“How to Survive a Nuclear Blast”
, in the Wired How-To Wiki, is an excellent primer. For historical background, we strongly recommend Eugene P. Wigner’s Who Speaks for Civil Defense?, published in 1968, which provides an excellent start in explaining why the United States, notwithstanding its public commitments to the contrary, never bult adsequate blast or fallout shelters.
Huntsville is setting up a shelter system – although there are no plans to provide food or bedding. What about light and heat? Medical care?
From Jay Reeves’ Associated Press article:
In an age of al-Qaida, sleeper cells and the threat of nuclear terrorism, Huntsville is dusting off its Cold War manual to create the nation’s most ambitious fallout-shelter plan, featuring an abandoned mine big enough for 20,000 people to take cover underground.
Probably ideal for serving food in large shelters or shelter-in-place situations, or evacuations not on foot. Because of weight and size we’re not certain of their utility in a go-bag.
Available from Cheaper Than Dirt – 3 for $18USD.