SHELTER CONTRUCTION NOTES
    Probe  site with 5-7' rebar to test for rockiness. Know your trees (the
    ones you will be using for support beam/poles in your shelter) in terms
    of strength and how fast they rot. Have contingency plans for  loss  of
    "_____",  this can cover poeple, places and things!! Avoid broken tools
    and repairs by having all tools in top notch condition with spares  and
    parts if possible. Notes on Lobdell's round concrete shelter Have drain
    tile  on  outside  &  inside of perimeter or gravel w-w bed with drain.
    Have  a  condensate  drain  or  resovouir  &  some  device  to  collect
    condensate.  A  freezer  (or  two)  as  a  heat  source  will raise the
    temperature to be able to use well water as a coolent for a  condenser.
    Wood shelter Have a dip barrel (55 gal) for waste oil (crankcase oil)to
    dip the ends of the pole in. Put the barrel at an angle partially below
    ground  with at ridge pole between two tripods to hold the other end of
    the pole up while soaking. Or bury the barrel 90 degrees in the  ground
    and  stand  the  poles on end, be sure to back fill and tamp to prevent
    toppling if in soft ground.

    MAJOR POINTS OF LOBDELL'S MODIFICATION TO KEARNEY'S  POLE  OVER  TRENCH
    SHELTER:

    Main  idea  is  for  the  shelter to last for several years rather than
    several months. This requires more work and materials. It is wider  and
    longer,  6'x16'.  One  standard  entrance,  the  other  to be an escape
    tunnel/water  drain/  sleeping   area/additional   shelter/ventilation.
    Polyethylene  plastic sheeting wraps the walls and all pole surfaces to
    prevent wood rot and control humidity. Low density fill in  the  center
    of  the  shelter  roof (under the earth arch) to reduce the load on the
    longer poles and to even out the force  (failsafe)  in  case  one  pole
    fails.  On  the lengthwise sides of the shelter, place lengthwise poles
    (on the plastic) to rest the roof poles on. Use length  wise  poles  on
    top of main crosswise roof poles for backup and to transfer more wieght
    to the larger cross poles and to contribute to the lower density in the
    middle  of  the  roof.  Note  on  the low density idea, you should have
    regular density (earth) on all parts of the shelter for your  radiation
    protection. The idea of the low density is that a thick roof that has a
    protection  factor  of  10,000  in the center is wasted on a 200-300 PF
    design and too much weight for the increased length  of  log/pole.  The
    escape/drain tunnel should have one or two 90 degree or so angles in it
    for  better  geometric  protection from entrance radiation. Utilize the
    backhoe. It is worth the money in terms of time and  attitude.  If  the
    ground  stability  is  suitable,  use  double  headed  nails to hold up
    chicken wire on the shelter walls. Trowel in concrete onto the  chicken
    wire  and paint white. This is a common basement treatment in this part
    of North Carolina. This will work for dry clay, another good reason for
    locating your shelter at the top of a hill in addiation to the geometry
    for radiation. The painted surface will reflect light  better  reducing
    illumination  needs,  less  primative  looking  more  "normal",  it  is
    cleaner. Try to have a well in the main part of the shelter  with  full
    casing,  lockable  cover,  and concrete around the top of the casing to
    prevent contamination. Seed earth with grasses and small plants  native
    to  region to hold earth, not attract attention, and for food for game.
    You will have to fertilize since the earth will be partially clay.  You
    will  have  to have low spots in the roof in the dog-legs of the tunnel
    due to the backhoe  not  being  able  to  make  really  sharp  corners.
    However,  a  below  grade  roof for the entire tunnel is a good idea so
    that there is no unnatural hump or rise in the ground along the tunnels
    length (less conspicuous). Plant bushes around end of tunnel.

    Good book - Protecting Family & Livestock - Purdue Univ.  Coop.  Exten.
    Service, Layfayette,IND 47907.
    You  need  a  strong  shelter  manager  to  enforce  rules and rations.
    Establish a food/person, water/person ratio assuming the  worse.  Don't
    waste  your  ventilation  on  fires  for  cooking,  use  sand as a fire
    extingusher. Air requirments, KAP. Water requirements.