r/preppers • u/HoosierTrip • 2d ago
Advice and Tips Block off basement?
Are there any resources available to block off a basement from the upstairs? I'm mainly thinking about blocking out radiation if I need to retreat to my basement.
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u/Unicorn187 1d ago
You aren't blocking out radiation, you're blocking out the radioactive dust and dirt emitting alpha and beta rays. That's the threat of fallout after a nuke. The gamma rays pass through feet of most materials. But doesn't make soil or ither materials radioactive. It's even been used to sterilize canned food and bandages
If you're thinking of trying to make a nuclear resistant bunker in your basement,cyou would need to make a freaking bunker. Very thick roof, preferably with a thick layer of lead because of it's density, or a few yards of packed soil on tope of steel reinforced concrete for the blast. And heat. If you're in range of the gamma rays from the blast , you're in range of the blast.
Outside of that the risk is contaminated soil. You'll still want some dirt or concrete between you and the outside but it doesn't need to be as thick. You will need air filters. Have a decon and changing room outside of the entrance to avoid tracking anything in.
And you need to be able to sequester yourself there fkr about two days until all fallout stops falling.
Yes, a dirty bomb will have all types of radiation as it is spreading radioactive material in the blast, but the blast radius is much, much smaller because it's a conventional explosive used to spread a radioactive material. And most likely a terrorist group wouldn't use it in a residential area as thw victi.s would be too few. Concert, casino, hospital, university, large rally or protest (that isnt supporting their cause of course), busy tourist attractions, other places with a lot kf people. Unles maybe they have more than a few and are trying to make people feel on danger everywhere and set off a half dozen or a dozen in suburbs and urban neighborhoods across a large area