In Time of Emergency | Page 6

natural disaster, or some other peacetime emergency. The
signal itself is a 3-to 5-minute steady blast on sirens, whistles, horns or

other devices. In most places, the Attention or Alert Signal means that
the local government wants to broadcast important information on
radio or television concerning a peacetime disaster. (See Chapter 1 of
Major Natural Disasters section of this handbook.)
WHAT TO DO WHEN SIGNALS SOUND
1. _If you should hear the Attack Warning Signal_--unless your local
government has instructed you otherwise--go immediately to a public
fallout shelter marked like this, or to your home fallout shelter. Turn on
a radio, tune it to any local station that is broadcasting, and listen for
official information. Follow whatever instructions are given.
If you are at home and there is no public or private shelter available,
you may be able to improvise some last-minute protection for yourself
and your family by following the suggestions in Chapter 5 (pages
33-38) of this handbook. As a last resort, take cover anywhere you can.
2. If you should hear the Attention or Alert Signal, turn on a radio or
TV set, tune it to any local station, and follow the official instructions
being broadcast.
DON'T USE THE TELEPHONE
Whichever signal is sounding, _don't_ use the telephone to obtain
further information and advice about the emergency. Depend on the
radio or television, since the government will be broadcasting all the
information it has available. The telephone lines will be needed for
official calls. Help keep them open.
LEARN YOUR COMMUNITY'S SIGNALS NOW
As mentioned before not all communities in the U.S. have outdoor
warning systems, and not all communities with warning systems have
adopted the two "standard" warning signals.
You should therefore find out now from your local Civil Defense
Office what signals are being used, in your community; what they

sound like; what they mean; and what actions you should take when
you hear them. Then memorize this information, or write it down on a
card to carry with you at all times. Also, post it in your home. Check at
least once each year to see if there are any changes.
IF THERE IS A NUCLEAR FLASH
It is possible--but extremely unlikely--that your first warning of an
enemy attack might be the flash of a nuclear explosion in the sky some
distance away. Or there might be a flash after warning had been given,
possibly while you were on your way to shelter.
* TAKE COVER INSTANTLY. If there should be a nuclear
flash--especially if you are outdoors and feel warmth at the same
time--take cover instantly in the best place you can find. By getting
inside or under something within a few seconds, you might avoid being
seriously burned by the heat or injured by the blast wave of the nuclear
explosion. If the explosion were some distance away, you might have 5
to 15 seconds before being seriously injured by the heat, and perhaps
30 to 60 seconds before the blast wave arrived. Getting under cover
within these time limits might save your life or avoid serious injury.
Also, to avoid injuring your eyes, never look at the flash of an
explosion or the nuclear fireball.
* WHERE TO TAKE COVER. You could take cover in any kind of a
building, a storm cellar or fruit cellar, a subway station or tunnel--or
even in a ditch or culvert alongside the road, a highway underpass, a
storm sewer, a cave or outcropping of rock, a pile of heavy materials, a
trench or other excavation. Even getting under a parked automobile,
bus or train, or a heavy piece of furniture, would protect you to some
extent. If no cover is available, simply lie down on the ground and curl
up. The important thing is to avoid being burned by the heat, thrown
about by the blast, or struck by flying objects.
* BEST POSITION AFTER TAKING COVER. After taking cover you
should lie on your side in a curled-up position, and cover your head
with your arms and hands. This would give you some additional
protection.

* MOVE TO A FALLOUT SHELTER LATER. If you protected
yourself against the blast and heat waves by instantly taking cover, you
could get protection from the radioactive fallout (which would arrive
later) by moving to a fallout shelter.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 4
FALLOUT SHELTERS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
SUMMARY
BEFORE AN EMERGENCY
1. Learn the locations of the public fallout shelters that your local
government wants you to go to in a time of attack. If no instructions of
this kind have been issued, learn the locations of the public shelters
nearest to you when you are at home, work, or school. Make sure each
member of the family knows these locations.
2. If there is no public