In a world where tensions are high and the threat of nuclear conflict looms large, being prepared for the unthinkable is more crucial than ever. Recent global events have shown us just how volatile our times are, with nations flexing their nuclear muscles and the specter of war casting a long shadow. This article is your no nonsense guide to surviving a nuclear bomb detonation in the U.S. We’ll cut through the noise and give you the hard facts and practical steps you need to protect yourself and your loved ones when the worst happens. Stay sharp, stay safe, and be ready for anything.
On Foot: Get behind cover and lay face down to protect yourself from thermal damage and projectiles. Do NOT look at the blast, doing so will blind you.
Driving: If you are driving when a nuke goes off but are not near ground zero, consider yourself fortunate that you did not get vaporized. Again, do NOT look at the blast as doing so can blind you. If you can help it, you want to be upwind or crosswind of the nuclear fallout. Downwind is the worst place to be because the fallout is coming your way. If you are downwind of the blast, you have approximately 15-20 minutes before the fallout starts raining down on top of you in the form of radioactive dust and particles. Shut off your air circulation system in your vehicle and close the vents. Seek shelter immediately.
Seek Underground Shelter: Find a building made of dense material, like brick or concrete, preferably with a concrete basement. Situate yourself in an interior room away from windows and other walls. The deeper underground you get the better. Radiation levels significantly decrease the lower you go. Choose a corner of the basement that is most below ground level and away from outer walls and the roof. These spots are where radioactive material tends to collect the most. Increase shielding along walls and create a barrier wall in front of the door leading into the room, this can improve shielding from radiation. Think of the downstairs basement of an office with metal shelving and old books and manuals. Use all of this as shielding. Hunker in the basement for 72 hours, as the radiation levels will reduce until they are 1% of their initial value. Using plastic sheeting and duct tape, seal up all air vents, door cracks, etc. Another option for this type of shelter would be a homemade bunker made of sandbags. The sandbags must be at least 3 ft deep to stop radiation.
Decontaminate: Peel off the clothes you were wearing, they could be containing deadly radiation and fallout. Wash any exposed skin. Better yet, take a shower. Contaminated clothes need to go into a quarantined plastic bag and removed. If you must go outside again you PPE.
Supplies: Unfortunately, you were on the road for work and not at your survival retreat in Michigan’s U.P., stocked with 20 years’ worth of food and enough ammo to fight WW3. You will have to look around for what you can eat. Is there a refrigerator? Is there a nearby vending machine you could bust the glass out of? If you have them, take potassium iodide (KI) tablets to protect your thyroid. If you don’t have these tablets, rub a tincture of iodine on your stomach about the size of a basketball.
Communication: Find a radio if possible and listen for further instructions.