Bomb shelters
Bomb shelters are fortified structures designed to protect individuals and families from the effects of nuclear explosions and radiation. The urgency for such shelters grew during the Cold War, particularly after the Soviet Union developed its atomic capabilities in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Initially, governmental strategies focused on constructing large public shelters; however, these proposals were deemed too expensive for widespread implementation. Consequently, the responsibility shifted to families to create their own protective spaces, prompting many to consider various construction options such as fortifying basements or purchasing prefabricated models.
By the mid-1950s, the U.S. government acknowledged the inadequacy of evacuation plans following the unexpected results of hydrogen bomb tests, leading to a more personal approach to civil defense. Families were encouraged to stock their shelters with food, supplies, and ensure adequate sanitation and air quality for survival during potential attacks. Despite the looming threat of nuclear warfare, public interest in building shelters fluctuated, with many still looking to the government for comprehensive protection strategies. This dilemma highlighted ethical discussions surrounding atomic warfare and the psychological impact of living under the shadow of potential nuclear conflict. President John F. Kennedy's advocacy for family preparedness in the early 1960s reignited interest, as many sought information on effective shelter construction and survival strategies.
Bomb shelters
Structures built to protect people during atomic attacks
The discussion about and construction of bomb shelters directly represented the American public’s constant fear of a nuclear holocaust during the Cold War.
Before the invention of atomic bombs, military targets consisted primarily of military bases, factories, and bridges; after atomic bombs, military targets became civilians. When the Soviet Union built its first atomic bomb in 1949 and its first hydrogen bomb in 1953, Americans (who in 1945 had been first to build and use the bomb) became potential targets for nuclear war.
Civilians, accustomed to military protection during war, looked to the government for answers. In order to protect Americans, a massive, government-sponsored sheltering program was recommended. However, the numerous large shelters required to hold all Americans were expected to cost between twenty and thirty billion dollars. During the early 1950’s, the Eisenhower administration considered these costs too high and advocated for a much cheaper policy—evacuation. Though a few people built bomb shelters themselves during the early 1950’s, they received little advice on proper construction and tended to focus their efforts on shelters that would offer protection from bombs such as those that devastated Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, at the end of World War II.
A Shift in Government Policy
In 1955, the U.S. government released the surprising results of the 1954 hydrogen bomb test, dropped on Bikini Atoll. The explosion was more than one thousand times larger than the Hiroshima bomb, and the radioactive fallout spread much farther than expected. The government began to realize that evacuation would not work.
Because government-sponsored shelter programs were too expensive, officials realized it was going to be each family’s responsibility to protect itself. Many families, however, seriously contemplated whether or not they wanted to survive a nuclear attack only to live in the hostile and dreadful world depicted in the apocalyptic books and films that were ubiquitous during this decade.
Those who wanted bomb shelters had to decide what types of shelters to build. A family could fortify a basement, construct something new, or buy a prefabricated shelter. They also had to decide what size shelter would accommodate their family and what they would do if an unprepared neighbor demanded refuge during an atomic attack. Shelters needed to be prestocked with food and supplies, but they also needed to have bathroom facilities, radiation detectors, and enough uncontaminated air for several weeks. Tight seals along doors and thick walls were essential. With all of these requirements, shelters could quickly become expensive.
Impact
Bomb shelters offered civilians a proactive response to the fear of an atomic attack and inspired numerous debates about the ethics of atomic warfare. Though the threat of a nuclear holocaust remained constant, few families had built a shelter by the end of the decade. Most families still expected the government to establish a plan to save them during a nuclear war.
Subsequent Events
On July 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy made a speech concerning the Soviet threat to the German city of Berlin in which he advocated that every family should prepare itself for an imminent Soviet nuclear attack. This speech sparked a popular demand for bomb shelter information along with copious questions regarding the effectiveness of bomb shelters.
Bibliography
Dowling, John, and Evans M. Harrell, eds. Civil Defense: A Choice of Disasters. New York: American Institute of Physics, 1987. A scientific view of the effects of nuclear weapons and the physical attributes bomb shelters needed in order to withstand an attack.
Kerr, Thomas J. Civil Defense in the U.S.: Bandaid for a Holocaust? Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 1983. A chronological analysis of the civil defense policies within the United States, especially regarding shelters.
Rose, Kenneth. One Nation Underground: The Fallout Shelter in American Culture. New York: New York University Press, 2001. Examination of the concept of bomb shelters during the Cold War period.