If your region is at risk for nuclear attack, building a bomb shelter is wise. Not only does it protect you from looters but it can provide food, water, and supplies in case an emergency arises. Furthermore, bomb shelters can protect you from the radiation generated by a nuclear blast. Ideally, your shelter should have enough distance between itself and fallout particles to reduce exposure to these hazardous particles.
Materials
Building homemade fallout shelters can be an excellent way to prepare for disasters. They're easy to construct and the materials used are relatively cheap. However, they must be constructed in such a way that will shield you from radiation and other threats during an emergency. Nuclear explosions create a cloud of radioactive dust which poses risks to humans due to its gamma rays that can cause cancer and other illnesses. Furthermore, this contamination spreads throughout air, soil, and water sources. In case of a nuclear attack, it's essential to find shelter quickly. A shelter should be large enough for everyone to occupy and set far away from buildings.
A shelter should be constructed underground, as the blast wave from a nuclear explosion can damage structures. It should be constructed out of packed earth to insulate against radiation and the shockwaves it generates. At least five feet should be dug and an exit should be provided at one end, protected from the blast by a sturdy door or fence. For additional radiation protection, your shelter's ceiling should be covered with poles at least nine feet (2.7 m) long. These will hold back dirt used to construct your dome so it doesn't slide into entryways in your roof and block them.
Once the ceiling is built, add several more layers of tarp for waterproofing. Fill any gaps with clay, leaves or other materials to prevent dirt from entering your shelter. Next, you can begin creating beds and other furnishings for your fallout shelter. You can utilize hammocks, foldable beds, or makeshift stools as temporary solutions. You can also make bed coverings for your shelter from inexpensive materials like hay, pine needles or leaves. These options are lightweight and simple to construct - the perfect combination! Composting toilets can also be used in your shelter. While they require some water to function, they're easy to set up and help protect you against water-borne illnesses.
Design
In the event of a nuclear explosion, material heated by the blast becomes radioactive. This radiation is released into the air and poses health risks to anyone exposed to it. To reduce exposure risks, many people construct fallout shelters. Fallout shelters are typically constructed underground as the best way to protect people from nuclear radiation. However, they can also be constructed aboveground. A common shelter design involves a reinforced room or cellar with an impressive blast door and walls made of steel or bricks.
Other types of shelters exist as well. Some serve to protect people during an air raid, while others are meant for long-term survival. Most homemade fallout shelters follow a similar design: a large room with a roof, doors, and windows for keeping people inside; an exterior wall that can be closed off for privacy or ventilation; typically the floor is concrete. It is best to place your shelter away from trees and buildings that could collapse on it in an emergency. Select stable ground, as nuclear explosions often cause massive firestorms and destroy structures far beyond the shelter's perimeter.
Another option is to place your shelter on a slope, where it will be protected from falling debris. Researching the topography of your area before building the shelter will help you choose an appropriate location for it. When constructing your own shelter, ensure you obtain a blueprint from your local government's land survey office or other professional organization. These can assist with planning the layout of your structure and give you ideas about what should go inside. Furthermore, having a solid foundation that can be made from concrete is recommended. Reinforced or self-healing concrete makes your building more resistant to cracking and breakage so that it won't crumble away when needed most. It is wise to have a water source for your shelter. At least fifteen gallons of drinking water should be sufficient to last people throughout their stay inside the shelter.
Ventilation
If you're creating a homemade fallout shelter, ventilation is key. A properly designed ventilation system can help avoid breathing in hazardous particles from a nuclear explosion and also keep you from overheating. Ventilation systems can either be mechanical or natural. Either type of device brings fresh air into a space and removes stale air. It is essential that the ventilation in your shelter be effective and meet safety regulations. If you are uncertain, consult OSH Answers' document Indoor Air Quality - General or contact an occupational health and safety professional for assistance.
In a shelter, it is ideal to maintain an average ventilation rate of 40 cubic feet per minute (cfm) per person and distribute this amount throughout the room in order to prevent overheating. When temperatures in a shelter rise by 3 degrees Fahrenheit due to body heat alone, people could suffer serious harm in extreme heat waves. To improve ventilation in your shelter, install a directional fan that gently circulates air. This will keep your occupants cool and reduce their risk of overheating if you don't have an air-conditioning system installed.
Consider running a ventilation pipe through your nearest entryway, if possible. This will keep the air clean and prevent rainwater from polluting it - always an important concern when building shelter. Another great solution is installing a tarp over your shelter, creating a dome shape, and keeping rainwater out. This works especially well in windy climates where water will roll off the roof and away from your shelter. A tarp can provide extra protection, but it must be layered with dirt for full radiation shielding. That means you need approximately 18 inches (46 cm) of soil beneath the tarp.
Security
Security can mean many things, but it primarily implies protection from harm and other unwanted coercion. It could take the physical form of a fence or security camera, or it could be psychological like feeling safe in an area. If you are creating homemade fallout shelters, there are a few security measures you should take. These include selecting an appropriate location, making sure the shelter has good ventilation, and preparing food that can last for extended periods of time. Choose a location far away from trees and structures, especially flammable ones. This is because the detonation of a nuclear bomb may produce thermal pulses which could burn nearby structures up to miles away.
Avoid situating your shelter near water or along utility lines. These could pose a security threat to the bunker and be the reason government officials raid it after an attack. Selecting a location for your homemade bomb shelter is essential, as it will determine how much radiation you are exposed to after a nuclear attack. A shelter located in a basement will offer the greatest protection, as walls will absorb radiation particles before they can reach you. Your homemade fallout shelter should be built deep enough to withstand a nuclear blast and constructed with thick walls made of heavy materials to shield you from radiation exposure.
Concrete is the most commonly used foundation material for fallout shelters. While this substance is highly durable and will prevent your bunker from collapsing, it may crack over time. To reduce the chance of your homemade shelter sustaining damage due to collapse, add metal beams across its base for extra support and stability. Make sure the surface of your shelter is kept free from dirt and debris, to avoid the buildup of spores and bacteria which could contaminate it and pose health risks to occupants.
Once you've chosen a location for your homemade fallout shelter, the next step is to locate an effective plan that will guide construction. You can search online for "fallout shelter blueprints," or reach out directly to a nearby land survey office and request their advice.