I think I will just eat the food cold. In Arizona we don't have to think about keeping ourselves warm....I guess that can be a new appreciation in these times.
Thanks for the feedback.... I could have been a _______,
ALMOST!

Half life refers to the amount of time that it takes for the radiation level to diminish 50%.

In the case of a "dirty bomb" acute radiation exposure is not thought to be the primary threat. Rather, the radiation sources most likely available are not highly radioactive and will pose more threat to those exposed in the form of an increased lifetime risk of developing cancer with exposure to the agent.

In addition to what Beachdoc mentioned, I would add that KI is very unlikely to be useful in a dirty bomb incident, as it is unlikely that radioiodine would be used. Half lives for cobalt-60 and cesium-137 (believed to be the most likely sources used) are 5.2 and 30.1 years respectively. So if you are planning to hunker down and wait for it to decay, you would be waiting awhile.

Also in a dirty bomb incident, the powers-that-be will most likely ask the public to shelter in place initially, wait for the dust to settle, and then evacuate those that might be impacted by the resuspension of contamination when the hazmat guys go in to clean things up. At least that's what I told the police officers I trained this morning. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Greg
(the helpful radiation safety guy)

I've already decided to stay. If something happens no one is going to want refugees straining "their" resources anyway. Besides, any refugee or shelter situation is going to ban pets. I don't know about you folks, but pets are keeps for life where I'm concerned. I would not abandon a pet for any reason if I could prevent it.

Greg,
Thanks for the words on dirty bombs and KI. Half life statement was concerning the unlikely scenario of an actual blast, and probablity of small blast area - not talking multiple warhead ICBM's here but suitcase situation. Also, I don't live in town but on the furthest outskirts and am assuming that the major buildings downtown would be the high visibility targets for maximum media exposure. Agree that dirty bomb is more likely, and greatly appreciate the info. My greatest concern is being in the car in a fallout situation or high rad exposure. Assuming some distance from the incident, would prefer to have some roofing and concrete walls around me until the authorities advise otherwise. Regards, Keys

My understanding is that there will be a determination made re: the radioactive material used and the radiation level versus the expected increased lifetime cancer risk due to exposure. If the risk is very high, a decision of abandoning the area vs decon. If the risk is low, there may be little decon attempted.

I agree with the short term shelter in place, but remaining until radiation level decreases is not an option.

Okay gentlemen,
Knew I had the info on my hard drive somewhere. Again, basing my statement on the downtown crater from a suitcase atomic, not H-bomb or dirty bomb, would be concerned about Iodine-125 & 131 levels from fallout which have a half-life of 8.1 days, and assuming a considerable distance from the source. KI would be appropriate, and rehabilitation of the surrounding area is feasible. Agreed that dirty bombs would use isotopes of convenience such as Cobalt 60, commonly used in food irradation, or Cesium-137 available from electrical power reactor wastes, and hardly expecting to ride it out for 30 years. Regards, Keys

Just to be clear, a nuclear warhead (including a suitcase nuke) generates blast effect either through nuclear fission or nuclear fusion. One additional effect is intense and relatively short half-life radiation. After a 2-4 week period in a suitably shielded shelter, one could emerge and live in that area.

A dirty bomb is a conventional explosive that is packed in a radioactive material. When detonated, the radioactive material is disseminated in the area surrounding the explosion. The residual radiation may persist for decades.

Two different events entirely.

It depends on the type of device used whether or not Iodine will be a problem. In the unlikely event of a device being used that produced iodine, then KI might help to mitigate that hazard, assuming you were to get exposed in the first place (which is unlikely if you are sheltering in place). Just make sure you don't have an allergy to iodine before you start popping pills. The results could be unfortunate.

Greg

Your very welcome. You are probably correct that downtown buildings will be a more likely target than the outskirts of town. If I may ease your fears of high rad exposure, the number of scenarios involving acute high doses are pretty much reduced to an actual nuclear device, or a criticality device. Both of which are probably the least likely of all scenarios. A dirty bomb will not be a high rad exposure device, as by it's very nature it disperses the concentration of radioactive material.

If you are distant from the incident (of course that is relative depending on the incident) and upwind then you probably wouldn't even need roofing or walls.

Take care!

Greg