Crawlspace as fallout shelter?
Posted by purpleflask@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 17 comments
I live in a house with 3 floors, but no basement. We do have a crawl space that is about 4-5 feet tall, depending on where. Is that a logical place to build a fallout shelter or do the three floors above pose a risk? We are also situated atop a small hill so the sides of the crawl space are surrounded by earth, basically sunk below ground.
TheKiltedPondGuy@reddit
Not great not terrible
SunLillyFairy@reddit
Regular crawl spaces are problematic as fallout shelters, IMO. Even with 3 floors, they won't have adequate shielding from gamma without reinforcement. Besides being uncomfortable, they are very hard to seal and then vent at a good level, often damp, hard to get stuff into, hard to create a toilet area, and there's a risk of collapse or getting stuck down there without completely reworking an entry/exit.
I think it is usually easier and safer to convert a garage (almost always directly on a slab), or some other room in the house, or construct a cement shed/shelter than it is to rework a standard crawl space.
CollectiveJohn@reddit
Crawl spaces are well ventilated to stop condensation. Inside your house would be better.
funke75@reddit
what if your crawlspace is encapsolated?
OnTheEdgeOfFreedom@reddit
I'm trying to imagine a week in a space with a 5 foot ceiling. I think I'd go insane.
If you're actually worried, can you dig down 2 more feet? Being able to stand up, put in a portable potty you can get off on without hitting your head, etc would be worth it.
grey-matter6969@reddit
Irish Whiskey will cure you of your views.
chris782@reddit
You'll still need to have some dense materials between you and your roof to protect from fallout if you are downwind of a target. Bricks between floor joists, lead sheets, steel plates, sand bags, water bladders all have different shielding properties. Steel, brick, and sand are what I would go with personally. Definitely add some supports and strengthen everything up so you don't get crushed. At that point you might as well rip out the floor and pour a slab of concrete though.
Vagus_M@reddit
Against fallout, simply staying in the middle of the first floor would offer nearly as much distancing, and be easier to live in.
Globalboy70@reddit
You need to be able to seal it off, air wise to prevent fallout (dust) contamination the first couple weeks.
r_frsradio_admin@reddit
Yes if the crawl space is below grade then it will offer significant protection from fallout. You may get a dose of radiation from above but it's still much better than being unprotected.
gilbert2gilbert@reddit
I'm in your crawl space right now. It's nice down here
SamWhittemore75@reddit
It rubs the lotion on its skin. It does this whenever it's told.
murquiza@reddit
Why would it be better than the 1st floor? If the house above goes you will not be safe under. And if it doesn’t you will be better inside.
Fit_Acanthisitta_475@reddit
That’s pretty good, I would digger a 10x10 size room that can be staying up.
Femveratu@reddit
Maybe grab some sand bags to fill or pre fill w sand or earth to place on the floor above you just make sure it’s not too heavy etc to give you some additional shielding from any radiation emanating from the roof or the sides of the house up against it
-MomentoMori@reddit
Better than nothing, absolutely.
No-Garden8616@reddit
Fallout shelter - yes (RPF of 100 is feasible). General air raid (bomb) shelter - better than nothing. Survivability about 75%.