Surviving a Nuclear Attack in 3 (Not So) Easy Steps
Let’s face it, in light of the harsh realities of our modern world and despite all the political rhetoric there are high hurdles for nuclear disarmament. The number of nuclear weapons, was around 70,000 during the height of the Cold War. Due to nuclear reduction discussions between the US and Russia this amount has reduced significantly. However, more than 17,000 such weapons are known to still exist.
Which means the threat of a nuclear meltdown affecting the US and the world is as real now as it was in the cold war.
In the event that such a horror should become a reality, here are five things you can do to help you and your loved ones make it out alive. It is important to keep in mind that you’re up against the most destructive weapons we have on the planet, so the more you can do, the better your chances (even though there are no guarantees).
1) Stock up. This is the same for every emergency situation or natural disaster and it’s for good reason. The people with the best chances of survival in any given disaster will be first and foremost those who prepared, next come those who improvise and react well, and thirdly are the people who do neither – if you belong to the first group, you’ve already taken a big step towards staying afloat in a catastrophe.
You want to have plenty of food, water, and blankets available for you and anyone else who is living with you.
2) Keep in touch. Communication and information is key in these situations, and in the event that cell towers are knocked out, you’ll want to have a radio so that you can check national frequencies for information. A good idea is to keep a crank or solar powered radio, but if you use a battery operated one make sure you have spare batteries packed away. It’s also not a bad idea to get a solar charger for your cell phone, in the event that electricity/outlets are unavailable.
3) Shelter up. If you’re within the initial blast radius of a bomb, you don’t have much of a chance for survival. However, most damages and deaths come from radiation exposure after the fact. The best way to avoid radiation is to either have made, or quickly make, a shelter. It should be thick (gamma rays can penetrate half a foot of steel!) and you should not leave for at lest 48 hours (preferably 7-10 days if you have supplies).
Eventually you will need to come out of your shelter and this is when things will get tricky. Even if some time has passed, you will want to be quick and efficient in your gathering of food. Keep your radio tuned in to see if there are any drop or gathering points you can get food and fresh water from, and stay on your toes.
