Manchester, New Hampshire – The difference between a basement and an upstairs room during a nuclear emergency could reduce radiation exposure by up to 90% in the first critical hours.
According to federal safety guidance and regional emergency management agencies, residents living near Seabrook Station along the New Hampshire coast may be directed to shelter in place immediately if an incident occurs. For inland areas like Manchester and Concord, shifting winds could still carry risk within hours, making indoor protection decisions critical.
Basements offer the strongest protection because dense materials like soil and concrete block radioactive fallout. In Seacoast communities including Portsmouth and Dover, homes with basements provide a significant advantage during the early phase when radiation levels are highest.
For residents without basements, officials recommend moving to the most interior room possible—away from windows and exterior walls. Bathrooms, closets and central hallways can reduce exposure further, especially when surrounded by dense materials like books, water containers or furniture.
Upper floors and window-facing rooms should be avoided, particularly in coastal areas where fallout patterns can shift quickly with changing winds.
Potassium iodide, or KI tablets, may be recommended by public health officials to protect the thyroid, but they do not shield the rest of the body. Shelter choice remains the most immediate and effective protection.
Emergency alerts could be issued with little notice. Identifying your safest indoor space now could make a critical difference if an incident impacts the region.
