Science question about underground survival.

[potioncat]

> Tonks:
 
> What I am talking about when I say a 'safe room' is what FEMA is 
> advising builders to put in all new houses, at least in Michigan. 
> (And, no it was not a builder who told me.) After listening to 
> people on this list, I now realize that it might not be the same 
> advice in all parts of the country. 

Potioncat:
I looked on the FEMA website which does address saferooms. I scanned 
over the material on the site, but did not go the links to the more 
detailed information.

So it does look like FEMA is suggesting saferooms in new 
construction. Again, the purpose of the safe room is short term to 
protect against the house falling in. There are structural guidelines 
and also other evironmental considerations. Such as flooding.

There is also some generic information about protecting against 
radiation, but it doesn't involve a bomb shelter.


Tonks:
There has been a lot of 
> discussion about what to do in the event of a dirty bomb or some 
> other terroist attack. And there are people in my area, richer than 
> me, who have these room in their basements. I have not seen one 
yet, 
> but I understand that they have a special air filtration system and 
> a vault like, air tight door. The people who have them are planning 
> to use them for a nuke attack. Personally I don't want to go into a 
> basement unless I have some other people with me. If I am going to 
> die, I want to be with friends. And I do NOT want to be in some 
> government community shelter!! We all saw what a nightmare that was 
> with Katrina.

Potioncat:
Yeah, but eventually the nightmare was over. I would rather take my 
chances with a group, than hope I had everthing right by myself. 
Besides, what's going to happen when it's time to come out of the 
shelter? There will still be the issue of getting safe food/water and 
avoiding contamination.

I think each of us should be as prepared as we reasonably can be. 
That's probably more for some than others.

Potioncat