Nuclear attacks are a frightening reality, that hopefully never comes to pass. They’ve been a part of our culture since the 1950s, and there is no sign that they will be going away anytime soon.
The good news is that there are ways to prepare yourself for an evacuation and stay safe in the event of nuclear fallout. One of the most important things you can do is to plan ahead so that when disaster strikes, you’re ready for it.
We all know the basics: duck and cover, stay in your house, etc. But there are some things you should know about nuclear attacks that we don’t usually talk about—and I think it’s important that we do.
Things That Are Not Always Talked About
For example: how much radiation is too much? What should you bring with you if you need to evacuate? And how can you plan for a home fallout shelter?
In this article, we’ll discuss the fundamentals of nuclear attacks and what to do if one happens near (or on) your home or neighborhood, as well as planning for an evacuation by creating a stockpile of essential items. We’ll also talk about some things you should consider before having a fallout shelter in your home—and how to deal with the psychological effects of being caught in the blast zone.
The fundamentals of nuclear attacks and what to do
The fundamentals of nuclear attacks and what to do are key to understand. The fundamentals are all tied into two words “safety & planning”. If you have these two things in mind you are already ahead of the game. The question of a core fundamental of nuclear preparedness would be mindset. When things go sideways how will you manage under the pressure? Do you have a plan in place and if not then what harm would it be if you did?
Nuclear preparedness is about being ready for whatever comes your way. The first step is having a healthy mindset for yourself, your family, and those around you. If everyone was prepared for whatever may come their way then there wouldn’t be any panic or uncertainty which could lead to more negative outcomes than positive ones.
The next step is planning. Planning is key because without it we would be lost in our own minds trying to figure out what to do next when something happens like an earthquake or tsunami hits our area causing a nuclear disaster that was unexpected by most people around them who live in rural areas such as myself where there aren’t many resources available nearby so these types of events could be devastating on their own without having any.
Laying the groundwork for an evacuation
Planning for an evacuation doesn’t have to be a source of dread.
The best way to prepare for an unexpected event is to have a plan in place. It is never a good idea to be caught out in the cold and the same goes for laying the groundwork for a possible evacuation. It can be an unpleasant thought or some, but one that can be positive because of having a plan in place. A great deal of anxiety and worry comes about when we do not have a plan in place for an unexpected event.
We all know the story of the boy who cried wolf, but if you’re planning for a real emergency, it’s best not to leave anything up to chance. That’s why I’m going to tell you how I’m planning for an evacuation—and then show you how you can do it too.
I’ve got two plans: one for bugging out, and one for staying in place. It’s good to have options! The first part is pretty simple: I’ll have enough food and water stored up so that my family can survive on our own for at least a week while we wait for help or conditions to improve. It’s also important to have a backup plan in case we can’t stay at our home location: I’ll pack up some clothes and other necessities and make sure that everyone knows where they are going ahead of time so we don’t get separated in an emergency situation.
Essential items to bring with you to evacuate
It’s a fact: you can’t survive without food.
When disaster strikes, the first thing to go is your access to food. Now, we’re not saying you should be stocking up on cans of beans and rice, or dehydrated camping meals like MREs. Because those things are heavy! And when you’re evacuating on foot, every ounce counts.
So instead, try bringing snacks with you that are lightweight and easy to eat while you’re running away from danger. Something like protein bars, nuts, and peanut butter, you get the idea. You want something that will give you energy and help keep your body going for a long time without having to stop and cook or find fuel for the fire.
Each Person Will Have Different Factors To Consider
If a nuclear attack occurred and you were located in the desert. There would be specific factors you would have to consider first when thinking of a way to bug out or stay put. The first one would be water. The point is that everyone’s unique situation will need to be considered when making the best course of action if a nuclear attack were to happen.
Let’s say a flood were to occur in your area and you are not able to get out. Would you have the items needed to get out or stay put for an extended period of time? If not then that’s an area that should be strengthened.
Key Lightweight Items
Items that I would bring if I had to leave would be items with long shelf lives such as protein bars, nuts, peanut butter, MREs, canned tuna, and the like. The lighter the better, which will help get you to your location faster.
Non-food items would be tools that would prove useful. I would have these at the bare minimum: fire striker, water purifier, a gas mask such as the MIRA Safety CM-6M CBRN Gas Mask, knife, multitool, rope, firearm, flashlight, tarp, sleeping bag, map, geiger counter and a compass.
When a nuclear attack happens, the first thing you should do is to get as far away from the blast as soon as possible.
If you are able to, get as far away as you possibly can. That may not be possible, which in that case means this will not be your first plan of action.
But what if I am miles away?
It doesn’t matter, the best thing for you to do is to take cover quickly. It may have happened a few miles away but, getting to shelter will be your best plan of action in a pinch.
No Matter what you’re doing at the time of an attack drop everything and head for shelter immediately
Things will be happening fast and beyond your control. That’s why having a plan in place is so key. The first and most important thing you must not do is panic. When people panic in an emergency they “loss their heads” or common sense. This is the last thing you want to happen as it could lead you to make a life-threatening mistake.
So try to stay as calm as possible and focus on your breathing.
I highly recommend you not use the elevator for any reason. The power will go down and other basics of modern life will no longer work. You do not want to find yourself trapped in an elevator when disaster strikes. The chances of getting you help will be a lot less in an emergency situation.
Do Not Wait
If for any reason an emergency situation occurs you do not need to wait for authorities to tell you to leave or hunker down. Use your common sense, if a nuclear attack occurred find shelter or start moving in the opposite direction (if you are far enough away from the blast site).
The Amount Of Time You Will Have Will Be One to A Few Minutes Top
You will not have a lot of time when this happens. It will be a matter of a minute to a few. Think of what you would do if you were driving and had three minutes to find safety. The reality is once it has been made clear an area will be hit figure out how far away you are from it. Your best bet is to find a fallout shelter or shelter in general to protect yourself.
So Have A Plan When You Go Outside
What is Your Plan At Home
Do you have the knowledge to stay in place if this were to occur?
Avoid Looking At The Flash Or Fireball
It could easily blind you if you do. If everything doesn’t go to plan for example. Your best bet is to find shelter, move away from windows and find something that could protect you from flying debris.
Windows
You should never be next to a window if this occurs. If you are outside and not near your fall-out shelter or home then you will improvise. In any building, the safest will be the one that is furthest away from windows and the furthest away from the outside.
Move Fast
Time is of the essence and you will not have a lot of time to get to shelter. The first hours and days will have the highest levels of radiation. So it is essential that you find shelter as soon as possible.
