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

Vanity | February 13, 2003 | Momaw Nadon

[Cvengr]

Your best answer is probably better taught by looking into Asbestos removal procedures or hazardous material removal procedures on the web.

As a rule of thumb, the plastic and duct tape solution is similar to duck and cover.

A dedicated chemical or biological agent directed at an enemy by a knowledgable chemist, even a grad student, will probably kill far more people in it's locality than any preventative measure might counteract.

It's sortof like a skunk outside your car, even with the ventilation off and windows up,..you still tend to get some effect.

The plastic and duct tape is really for the larger surrounding community which will remain alive after such an attack. If notice is available, then yes it can protect you a bit, from wind blown lessor concentrations or long enough for lessor agents to lose their potency.

Actually, any barrier, which will keep fine dust off of you, or filter what you breathe will also work for that purpose.

There are some costs involved though.

if everybody does it, then the terrorist will simply alter their tactics and taint something else, USING the plastic and sealed areas as boundaries confining people into more targetable areas.

The public announcement might help give people a sense of self-control, hence reduce terror. But the preoccupation with the issue does more to insure terror than otherwise.

Remember the Israeli preparations during the Gulf War for SCUDs and chemical warfare? No fatalities, except some elderly Israelis who died from suffocation in their gas masks,...there's a counter cost to the plastic sheet drill.

Carbon Monoxide poisoning then becomes a larger concern or cornering or identifying yourself in the event of local unrest of any sort as somebody already prone to influence by the media.

Quick answer, ...same procedures as sealing a house for asbestos or lead removal.

[pfflier]

What is the air-speed velocity of the European Sparrow?

The European chicken moves at the speed of France. It moves backwards with its hand up.

[Husker24]

In case of Chemical attack, roll the plastic sheeting into a tube about 6 feet long, seal the sides and one end with duct tape, place yourself inside, seal the last seam with duct tape. Before you do this tie a yellow tag to your toe with your name and SS# as it will make it easier to identify your body.

[Calvin Locke]

How-to heard on Howie Carr today: Send the wife to apply the duct tape on the cracks/joints of the doors/windows from the
outside. As long as she keeps pounding on the door, its safe. If the pounding stops, it may or may not be safe.

Either its dangerous or the wife took the hint and went away.

[balls]

You are exactly right. We have shown the terrorists that we are just sitting ducks. We are more concerned with avoiding profiling than protecting ourselves. The terrorists have also learned how easy it is to tweak the media and send them into a frenzy with these terror threats. The media is being used very effectively to scare the crap out of millions of people. The terrorists sure are winning this war, and with plenty of help from the media. As for me, it's in one ear and out the other and I could not give a rats ass about these empty threats.

[Centurion2000]

A HEPA filter won't do jack against chemical weapons.

Against certain chemicals, no it won't, but then activated charcoal prefilters will get that. Against biologicals (more likely) it most certainly will. Also it will allow you to get fresh oxygen with reduced risk.

[peteram]

Actually - the MOST effective way to seal your home is to by a whole bunch of that cellophane shrink wrap that the gift stores sell, drape it over your house. Then you fin a big blow dryer.........

[discostu]

Of course there's three major problems with this "survival plan":
1 - the toxic chemicals will have "settled" into the non-sealed portion of your house, once you leave the safe zone you'll die
2 - radiation ain't gonna be stopped by plastic, just gotta look at your dentists office to see that, there's a reason the radiation shield is a hell of a lot thicker than a shower curtain
3 - biologicals aren't much bigger than chemicals and will infiltrate your house just as thuroughly

This whole plastic and ducktape plan is just busy work to give the paranoid people something to do.

[ThinkingMan]

what about the coconuts?

