Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-11-01
Union Station
Found Able 10
Shelter 5000
Survey Launched
OF Thick-WuIEed
Buildings Here
By CHARLES d. PIERCE
star staff Writer

After touring the cavernous
Easements and endorsement of
Union Station, a civil defense
official estimated today that
these structures could provide
emergency fallout protection
now for approximately 5000
persons.
This estimate was made by
Lee Thurman, District civil de-
tense Pathological officer, one
Iof a group who made the first
official on-site inspection of a
possible public fallout shelter
area here.
Mr.. Thurman said the four
foot-thick masonry walls of the
station basement probably
would reduce outside radiation
from an enemy nuclear attack
to one part in several thousand.
The inspection was made as
part of a training survey being
conducted in four Washington
census tracts to find shelter
areas in existing buildings that
would cut outside radiation at
least 95 per cent.
Stocked With Food
Mr.. Thurman said If the
Union Station Easements are
designated as fallout shelters,
they will be stocked with food,
water and other supplies.
He added that some modifi-
cations would have. to be made
to make the basement area a
fully effective shelter. These
would include the installation
of bathroom and other facilities
and improvements to the ven
tilation system.
The Defense Departments
Office of Civil Defense is ex-
pected to recommend to Con-
greSS that it appropriate funds
for modification and improve
ment of shelter areas found in
existing buildings.
However. Mr.. Thurman en-
phasized, the station basement
area could provide emergency
protection today. He added that
food and water are now avail
able at the station.
Even the waiting room, de-
spite its huge arched windows,
would provide a certain degree
of protection. he said. ANY
protection is better than moth
ing"
Contractor Making Survey
The inspection today was
made by william S. Vann of
McGaughan and Johnson,
washington architect-engineer
firm, which is conducting the
Survey under a contract for the
civil defense office.
Mr.. Vann agreed with Mr..
Thurman that the station base
ment area would provide very
good fallout protection.
The survey is being made to
find only fallout shelter areas,
and is not designed to find
structures that would protect
from blast.
Mr.. Vann, who heads one of
three teams making the sur
vey, said that most Of his time
has been spent so far on check
ing building records and blue
prints to determine which
structures have thick enough
walls and ceilings.
He commented while touring
the Union Station Easements by
searchlight that the original
plans for the structure called
for a swimming pool and steam
room in one of the Easements
but these were never built.
The group was guided through
the station by M. H. Lingen-
felter, Union Terminal Co.
manager.
After the survey is completed
by December l. public fallout
shelters will be marked ano
stocked with supplies, and other
areas in the city will be sur
veyed.
While civil defense officials
have said it would be desirable
for fallout shelters to reduce
radiation to one per cent, the
survey is aimed at the more
modest goal of S per cent.
1--WE may not be able to find
enough buildings with a reduc-
ton factor of 100," Mr.. Thur
man explained.