School Fallout Shelter - Derby, KS - Civil Defense Fallout Shelters on Waymarking.com

This building was constructed in 1923 and until 1952 was the only public school in the town of Derby. Classes were held until 1996. Today, with few changes, this building is home to an historical museum. As you enter the south entrance, immediately ahead on the door to the basement is this fallout shelter sign. The shlter had a capacity of 125 people.

In the 1960s, when the U.S. was fearful of an attack from Russian, the Department of Civil Defense was established and shelters were constructed throughout the country, and particularly in Washington D.C. Children in schools had regular Civil Defense Drills where they were taught what to do and where to go in the case of an atomic attack. Your radio program might be interrupted at any time with beeps and the words "This is only a test....." as the Civil Defense systems were tested.

The yellow sign (three triangles inside a circle) could be found in various places in towns, usually in strong, masonry buildings with basements (schools, armories and public buildings) where the maximum protection could be found. The program began to dissolve in the 1970s when funding cuts and apathy prevailed. Today, you will rarely find one of these signs, and it is estimated that only 5 to 10 percent of them remain. Interest has recently surfaced to protect these signs as a part of our history.

Capacity of shelter: 125 Radiation monitoring equipment: Not Listed

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