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

72 Hour Emergency Kit

Immediately Available

• Battery powered radio
• Flashlight and extra batteries

Emergency Needs

• Instruction manuals on emergency preparedness
• Water storage
• Sleeping bags & blankets

Sanitation Kit

• Plastic bucket with tightly fitted lid
• Plastic bags and ties
• Toilet paper
• Disinfectant
• Improvised toilet seat
• Feminine hygiene needs
• Paper towels
• Soap
• Paper cups
• Paper plates
• Plastic utensils
• Can opener
• Utility knife
• Duct tape

Stress Factors

• Children
  • Coloring book
  • Crayons
• Adults
  • Books
  • Needlework

A Class ABC fire extinguisher is recommended for each home.

Some families may need a large container (32 gallon garbage can) to hold all the items. Other families may be able to use the plastic bucket from the sanitation kit for this storage. You may choose to use backpacks. They make it easier to take the items with you.

This 72 hour kit should meet the needs of your family. Pack hobby and entertainment items that appeal to your family. Use foods that your family will eat. Include any special medications that is required by family members.

Food

• Meats: tuna, sardines, spam, vienna sausages
• Fruit cocktail
• Peanut butter
• Powdered milk
• Infant care: canned milk & bottles
• Canned juices
• Dried fruit (caution: drink plenty of water): raisins, prunes, fruit leather
• Crackers (drink plenty of water)

Stress Foods

• Sugar cookies
• Sweetened cereals
• Hard candy

Standard First Aid Kit

• First aid manual
• Aromatic spirits of ammonia
• Water purification tablets
• Table salt
• Baking soda
• Eye drops
• Safety pins
• Matches
• Adhesive or paper tape
• Bandages
  • Telfa pads 4" x 4"
  • Triangle bandage
  • Telfa pads 37" x 37" x 52"
  • Roll of gauze
  • Coban elastic bandage
• Splints
  • Popsicle sticks
  • Shingles or thin board
  • 40 page newspaper
• Heavy string
• Individual's medication

Car

• Standard First Aid Kit
• Blanket
• Flashlight and Batteries
• Reflectors
• Change of clothes
• Extra shoes
• Food
• Water

[JusPasenThru]

Don't need no stinking duct tape. Real men don't use plastic, neither. Latex, maybe.....

[Diddle E. Squat]

You obviously don't have a clue to what you are talking about. All 3 of your points are wrong, and have been repeatedly refuted in numerous posts here.

Start by reading this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/841791/posts

[Diddle E. Squat]

I should repeat what I mentioned in an earlier post: It isn't about building a foolproof system, but increasing one's odds.

[discostu]

You obviously spend far too much time worrying. Enjoy life. use the money you'd waste on this foolhardy plan to take your family out to a nice dinner. I'm right and anyone with a lick of common sense knows it. The "refutations" are 100% stone cold WRONG.

[dalebert]

duct tape your auto.then go t b&b.

[discostu]

The plastic and ducktape plan won't increase your odds, anything you can survive with it you can survive without it because it means your house didn't get hit. It's time wasting pure and simple. If you want to do it keep yourself busy go right ahead, but don't think it'll add one second to your life, because it won't.

[tet68]

I should repeat what I mentioned in an earlier post: It isn't about building a foolproof system, but increasing one's odds.


I have yet to see a post about the two gallons of Wesson Oil.

That at least should increase one's odds.

[discostu]

What that article clearly shows is that the danger is grotesquely overhyped, which I 100% agree with. It's got a few problems, especially in the chemical section, anybody that's been within a few miles of a major fire knows how particulates get in a house and settle, that's what chemicals will do; true they don't survive well outside where there's weather, but there ain't much weather in your house. But over all I like the article, overhyped danger playing on people's paranoia.

[lucysmom]

Reading this thread gives me the impression that we are in no way prepared for terrorist attacks. To suggest plastic sheeting and duct tape with no further instructions is just about useless. 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. I would hate to think that the safety of us civilians is an after thought.

I too wondered if you do a good enough job with the plastic wrap and duct tape to keep out gas, how long before suffocating. What about a biological attack?