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"     Basements are for pool tables, washing machines and the recent college grad who&amp;#039;s moved back home. No matter how much downstairs repair you install, rarely are they still transformed into shelter for protection against a nuclear bomb. But during the Cold War, PM&amp;#039;s annual home issue included plans for multiple shelters that protected from radioactive fallout-not just the latest in built-in storage and dome skylights.   &amp;quot;An underground shelter having at least three feet of earth or sand over it, plus adequate door and air filter, will give you almost complete protection,&amp;quot; PM wrote in October 1960. &amp;quot;A special refuge build in the basement, with a mass of material around and above it, can reduce exposure to about 1/100 of the outside exposure.&amp;quot;   PM recommended using 8-in. solid concrete blocks and providing at least 10 sq. ft. of floor space per member of the family. The entrance required &amp;quot;at least one right-angle turn to scatter the radioactive dust.&amp;quot; Survival supplies to have on hand included a radio with external antenna, flashlights, batteries, food and water for two weeks, and containers for waste.   For today&amp;#039;s homeowner, resilience begins with a solid foundation. Check out PM&amp;#039;s House of the Year, designed to withstand earthquakes, salt air, termites and hurricanes, on sale now \u2014Emily Masamitsu   RELATED STORIES \u2022 HOME CHECKLIST: 10 Ways to Finish Basement Redux  \u2022 TIME MACHINE: Catch Up With More Classic Cover Updates  \u2022 PLUS: Browse More Covers in the 100-Year-Old Archive!   "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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