What is the proper way to protect a house using duct tape and plastic sheets?

Vanity | February 13, 2003 | Momaw Nadon

[Diddle E. Squat]

What makes you think I am worrying and fretting? Quite the contrary, simple preparation eases the mind, without the doubts that come from living in a state of denial. The threat is real, but it isn't insurmountable, no matter what happens the vast majority will survive. Some of us just want to increase those odds.

Put another way, if what you claim is true, than the Bush Administration are liars, endangering the American public by giving bad advice a false sense of security. Sorry, but the administration has far more credibility than you do, especially since you offer no proof for your off-the-cuff assessment.

Consider the fable of the Ant and the Grasshopper, then scan a bible for the story of Noah and the people who mocked him.

[MHGinTN]

Does this all seem familiar, Girl?... Remember the FR threads in Sept and Oct of 2001, regarding preparations on the homefront?

[discostu]

The threat is real, but the "solution" presented is sophomoric and a waste of effort. If you're seriously considering doing this, and you actually think it will help you, then indeed you are worrying and fretting.

I like Bush, I think he's doing a pretty good job as president. But he's a career politician, of COURSE he's a LIAR, at least sometimes. The difference between a good politician and a bad politician is when they lie and why. This is an OK lie, doesn't really hurt anybody, and it gives people something to do.

This is no "off the cuff" assesment, this is looking at REALITY. You ever have to dust your house? Maybe need to vent it out after pollen season? Get a big layer of soot on everything if there's been a fire near by? That's how chemical and biological weapons will work, they're gonna get in your house and stay until you clean them out, of course when you clean them out you'll expose yourself to them and the safe room will have proven completely pointless. As for radiation, if some plastic over the window will stop it then why are x-ray rooms surrounded by lead?

You claiming you got these directions from God? Didn't think so. So much for your Noah claim. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, go show somebody how much you love them, much better use of your time.

[NativeNewYorker]

I'm upwind from 96th and 3rd, if that'll help. :)

[Diddle E. Squat]

Do you understand the different types of radiation that came harm a person? They are not all the same. No defense is perfect against them all, but sealing a room will eliminate the entry of some particles to varying degrees. Amount and accumulation of exposure makes a huge difference in how much someone is affected, same for ingestion, inhalation, and skin exposure. Sure someone may get a degree of exposure when leaving, but it will most likely be far less than if they didn't seal. Do you understand why many foods that are in sealed packages can be safely eaten after radiation exposure if the packages are simply rinsed off?

The same goes for many types of chemical agents. They disperse and degrade over time, exposed to sunlight, etc. Many sink to the lowest level. So sheltering in place can definitely be effective in many situations. Why do you think the concept was developed in the first place, in dealing with petrochemical plant accidents? Why develop it if it doesn't work?

Reread what I wrote, I specifically stated that shelter in place may not be needed in a bio attack. Then again, even for some bio scenario's it might be effective.

Read that link I noted in post #93 before you sound even more ignorant.

[JLO]

Funny photo in your post #58 - LOL!

[RecentConvert]

Thanks so much for the helpful info. It's appreciated here.

[discostu]

Do you understand that ALL radiation is excited particles traveling at high rates of speed and that the way you block it is with thick dense items with lots of molecules to block them and that plastic is neither thick nor dense? Any radiation that can make it to the plastic WILL make it through. Now the good news is that being in doors will provide with with damn good protection against radiation (better the thicker your walls are and the denser the material), so it's not much of a danger to the safe room to start with. YES! Thank you so much for posting that rediculous giberish. How in blazes do you rinse the radiation (or harmful chemicals or biological agents) from the food without being exposed to it? The answer is you don't, not unless you've got a decon suit handy. And the only type of food sealing device that stands a chance against radiation is the tin can, glass is OK but a distant 2nd, plastic is worthless.

