We would all like a comfort feel that Homeland Security is going to take care of the terrorism problem, make it go away or at the very least, provide safety for us. However, they have neither the ability to make terrorists disappear nor do they have the means or manpower. Civilian safety is left primarily to us.

Stan and I were concerned hearing the vague instructions given by officials to the public to purchase duct tape and plastic, as well as unspecified emergency supplies.

The information was just enough to further raise fear levels with no comfort in specifics. What do I do with the duct tape and how do I do it? What and how much should go in emergency kits? The only no-brainer information was "get a radio".

Furthermore, asking folks to set aside supplies for 72 hours is simply not long enough. If a terrorism or disaster scenario is severe, stores, banks, utilities and services - in other words - normal life, may be on hold for several weeks. We would like to see every household have a minimum of 2-4 weeks provisions. More is better up to a point.

This is not to indicate that you may have to shelter in place that long, but services could certainly be disrupted for extended periods. What if smallpox comes to your neighborhood? Will you want to venture down to the local store if you run out of food? That's providing the stores have food. Should any area become contaminated, no one is coming for a visit, not even dedicated over-the-road truckers bringing fresh milk and burger meat.

With many commercial safety shelters costing $3000 - $7500 and more, here are some practical tips for sheltering in place. Please keep in mind this will NOT guarantee 100% safety, but it will considerably reduce the dangers of bio-chemical weapons and nuclear fallout. It will NOT protect one from gamma particles of a nuclear blast. It is unfortunate, but a light duty, above-ground shelter like this simply won't work for all scenarios. However, for folks who can afford a top drawer commercial blast shelter, it would certainly protect people from most challenges unless they are at ground zero.


MAKING THE SHELTER

First, pick a room with the least number of windows that is to be your shelter area. Because chemical agents are generally heavier than air, choose a room above ground level, if possible, rather than a basement. This is exactly opposite in preparing for nuclear blasts and tornados.

Before beginning, make certain the chosen room doesn't have hidden pitfalls. You may need to the remove the carpet or other flooring to check for lurking holes. Examine the ceiling to make sure it isn't constructed with porous materials. Vinyl wallpaper and similar wall coverings may actually contribute to barrier protection.

The idea is to completely seal ALL openings of your safe area. Tape windows, door and other openings with duct tape, including every single crack and crevice. Take time to fill all cracks and crevices with foam sealant. Caulk crevices around wall switch plates and outlets. (Remember, these measures will also lower heating and cooling bills, so it's a win-win task!)

For window protection, from inside your home, run 6 mil plastic sheeting* beyond the window frame extending onto the wall, and tape or staple it to the drywall. While it would be nice to have a view outside, consider the likelihood the window could be broken. If there is any chance this could happen, consider nailing plywood to the window's exterior. Any breach in the plastic greatly reduces the effectiveness of these protective measures. This plywood should be pre-cut with nails taped to the wood and ready to go up. Keep it stored in your safe room. It will only take a couple of minutes to install yet keep the window clear until the protection is needed.

*NOTE: Plastic sheeting comes in varying weights; 1, 2, 4 6 and 10 mil thicknesses are common. A 10'x25' roll of 4 mil generally runs $6 and 6 mil costs around $10. Six mil is generally used for closing in construction and offers the most protection and greatest tear-resistance. An 8' x 100' roll of 4 mil runs around $18. One 2, and 4 mil is pretty flimsy by comparison but better than nothing.

Next, seal off floor and wall openings such as laundry chutes and heating/cooling ducts, if they aren't part of a specially prepared ventilation system. If your safe room is the bathroom, seal the exhaust fan, sink's drains (don't forget the overflow at the top rim on the side closest to you), the stopper and bathtub drains.

Doors are a special problem because it is harder to eliminate all air leaks. Especially here it would be a good idea to use 6 mil plastic sheeting, double folded. Check for leaks between the wood frame and drywall and fill with caulk. Seal off the space between the door, and its frame and hinges, with duct tape before covering with plastic sheeting.

Cover the door and framework with the double-folded plastic. Tape or staple onto the drywall above the door as suggested for windows. Before trimming the bottom, leave an extra 8-10" of plastic. You want this excess to extend below the door to cover the area below the door and onto the floor. During an emergency, before entering, soak a towel with baking soda dissolved in water. Wring out the towel. When inside, force the wet towel into the space between bottom of the door and the floor. Make sure there are no gaps! Then roll the 8-10" of plastic down over the towel and secure to the floor in front of the door.

