# Are you buying duct tape and plastic? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2003, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696 "2003-02-12T23:23:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/41 "2003-02-13T15:39:33Z")
Read this thread---- [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=162871](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=162871) ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/42 "2003-02-13T15:44:08Z")
Huh? Who’s panicking? I haven’t heard a single person mention that they’re buying their duct tape. Can you provide the links to the threads where everyone is acting cowardly? ---
**Author:** ![aha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@aha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aha)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/43 "2003-02-13T16:08:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DeadlyAccurate \* > \*\*Huh? Who’s panicking? I haven’t heard a single person mention that they’re buying their duct tape. Can you provide the links to the threads where everyone is acting cowardly? \*\* I agree DA but you know pantex ain’t too far away in amarillo. That’s the plant for finally assembly for US nukes. I think during the cold war is was number two on the hit parade for the soviets. I don’t know what any terrorists might have in mind but if Pantex is hit a good stiff westerly could put some nasty shit over FT/Dallas pretty quick. So to duct or not to duct still remains the question. I think not to duct is the answer at least for me. That doesn’t mean to imply that I don’t have and use duct tape. As a matter of fact there is some holding my clothes dryer vent hose on as we speak. I think I would only panic if they decided to quit making duct tape. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/44 "2003-02-13T16:16:06Z")
Back in cold war days, the Soviet nuke list was: 1. New York, Washington DC 2. Some place 40 miles from wherever you were at the moment. 3. Wherever you were at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/45 "2003-02-13T16:19:00Z")
That’s still over 300 miles away. I’m just wondering why **Bosda** felt the need to flame _everyone_ for even commenting on the situation. Suddenly, chatting about what we’re \*not[/i bothering to do becomes panicking and acting cowardly. ---
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/46 "2003-02-13T18:45:14Z")
I have to really question the reliability with Duct Tape and plastic sheeting. Most homes and office buildings leak like a sieve. You would have to seal off everything from your air vents (no A/C while we are under attack), your **electrical outlets** , your **floorboards**. If you have hardwood flooring or a drop down ceiling you are SOOL. Seal it as much as you can. Put the duct tape down EACH crack and seam. Or silicone sealant. You couldn’t flush your toilet, while under attack. The plumbing might be safe, but make sure there is water in the p-trap of every faucet in the house. If you have a sink that hasn’t worked in months, secure the whole thing. Don’t just put a stopper in. The overflow will leak too. Plus you have to make sure there are no creases in the tape. I would recommend caulking instead, but it might be difficult to remove. You’ve got to go over your house with a fine toothed comb to make sure you get everything. If you have any plants outside that you can bring inside do it. The oxygen they produce might not be enough for a long wait, but it couldn’t hurt. Plus you won’t want your plants to have those contaminants on them anyway. ---
**Author:** ![MSU\_1978](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@MSU\_1978](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MSU_1978)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/47 "2003-02-13T18:55:19Z")
What if the terrorists have already planted antrhax in the duct tape packages? ---
**Author:** ![knarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@knarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knarf)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/48 "2003-02-13T19:44:03Z")
I’m not duct taping, but I’m confused on the covering heating/AC vent thing. Except for window units, every home/apartment I’ve lived in has heated/cooled internal air. Am I missing something? ---
**Author:** ![sWitchazel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@sWitchazel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sWitchazel)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/49 "2003-02-13T20:02:11Z")
**superbee** and **MSU 1978** - you SLAY me! No window treatments for me. If I’m not killed outright, I want to be one of the mutants. 😛 And I can’t believe no one has said it yet. “Duck and cover”? I thought it was “duct and cover”. \ ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/50 "2003-02-13T23:42:08Z")
I’m just a nine iron from our local PO. They used to have an old fallout room with 3’ thick cement walls underneath the PO with food & water. They took the sign down years ago indicating that it’s there, but I remember its there, so that’s where I would be. Lucky me. I think that Im going over there & ask them if it’s available. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/51 "2003-02-14T00:22:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CrankyAsAnOldMan \* > \*\*There are several reasons we might need to leave the house without a lot of warning, taking the animals. Might as well be a little prepared so I don’t blow time dicking around with trying to cram some ziplocks with food from the 40-lb bags of pet chow we usually have on hand. \*\* We have 2 cats, but only one cat carrier. I mentioned getting another carrier to my husband as a “just in case” and he responded with “The hell with the cats; just get the kids in the car and go!” And no, I’m not duct taping, either. But I am buying another cat carrier tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![kevja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@kevja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevja)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/52 "2003-02-14T00:34:28Z")
