by the earthquake, such as fallen
or falling objects, downed electric wires, or broken or undermined
roadways.
PAGE 95
AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE
1. Check for injuries. Do not attempt to move seriously injured
persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury.
2. Check utility lines and appliances for damage. If you smell gas,
open windows and shut off the main gas valve. The leave the building and
report gas leakage to the authorities. Don't re-enter the building until a
utility official says it is safe.
3. If water pipes are damaged, shut off the supply at the main valve.
Emergency water may be obtained from such sources as hot water tanks,
toilet tanks, and melted ice cubes.
4. Check to see that sewage lines are intact before permitting
continued flushing of toilets.
5. If electrical wiring is shorting out, shut off current at the main
meter box.
6. Check chimneys for cracks and damage. Unnoticed damage could lead
to a fire. The initial check should be made from a distance. Approach
chimneys with great caution.
7. Stay out of severely damaged buildings. Aftershocks can shake them
down.
8. Do not heed or spread rumors. They often do great harm following
disasters. Stay off the telephone, except to report an emergency. Turn on
your radio or television to get the latest emergency information.
9. Don't go sightseeing. Respond to requests for assistance from
police, firefighting, and relief organizations, but do not go into damaged
areas unless your assistance has been requested. Cooperate fully with
local authorities.
10. Be prepared for additional earthquake shocks.
PAGE 96 IS BLANK
Chapter 7
TIDAL WAVES
A tsunami (pronounced soo-nam'-ee) is actually a series of waves
caused by an underwater disturbance. Although most tsunamis are associated
with large earthquakes whose epicenters underlie or border the ocean
floor, the generating mechanism is not positively known. In this century
more than 200 tsunamis have been recorded in the Pacific. Some of these
resulted in coastal waves more than 100 feet high that smashed into land
with tremendous destructive power.
The major tsunami detection and warning system is the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Tsunami Warning System,
with headquarters at Ewa Beach Observatory near Honolulu, Hawaii.
PAGE 98
TSUNAMI SAFETY RULES
1. All earthquakes do not cause tsunamis, but many do. When you hear
that an earthquake has occurred, stand by for a tsunami emergency.
2. An earthquake in your area is a natural tsunami warning. Do not
stay in low-lying coastal areas after a local earthquake.
3. A tsunami is not a single wave but a series of waves. Stay out of
danger areas until an "all clear" is issued by competent authority.
4. Approaching tsunamis are sometimes heralded by a noticeable rise
or fall of coastal water. This is nature's tsunami warning and should be
heeded.
5. A small tsunami at one beach can be a giant a few miles away.
Don't let the modest size of one make you lose respect for all.
6. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center does not issue false alarms.
When a warning is issued, a tsunami exists.
7. All tsunamis are potentially dangerous, even though they may not
damage every coastline they strike.
8. Never go down to the beach to watch for a tsunami. When you can
see the wave you are too close to escape it.
9. Sooner or later, tsunamis visit every coastline in the Pacific.
Warnings apply to you especially if you live in any Pacific coastal area.
10. During a tsunami emergency, follow the instructions of local
authorities on what to do and what not to do with respect to the
emergency.
END
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