MISSOULA — The University of Montana is getting rid of crate after crate of Cold War-era fallout shelter supplies.
The Missoulian reports that the university’s 11-story Aber Hall has a concrete-walled storage room packed with tins of “survival ration biscuits” issued by the Office of Civil Defense. Most were packaged in 1963.
UM Mansfield Library’s government documents librarian, Susanne Caro, says the food stores were meant to supply one person for two weeks on 700 calories a day. The school also has “carbohydrate supplements” in the form of lemon and cherry hard candies.
Residence Life facilities manager Brad Hall says some rations are featured in the library’s “Duck and Cover” exhibit, but the nearly 1,000 boxes left over will be thrown out unless another home can be found.