NO. Homeland Security Department?! Buy duct tape and plastic. I feel so much more secure with this kind of sound advice. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/53 "2003-02-14T00:40:34Z")
“Duct tape and plastic sheeting” is to the terrorism panic-mongering of today what “hold a newspaper over your head” and “civil nuclear defense” was to the nuclear war panic-mongering of the postwar and Cold War period. Ridiculousness designed to increase, not decrease, the level of fear among the general populace. IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/54 "2003-02-14T02:10:44Z")
I have about a decade of working with radioactive materials, microbial pathogens, and chemical hazards. This crap is nothing but more “duck and cover”. It will protect nobody. However, it does serve one valuable function. See who is stocking up on plastic and duct tape. These people are too stupid to rely upon in a crisis. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/55 "2003-02-14T02:58:22Z")
I’d be afraid of dying of carbon monoxide poisoning or something. Our house runs on natural gas–the furnace, the water heater, the dryer, the stove. We’ve actually got a fresh air intake pipe in our utility room so that the combustion of all these appliances doesn’t kill us. So, am I supposed to seal that off? (If I don’t, that air is going to be blown all over the house by the furnace!) We’ve got a fireplace, too. I know that damper isn’t a perfect seal by any means. I think that trying to seal off the house is a lesson in futility, if not stupidity. On NPR today, I heard someone say that if you sealed off your house perfectly, you’d have about five hours’ worth of oxygen left! I have a history of excema, so I’m not supposed to get a smallpox vaccine either. Guess I’ll just twiddle my thumbs, then… ---
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/56 "2003-02-14T05:34:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Knarf > I’m not duct taping, but I’m confused on the covering heating/AC vent thing. Except for window units, every home/apartment I’ve lived in has heated/cooled internal air. Am I missing something? Knarf, The air that cools or heats your house/apartment has to come from somewhere. The air comes from outside. It is filtered, but the filters not enough to clean out deadly contaminants. Boy Tamex, you raise some good points. The air inside your home changes several times an hour. If you really are wanting to protect yourself from a short term attack of say an hour or a few, then do what you can to block off the fireplace completely. And turn off your gas, if you can. Then hopefully you can seal off the vents and the attic door. If you have a hot water heater, hopefully it’s in a room you can isolate. You still don’t have much time. I think 5 hours is pretty pessimistic though, especially if you take it easy during that time. Sleep. Don’t do something stupid like excercize. Make sure you set your alarm every hour or so to make sure you don’t pass out from lack of oxygen. Listen to the radio to make sure the coast is clear. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/57 "2003-02-14T05:40:23Z")
> [@](#): > > It takes more than duct tape to patch the gaps in homeland security. – Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., alleging the administration refused to work with Congress to [appropriate more money for homeland security](http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0203/021303cd1.htm) (02/13/2003). ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/58 "2003-02-14T06:01:44Z")
No, but I don’t see anything wrong with buying Duct tape. To paraphrase John Lennon, “All you need is Duct Tape”. ---
**Author:** ![Hallo\_Space\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hallo\_Space\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hallo_Space_Girl)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/59 "2003-02-14T06:31:46Z")
are the prices of duct tape going up? DAMN! I should have stock piled before… I like to make things and I was considering making my prom dress… hmmm… ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2003, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696/60 "2003-02-14T08:06:46Z")
> [@](#): > > I think 5 hours is pretty pessimistic though, especially if you take it easy during that time. Sleep. Don’t do something stupid like excercize. Good lord! If you seal up your house, or a room inside your house, whatever you do, do **not** sleep, unless you’ve _accurately_ calculated how much time the available oxygen will last, and set a reliable alarm to go off before that time. Otherwise you might not wake up. I’m just waiting to turn on the news and here about some old couple who panicked after seeing some fog or something, started duct taping, and then suffocated. I hope the legal division of the Department of Fatherland Defense is already planning their defense strategy for the ensuing lawsuits. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-buying-duct-tape-and-plastic/154696.md?page=4)