Some Civil Defense Problems in the Nation's Capital Following Widespread Thermonuclear Attack

Abstract

The probable conditions in Washington following widespread thermonuclear attack are assessed with respect to (1) radiation conditions in the city itself and in the surrounding areas, and (2) deaths and debris conditions in the Nation's Capital Mock attacks with thermonuclear-size bombs were made on all targets designated as critical by the FCDA within a 300-mile radius of Washington. Appropriate fallout contours were selected and oriented as to wind speed and bearing for each target. The attacks were repeated 36 times using a random sample of actual 60,000-ft wind readings. Radiation levels for the area were then compiled in terms of the per cent of time a given two-day accumulated dose would be exceeded. An attack day was selected at random and the effects of blast heat and local (close-in) fallout in Washington were added to indirect radiation effects. A comparison of the amount of time a rescue worker would have to wait (impeded by debris and radiation) to enter an area with the amount of time left to a survivor in shelter attenuating 0.9 of radiation effects was made. An area exists, in Virginia, where less than 200 r can be expected a large per cent of the time. A very small percentage of the target population will survive to be cared for in this area. It was found that present shelter is not adequate to prevent intolerable numbers of deaths Present “evacuation areas” should be re-evaluated in terms of likely radiation conditions.