In 1961, LIFE extolled the benefits of building a basement bomb shelter out of pre-cast concrete blocks.
This cutaway drawing shows how the homeowner would have situated the shelter in a corner of the basement where it had no windows.
The article estimated materials cost not to exceed $200. It was estimated that radiation within the shelter would be about 1% of radiation outside.
As a final warning, the article mentioned that, should the nuclear warhead hit within 10-15 miles of you, the house might be blown down onto the shelter and catch fire.
Source: LIFE Sep 15, 1961