All Americans feared nuclear war with Russia. It was obvious to everyone that if they dropped a bomb on Russia, they would be bombed themselves. This was reversed for Russia; if they dropped a bomb on America, they would be bombed. This was only clear because of the enormous stockpiles of bombs, missiles that could travel all the way to Russia or America, and bomber planes that each country had stored. Bomb shelters and fallout shelters (which are different from each other) were built. The main purpose of bomb shelters were as underground places to hide to be protected from any type of bomb in case of bombing raids. The picture to the left shows one example of a bomb shelter. In this shelter, it shows that there was room for about five or six people on each bench, and two people could fit on one cot. The shelters were not built for comfort, but instead for safety. the shelter above had room for eight people on hammocks, as well as more on the floor. There was only room for a little food and water and a few personal possessions. The photo below shows another bomb shelter.
This image shows a sign for a fallout shelter. The main purpose of a fallout shelter was to protect from atomic bomb radiation. They had thick concrete walls, and like bomb shelters, were small and uncomfortable. However, radioactive radiation is extremely dangerous, so these shelters were prized by all. The black circle with three yellow triangles is a worldwide symbol for bombs. The photo below shows the interior of a fallout shelter. As shown, it was small and had room for only necessities. An air filter in the top prevented suffocation. There was basic plumbing for the occasion that someone would have to stay in the shelter for a long period of time. A radio was important as to know when it would be safe to come out. A geiger counter was used to measure radio activeness of air.
At school, children had air raid drills more often than fire drills. During these, a special bell would ring. All of the older children would file into a room with no windows that was close to the interior of the school. A gym was commonly used. The children would then assume "air raid drill position". In this position, the children got on their knees, bent over, put their left arm over their forehead, and put their right arm over their ears. A man named Anthony Buccino remembers,"We took cover in neat order in virtually any place that was away from the windows. We sneaked a look back and waited for the Russian’s A-bomb to come crashing through any one of the many windows in our school." The younger children took shelter in air raid drill position under their desks, as shown in the picture to the left. These drills probably would have done no good, since the bombs would destroy the entire school. Children were annoyed at home to have their favorite television programs interrupted by tests of the Emergency Broadcast System. When peace was made with the Russians, everyone felt safer and happier.