}Ti\ Better Bomb Shelters Are Built ‘
Good Basements Are Still Best Bet
Contrary to reports now being
circulated- The Federal Civil De
fense Administration has and
will continue to recommend the
use of suitable basements in pri
vate homes and many commercial
buildings as shelters against en
emy air attacks with atomic
bombs. This statement was made
recently by Ray D. Spencer. Di
rector of the FCDA Shelter Divi
sion.
“A suitable basement is one
where the hazards from utilities
and w'ater mains do not exist or
have been eliminated,” Mr. Spen
cer said. “Such a basement must
have more than one exit and pro
tection from the overhead col
lapse that may result within the
heavy damage radius of an atomic
bomb burst.”
Mr. Spencer, well known in en
gineering and construction circles
throughout the United States,
stated that, in evaluating the
shelter question, two things must
be kept in mind.
1. There has been too little
actual experience on which to
draw for realistic criteria on shel- !
ters against atomic attack. Blast
effects data from convential
bombs do not adequately apply
to the blast effects of atomic
bombs.
2. The actual amount of pro
tection afforded by any shelter
depends on the type of atomic
explosion--whether air, ground,
underground or water--and the
distance of the shelter from the
bomb.
The FCDA official revealed
also that studies by an engineer
ing panel will be made available
to the public in the near future,
and that these studies will detail
the criteria necessary to establish
ment of a firm national shelter
program.
of shelter fi om r
On the mattei
an atomic blast, the FCDA has,
constantly emphasized the “over-1
all chances of escape from the
bomb'* and the strengthening of
existing structures in homes or
commercial buildings in order to
reduce the hazards of structural
collapse, fires and other damage I
factors which increase in the case
of any type of shelter used the
nearer it is to the center of the ex
plosion.
It would be economically im- j
possible to build shelters for
everybody which would provide
absolute protection at ground
zero of an atomic burst. This fact
introduces the important factor of
"calculated risk.” In other words,
no preparation can be made for
absolute protection everywhere.
Some risks will have to be taken.
Again, the amount of protection
afforded against a particular a
tomic explosion will be contin
gent on the factors named above
and other hazards such as fires,
flying glass, debris, etc.
Realistically, only reasonable
protection should be planned for
that is. the protection necessary
at one-half mile from the ground
zero of a nominal atomic burst.
Few buildings within the heavy
damage area of a burst would
provide adequate shelter with
out alteration. In recent months
the FCDA has been conducting
engineering shelter surveys and
tests of various kinds in order to
determine, among other things,
what alterations should be made
in existing buildings to provide
better protection. One finding is
that, in many cases, the best shel
ter may be found near the core of
commercial buildings between
the ground level and four stories
from the top. This applies to
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Ken Luse & Co.
PAINTING CONTRACTORS
1 'C' St.# Anchorage, Box 2276— Dial 35601
Palmer, Alaska, Phone 4
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DISTRIBUTORS
MILLER CHURCHILL'S
Paints—Enamels Floor Maintenance
Varnishes—Stains Janitorial Supplies
LINOLEUM
&»■»■> > »»■> >■>>■> >>>>>>>>>>>>> >-»>->->->-> >>>>>> >->->->■>->
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J. VIC BROWN & SONS
"The Alaskan Jewelers"
523 Fourth Ave., Anchorage
Phone 22051
WATCHES DIAMONDS
SILVER NUGGET AND JADE JEWELRY
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Prompt Attention to Mail Orders
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* Serving Alaskans for 35 years—ask any old-timer *
*4^****^*******#*************#******.JHfr****4HHHHI-*l
I I rTfciiii
.okc George Break-up
imed At 4:59:02 4.M.
^uly 24, by Foundation
According to the McKinley
oundation. self-dumping Lata*
leorge broke its icy barrier on
uly 24 at 4:59:02 a m The earli
st previous date was July 27. so
he year 1951 holds the record
ar the eailv break-up.
A special timing device stopped
he clock at Knik River bridge
s the first flood waters came
own the Knik River from the
>ke, some 20 miles away.
The winner of the McKinley
bundation contest to name the
me of the break-up v. as Mrs.
Icrle Simpson of Anchorage. She
; a widow with a son fighting in
irge commercial buildings in
’hich there is definite danger of
le buildings collapsing into the
asement or where danger from
xposed utilities exists in the
asement and connot be correct
d. This does not imply in any
way that the basements of some
ublic buildings are not suitable
ar shelter purposes or cannot be
K >i ea. Sale of tickets by the
foundati n ha*- amounted to $t
524 to date, with more* coming in
The winn r will split the pntc
50-50 with the Alaska Crippled
ChiidicnV Association.
The McKinley Foundation a
non profit corporation, was estab
lished to operate two programs:
each year for the benefit of the
Alaska Crippled Children's Asso
ciation Officers of the Founda
tion, Don Knudsen and Mrs. Mar
shall Hoppin. thanked all people
m the Territory for their cooper- !
ation.
Coffey Insures Everything—
Remember?
GRANGE FLOWER SHOW
AUGUST 12
made suitable.
It was stressed in the booklet
“Survival Under Atomic Attack"
that, in general, a person's over
all chances for survival would be
best in a basement. This state
ment still is true for persons who
do not have access to properly de
signed shelters. In specific cases ]
however, it required modification.
Interior Freight Lines
Clay Prewitt and Cliff Steadman, Owners
Freight Healing Between Valdez and Painter
Phone 62-J-3
Tonsina Lodge
Accommodations for 50 Guests
All Rooms With Baths
Cocktail Bar
Win. B. OGDEN. Prop.
On Richardson Hiway — 80 Miles North of Valdes
Postoffice. Copper Center
manor jj
|
i
Valley rr^nJicTuman
1$
nosloskgs’
August
aif»*a
Chrome
Dinette
Sets
BLUE CHROME SET
NOW $114.95
$7.65 monthly
Green
DROP LEAF TABLE
and 4 CHAIRS
Was $109.45 CQQ Cfl
NOW
$6.00 monthly
I
YELLOW TABLE and
4 CHAIRS
w“ $139.50
$8.65 monthly
MAHOGONY DINING
SUITE
beautiful drop leaf
Table and six chairs
Was 164.75 C» I QA
A Bargain al ▼ * OHi
$8.50 monthly
Easy
Terms
Buy Now-Pay Later