HomeMy WebLinkAboutRadiological Monitoring Instruments Memo 1962 MEMORAN D IM
TO: Civil Defense Directors
FROM: James H. Garner, State Coordinator
Division of Defense and Disaster Relief
DATE: April 18, 1962
SUBJECT: Radiological Monitorjnf Insttwmepts (CD-V -777)
As of March 1, 1962, the distribution of CD-V -777 operational monitoring
kits, under the provisions of Advisory Bulletin 258, was suspended pending
a re of the program by the Department of tb tense.
One bulletin which we have received from Region 5, OCD indicates that the
approach used in the revision will be based upon the idea that community
shelters will be where people are, that rehabilitation and recovery efforts
will emerge from shelters, and therefore, monitoring capabilities should,
for the most part, be located in shelters.
It is our understanding that an acceptable shelter for stocking under the
shelter program will be equipped with radiological monitoring kits which
are quite similar to CD -V -777 kits, and that these can be used for official
monitoring stations. However, some of the spaces surveyed will not satisfy
all the acceptable shelter requirements and, accordingly, will not be marked
and stocked, This type of space might provide most of the additional loca-
tions necessary for the desired geographical distribution of the official
monitoring net,
Whereas the requirements for requesting CD-V -777 kits have been (a) a
designated location of the monitoring station and (b) at least two adequately
trained and assigned monitors, under the revised bulletin two additional
requirements will appear. First, there must be adequate communications,
radio or telephone, to a control center; and second, the station must have
a minimum protection factor of 100,
In those cases where presently established or designated monitoring stations
cannot be provided with a protection factor of 100, civil defense directors
will want to reassign personnel and equipment to other locations. It appears
unlikely, however, that this reassignment is feasible until the marking and
stocking phase of the shelter program has been completed.
Region 5, OCD Bulletin No 10 -62 closes with this statement: "Policies,
procedures, and criteria for placing additional radiological monitoring kits
in community shelters located by the shelter survey will be announced at a
later date,"
* * * * * * * * *
* Acceptable Shelter: (a) Protection factor- -100 or above. .(b) Cap city- -
50 persons, (c) Net space - -10 sq. ft,/person, with adequate ventilation;
500 cu. ft. /person, without ventilation. (d) Storage space - -1 cu, ft./
person for secured storage of emergency food, water, first aid and
sanitation supplies, radiation instruments, and tools,
MEMORANDUM
May 23, 1963
To: All Civil Defense Directors
From: Texas Department of Public Safety
Office of Defense and Disaster Relief
Subject: Radioactivity of Ceramic Tableware
This office recently received a communication from Mr. Bill Parker,
Director of Region 5, Office of Civil Defense, pertaining to reports
questioning the advisability of using certain glazed ceramic tableware
because such tableware was alleged to contain hazardous amounts of
radioactive materials.
The letter states that the claims of radiation hazards apparently
have resulted from erroneous assumptions gained from using the
CD V -700 in making measurements on such tableware. Evaluation of
indicated CD V -700 readings should be made by qualified health
officials.
Since incidents of this nature involve radiation health standards
which are not properly a Civil Defense responsibility, state and
local Civil Defense officials would be well advised to forward
relevant inquiries concerning such hazards and refer action to the
State Department of Health, which has primary concern and respon-
sibility. For further technical guidance in these matters, Civil
Defense directors should contact their local public health officials.