The chemical agents only disperse and degrade if there's WEATHER to disperse them. Wind, water, some don't like the sun but that's a small list. Either way you have NONE of the things that disperse them IN your home while you're locked up in your safe room. Again, think dust. It gets in your house and doesn't go away until you get rid of it. And what happens to your sinuses when you dust? They get all clogged up. Why? Because cleaning dust RAISES dust, gets it back in the air where you inhale it. Same thing will happen with chemicals. If you seal up the lowest area then where will the chemicals settle to? The NEXT lowest area, like the door that's your way out.

I did read that you said the shelter wouldn't be needed for bio, and I SPECIFICALLY took issue with it. Biological agents aren't much bigger than chemical and will get EVERYWHERE chemical agents get and require the same level of precaution. Just look at what the people that work with those things wear, looks about the same as what people that cleanup hazardous chemicals wear, gee wonder why that is.

All the proof you need that this "protection plan" is FOOLISH and CANNOT POSSIBLY work is all around. We deal with similar things EVERY SINGLE DAY in American society, and none of the professions that deal with these thing use such scant protection. That's all you need to know. This "protection" quite simply will not work and is a complete waste of effort.

I read your link. I commented on the link. The original author is mostly right. Deal.

[RecentConvert]

blah, blah, blah. Defensive preparation is not weakness, nor is it a substitute for offensive action. A smart person and country will do both, rather than simply pontificate.

I agree.

[Diddle E. Squat]

One word: Fallout.

[Utah Girl]

Oh yeah, this is familiar from Y2K, and after 9/11. I've tried to stay prepared all the way along, and use my food storage through rotation. I've printed out all the FEMA info, and it is all nice and tidy in a binder. :)

[Lady Jag]

[Mr_Magoo]

I don't know about increasing one's odds, but with the right partner it would increase one's fun . . .

[FITZ]

overhyped danger playing on people's paranoia.

I actually know people who went out and bought duct tape because the government told them it would make them safe. The same government that choose not to deport the Middle Easterners and even has allowed more to arrive to the US since 9-11.

[FITZ]

I can only hope that lack of preparation indicates a belief that we, as a civilian population, are in no real danger and that the color code system is in place to give us a sense of participation.

The duct tape people should never make a comment about tin-foilers.

[discostu]

One sentence:
Last a hell of a lot longer than 2 days.

The problem with the safe room is exactly the same problem as the fallout shelter: eventually you have to leave and chances are the area immediately around your safe room will be contaminated. Weather might have cleaned up the outside, but there's no weather in your house, and you've specifically chosen an interior room. NBC particles have collected in the rest of your house just like dust (I've lived in Southern Arizona for over a quarter of a century, I could right a doctoral thesis on dust... but it would be very dry! that's a joke, lighten up people) and are more than likely still quite active and dangerous. You've got to clean them out somehow, and your method of cleaning has to make sure that you don't get any on your skin or in your lungs.

See anybody who thinks you can just hide in your safe room for two days and come out and everything will be hunky-dory is just plain wrong. That's only step one, and if you don't take steps 2 through whatever step one was a complete waste of time. And it's only if your neighborhood actually gets attacked, given the sheer size of the country more than likely it won't.

[discostu]

Do you get paid by the pound for your tripe? Anybody who actually thinks I'd read that rambling whatever with a dozen cross links in it has no respect for my time or its value. Condense, hilight, stick to what's important.

[William Terrell]

Measure 2 times the width and length of the door. Add the measurements together. Clear a length of space on a floor equal to the combined measurement. On that space roll out the combined measurment of duct tape, adhesive side down. To keep the tape from sticking to the floor first spread crankcase oil on the length.

Roll up the tape lengthwise until you have a cylinder approximately 1/2 inch in diameter the length of the rolled out tape. Carefully stuff the cylinder of tape in the door crack starting on the bottom left and working your way around.

Open plastic and cut out a shape the exact size of the door. Using size 16d nails tack the sheet of plastic to the top of the door, letting it hang.

You are now safe.