Scope and Contents During the Cold War fear of war prompted the US government to encourage its citizens to build fallout shelters to help protect them from the effects of possible nuclear attacks. These materials which originated from the Office of Civil Defense, were intended to be used in the event of an emergency that required evacuation to the fallout shelters. The materials were meant to support a short stay only, though they provided everything from food and water rations to sanitation kits. For a more...