Posted by Kromey at 8:50pm Jan 5 '11I don't think anyone on this site was alive -- or at least wasn't conscious of current events -- during the Cold War, but nonetheless you might be familiar with "Duck and Cover", the advice from the government of what to do in the event of a nuclear attack.
It's not too dissimilar from the advice we were given during the Bush Regime to keep duct tape and plastic sheeting on hand to seal off doors and windows in our homes. And, now, the Obama administration is beginning to get onto that bandwagon, too, but they're afraid of the political backlash and the ridicule that Bush's people received for suggesting that duct tape and plastic sheeting could save lives.
But is it really so ridiculous?
The article goes into great detail -- without being overly dramatic nor gruesome -- in describing the major effects of a nuclear explosion, and defends "duck and cover" and "shelter in place" -- as well as having duct tape and plastic handy -- as being scientifically sound advice for how to respond to a nuclear attack (provided, of course, that it is on a scale below that of Dr. Strangelove).
It's not too dissimilar from the advice we were given during the Bush Regime to keep duct tape and plastic sheeting on hand to seal off doors and windows in our homes. And, now, the Obama administration is beginning to get onto that bandwagon, too, but they're afraid of the political backlash and the ridicule that Bush's people received for suggesting that duct tape and plastic sheeting could save lives.
But is it really so ridiculous?
In the face of a Strangelovian apocalypse, this degree of protection might only have produced a slower death, but for those facing a terrorist bomb such protection is likely to be adequate, and much safer than, say, being stuck in traffic on the Beltway when the fallout begins to settle. Also, people sheltering in place won't tie up roads, making it easier for emergency services to get where they're needed. So the Obama Administration wants to encourage people to shelter in place rather than head for the hills in the event of a nuclear attack. Even sheltering for a few hours, or a couple of days, lets radiation levels fall dramatically and avoids road tie-ups for later evacuation.This quote is basically just summing up what the article linked below says: "duck and cover" and "shelter in place" are indeed good and valid recommendations for saving lives in the event of a nuclear attack.
The article goes into great detail -- without being overly dramatic nor gruesome -- in describing the major effects of a nuclear explosion, and defends "duck and cover" and "shelter in place" -- as well as having duct tape and plastic handy -- as being scientifically sound advice for how to respond to a nuclear attack (provided, of course, that it is on a scale below that of Dr. Strangelove).