FALLOUT SHELTERS: SOME PUBLIC VIEWS ON THEIR EFFECTIVENESS,
Abstract
The report attempts to bring together, from a number of national, regional and community studies, the results regarding the American public's views on the effectiveness of fallout shelters and measures related to home and community protection in case of attack. Given the limitations imposed by the number and diversity of the studies used, the following generalizations obtained: (1) Most Americans express a high degree of confidence in the nation's defenses in general; (2) Less than one-third of the public feels there is a good chance for survival in the event of nuclear attack; (3) A significant proportion of the American people do not feel that life on earth would be impossible after a nuclear attack; (4) Although the evidence is limited, it appears that comparatively few Americans would rather die than take their chances in the post-attack environment; (5) In descriptions of the post-attack environment, the most frequently mentioned characteristics involve loss of life, physical destruction and public confusion and panic; (6) By and large Americans feel that some societal restoration is possible after a nuclear attack; (7) A significant proportion of the populations feels their personal and community survival chances would be improved with fallout shelters; (8) There is some evidence that public fallout shelters are slightly more desirable than private arrangements; (9) With limited evidence, there is little consistent public opinion regarding the problems associated with living in a shelter; (10) Very few Americans have home fallout shelters and the proportion has remained quite stable over time. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0661064
Entities
People
- Alan N. Coleman
Organizations
- University of Pittsburgh