How to Build a Fallout Shelter (Published 2017) (2024)

Magazine|How to Build a Fallout Shelter

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/26/magazine/how-to-build-a-fallout-shelter.html

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By Malia Wollan

How to Build a Fallout Shelter (Published 2017) (1)

“The most important thing is to build underground,” says Cédric Vuilleumier, an engineer for the Federal Office for Civil Protection in Switzerland, where all citizens are legally guaranteed a spot in a bomb shelter. Packed earth insulates against radiation and blast waves, but don’t go deeper than 10 feet; if your exits (make two) become blocked in the blast, you may need to dig yourself out.

Start with what Vuilleumier calls a “protective envelope” of concrete and reinforced steel rebar with walls between one foot and 2-feet-7-inches thick. Don’t build near anything flammable. Your budget may allow for more spaciousness, but plan for a minimum of nine square feet per person, which is what Switzerland provides. Install eight-inch-thick concrete and steel doors that open out. Add a ventilation and air-filtration system that can be operated with a hand crank in case of a power failure. (Swiss specifications for bomb-shelter parts are the gold standard internationally; many shelter-building companies in the United States and elsewhere import Swiss-made components.)

Cache food, water, a toilet, something to sleep on and a radio. How much you’ll need will depend on how long you intend to stay. In the first 24 hours after a Hiroshima-like nuclear explosion, large particles of hazardous radioactive material rain to the ground. Most of the fallout quickly begins to decay, and scientists use what’s called the 7:10 Rule of Thumb to estimate radioactive risk: For every sevenfold increase in time after detonation, there is a 10-fold decrease in the exposure rate. Some of Switzerland’s shelters contain everything needed to survive 14 days sealed inside, but most are intended as sanctuary for only up to two days. “After that you’ll want to open the door,” Vuilleumier says.

Think through whom you’re building for, and be generous. Despite laws mandating a shelter within a 30-minute walk of every Swiss home, the government won’t tell anyone exactly where their spot is until they need it. Otherwise, people would complain about having to hole up with someone they don’t like. “In a real bomb attack, you’ll forget all that,” Vuilleumier says. “You just want to live.”

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How to Build a Fallout Shelter (Published 2017) (2024)

FAQs

How do you build a fallout shelter in your home easy? ›

Sandbags, bricks, containers filled with water, or any heavy materials that you can find can be used to protect against a nuclear blast,” Richardson notes. Just place these items against your walls—particularly the windows where radiation can still sneak through, or on the floors above wherever you are.

What were fallout shelters built as a response to? ›

During the Cold War, the threat of a nuclear war caused many people to build fallout shelters. Fallout shelters were designed to protect people from radioactive dirt and debris that can fall out of the air following a nuclear detonation.

What is the strongest material for a bunker? ›

What is the best and strongest material to build a bunker if money is not an issue? Reinforced concrete and a lot of steel. You will need to make the wall quite thick.

How deep underground do you have to be to survive a nuclear blast? ›

BUILD UNDERGROUND

A fallout shelter needs to protect you from radioactive particles and blast impact: compacted dirt is great at both. Building down to a depth of about ten feet will provide ample protection, but any deeper makes it hard to dig out in the event of a collapse.

How do you build a shelter step by step? ›

Simple Steps for a Simple Shelter
  1. Pick an area with 2 good trees or objects to tie a line to.
  2. Check the area for dead trees that could fall on you.
  3. Clear the area of sticks and small rocks that could make sleeping uncomfortable.
  4. Tie your Taught line with your paracord. ...
  5. Drape tarp over the taught line.

How long does it take to 100% fallout shelter? ›

When focusing on the main objectives, Fallout Shelter is about 17 Hours in length. If you're a gamer that strives to see all aspects of the game, you are likely to spend around 90½ Hours to obtain 100% completion.

Who was the insane leader fallout shelter? ›

Question series
QuestionshowReplies
AWho was the insane leader of the Republic of Dave?Dave is... right! We like to start off easy.
You hope right! It's Dave. Who else would it be?
What? Are you an idiot? Time to... Lose Your Head!
What was Rivet City before the war?Wrongo! I'm afraid you must... Lose Your Head!
106 more rows

What is fallout shelter in real life? ›

A fallout shelter is an enclosed space specially designated to protect occupants from radioactive debris or fallout resulting from a nuclear explosion. Many such shelters were constructed as civil defense measures during the Cold War.

Why did people stop building fallout shelters? ›

Not every scientist studying the matter agreed, but a consensus was beginning to emerge: the facts of nuclear war — not only the radiation but also the strategy of mutually-assured destruction — were such that a shelter couldn't do much good.

How do bunkers get oxygen? ›

Air Ventilation: Underground bunkers typically have limited windows and air openings. It is crucial to ensure that air is flowing into the space to prevent the buildup of stale or polluted air [2]. Consider the following: Install a small exhaust fan to provide fresh air and keep the atmosphere clean [2].

Are there earthquake proof bunkers? ›

Underground bunkers are built with robust materials such as reinforced concrete or steel, making them highly resistant to external threats. They can withstand severe weather conditions like hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes.

What can destroy a bunker? ›

A bunker buster is a type of munition that is designed to penetrate hardened targets or targets buried deep underground, such as military bunkers.

How long does radiation last after a nuke? ›

For the survivors of a nuclear war, this lingering radiation hazard could represent a grave threat for as long as 1 to 5 years after the attack.

Where to buy a house to survive a nuclear war? ›

The broker also advised on buying homes in states along the Mississippi River including Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Russia escalated nuclear threats in the midst of its war on Ukraine.

How long after a nuclear explosion is it safe? ›

THE NEXT 48 HOURS

You have been sheltered because of the potential for dangerous levels of radiation in the first 24 hours following a nuclear detonation. After 24 hours, outdoor radiation levels will have fallen significantly but may still warrant protective measures in your area.

What is the easiest shelter to build? ›

A lean-to is one of the simplest ways to keep basic sun, wind, and even a bit of rain outside where they belong. A lean-to requires simply that you find some type of ledge, fallen tree, or large rock. You then collect branches or limbs and lean them against the top edge.

Can you turn your house into a fallout shelter? ›

Making a Shelter in a Building

The best shelter rooms are underground, although you can convert any concrete room into a shelter. A basem*nt is often a great place for a shelter. Also look for concrete office buildings or other protected structures unlikely to collapse during an event.

How do you prepare your house for nuclear fallout? ›

Close and lock all windows and doors, and close fireplace dampers. When you move to your shelter, use duct tape and plastic sheeting to seal any doors, windows, or vents for a short period of time in case a radiation plume is passing over (listen to your radio for instructions).

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