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The White House features a tunnel network designed for emergency evacuations. This ensures a discreet and secure exit for the President, their family, and staff during crises
The construction of the tunnels began in 1950 during President Harry S. Truman’s tenure. (News18 Hindi)
Donald Trump will take oath as the new President of America on January 20. He will arrive at the White House on this date, which will then be his home for the next four years.
The White House has everything to keep the US President comfortable and safe. An impenetrable fort from a technical point of view, its ancient architecture also ensures the President’s comfort and security.
Throughout the medieval period, kings, maharajas, and rulers from India to Europe commissioned the construction of extensive tunnel networks beneath their forts. These tunnels served as escape routes during times of crisis, allowing them to reach safety should the fort come under attack.
Such strategic subterranean passages are discovered in various corners of the world, highlighting their historical significance. Even the White House possesses a network of tunnels designed to evacuate the President, their family, and staff in emergencies, ensuring their discreet and secure exit.
Even before their construction, the White House tunnels spurred much speculation among American journalists, particularly in 1930. While no such tunnels existed then, the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor underscored the need for their construction, and work soon commenced.
The construction of the tunnels began in 1950 during President Harry S. Truman’s tenure. The President’s House, erected some 150 years prior, had begun to deteriorate, with cracks appearing in many of its walls.
The decision to rebuild the White House prompted President Truman to relocate to the nearby Blair House, where he resided for three years while the reconstruction took place. During this period, a tunnel connecting the East Wing to the West Wing was also constructed as a safety measure, providing access to the secret bunker.
The second secret tunnel was built in 1987, when Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the US. Its construction was driven by the escalating threat of terrorist attacks during Reagan’s tenure.
According to the White House website, a tunnel near the Oval Office leads to a secret staircase. At the top of this staircase, a button opens a secret door. However, the website offers no information about where this door leads.
In addition to the existing tunnels, a third tunnel, known to many, connects the basement of the East Wing to the Treasury Building. This tunnel, commissioned by the 33rd President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was designed to withstand air attacks. Another tunnel links the White House to the Old Executive Office Building. According to some reports, this tunnel has multiple exits, leading to undisclosed secure locations outside the compound, although no written evidence supports these claims.
The secret facilities in the White House are known as the President’s Emergency Operations Center (PEOC). The GSA (General Services Administration), the organisation responsible for the security of government buildings, constructed these secret bunkers and tunnels.
Neither Nuclear Blast Nor Radiation Can Penetrate This Bunker
According to the Associated Press, construction of the bunker was shrouded in secrecy, with workers’ phones even being tapped. The walls of this clandestine sanctuary are composed of concrete so dense that it is impervious to nuclear blasts and radiation.
Furthermore, a sophisticated ventilation system ensures a constant supply of oxygen within the bunker and its network of tunnels. The Seattle Times reports that the bunker maintains a stockpile of provisions sufficient to sustain its occupants for several months in the event of an emergency.
When Donald Trump assumed the presidency in 2017, he and key officials were briefed on all security protocols, including an extended period spent in underground facilities. Similarly, upon Joe Biden’s inauguration, these protocols, including the secure locations, were disclosed to him.
It is customary for incoming US Presidents to be made aware of these security measures. Consequently, should Trump be elected president again, he will already be familiar with these arrangements.