Alternatively, plastic sheeting can be used to completely line your safe area. If stapled in place, make sure the staple holes are securely taped.

NOTE: In an email received from a Lowe's Department Manager, she stated the adhesive quality of 3M duct tape has diminished greatly over the years. If you find that to be the case in your area, Gorilla Tape is an excellent alternative. It's comparably priced and for only few pennies more, you don't want inferior duct tape to be your shelter's weakness.


LOOKING FOR LEAKS IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES

The rest of your home can serve as a "pre-filter" for your safe room. For maximum effectiveness, similarly seal off all windows, doors, garage and pet doors, fireplace dampers, attic fans, furnaces, swamp coolers, air conditioner units, dryer vents and switch plates to restrict all potential sources of infiltration. Replace ALL plain switch plates with foam-backed switch plates. This too will add to the insulation factor of your home.

If you ever have mice or bugs in your home that didn't come home with you from the grocery store (like in mesh potato sacks) or flew in the door at night attracted to interior lights, you've got holes or cracks/leaks some place.

Before assuming tight seals have been achieved, check for leaks with a smoke punk or stick of incense. Even a cigarette or cigar would work. You just need something that will produce a steady stream of smoke. Place it next to all cracks around doors, windows and electrical fixtures, outlet covers, light switches, ceiling and wall lamps and ceiling fans. Note the behavior and direction of the smoke stream to determine leaks. Seal with duct tape or sealing foam.

Having appropriate personal protective equipment, including a gas mask (see what to look for when buying a gas mask and filter, Gas Mask Quick Reference Comparison Chart and Gas Mask and Filter Suppliers) with a HEPA or NATO equivalent filter for each person in your safe shelter will help ensure your safety if you either have to temporarily leave your shelter, or if symptoms develop which may be indicative of possible infiltration of contaminants.


A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

A source of fresh air is highly desirable, but may not be essential unless your safe place is small or tightly packed with people and pets. However, you might need another source of oxygen or else filtered air if you are sheltering in place more than a few hours.

Chemical agents dissipate more quickly during Summer with strong sunlight. Other factors affecting their breakdown are wind, rainfall and time. The chart to the bottom right shows averages, but since variables can influence their "staying power", it is impossible to pinpoint how long one must shelter.

If you are instructed to stay in your safe place for several days, there is the problem of bringing in needed oxygen. This is something Homeland Security did NOT discuss giving people a false picture that there is an easy "fix". The only reason we can see for this obvious oversight is that safe rooms with duct tape and plastic are presumed to leak air. That is good if you need oxygen. However, leaking contaminated air could be deadly. So while it is vital you make your safe shelter positively air-tight, another issue has been raised. We need air for life.

If you have the $$, a good way to ensure shelter ventilation is to install a HEPA air filter that is 99.97% efficient at .3 microns such as those commonly available in air purifying equipment. These systems can't rely on natural air flows and require an over pressure system. This is a system that pumps filtered air into a room faster than the air can escape. One source for these systems is American Safe Room which range from $1270 - $1768. This is a good starting point, but we encourage you to make price and product comparisons.


DETAILS, DETAILS

Since an average 7.5x10x10 foot room would only be viable for a group of four adults under stress for two and a half hours (maximum), one has to look at pumping fresh air into the room. When you breathe the same air in the room for too long the air becomes toxic to your body. Carbon dioxide gas builds up in the room from your exhaled breath.

NASA, NOAA, the US Navy (submariner’s manual) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) have made a number of studies. We have used data from these sources to compile the table below which shows how much filtered air you will need and how much power you will need to provide that air for a given time (assuming you have no electricity except one fully charged car battery).

Studies conclude that the average, reasonably calm adult requires a minimum of 5 cubic feet of fresh air every minute. However, when people are under stress this demand can become as high as three times that much! This table is based upon these two extremes, assumes the sealed room measures 7-1/2 feet high x 10 feet x 10 feet (2.3m high x 4-1/2m x 41/2m) and that the pump is ~1/5hp or 135watt.

The bottom line shows the necessity of an air pump and HEPA filter if one plans to use the safe room for longer than a couple of hours. It is the same dilemma that astronauts face when they are cooped up in that tiny spacecraft.