How to survive A nuclear apocalypse Jackson
Intro Hello reader! If there has been a recent nuclear attack, this is the right place. If there has not been an attack yet, then this is also the right place. This article will cover the ins and outs of surviving and thriving during and immediately after a nuclear attack or war.
Part 1: The Basics Let’
s begin start this guide with basic in-
formation to know about radiation, fallout, and other things. Radiation consists of waves of energy that can travel through mostly anything. The kind that is released in nuclear blasts is ionizing radiation, which carries enough energy to split off electrons from atoms, thereby ionizing and damaging them. This radiation, when exposed to it over time, can
cause
radiation sickness
and
several
types of cancer. Nuclear fallout is when forces
like
wind
clouds
to far
carry
the
away areas.
radiation These
in
fallout
clouds can travel more than 100 miles or more from the blast site. Fallout is made of 3 types of particles, each with differing levels of danger. Alpha particles are mildly harmful and can cause slight burns and mild radiation sickness.. Beta particles are moderately dangerous and can cause radiation
sickness, “Beta Burns� that act like sunburns, and sometimes death. Gamma particles are uncommon but extremely dangerous and can cause severe radiation sickness, cancer, and death. Fallout is extremely dangerous and can kill about ten times more people than the original
blast.
Fallout
is
most
easily
blocked by protection or distance, with bunkering in a shelter being one of the best options. If outside during a fallout, wear the thickest clothing possible and cover the face. With this information in mind, we move onto the next part, focusing on what those who are not currently in the middle of a fallout can do to prepare for one.
Part 2: How to Start Preparing Before an Attack Let’s assume that there is no immediate risk of a nuclear attack and that there is plenty of time to prepare. To start preparing, make an emergency stockpile. This stockpile should consist of water, nonperishable food (canned), first aid, construction materials, tools, hygiene products, iodine doses, protective gear, etc. If there are family, friends, or loved ones to care for, then there should be a chain of communication setup to warn and inform them of danger. Iodine tablets or doses are very important if there is a pre warning, as taking a dose of iodine before exposure to radiation can prevent certain particles to go into your body and causing cancer. An emergency survival pack can increase your odds of survival when away from your shelter or house. This emergency survival pack should contain non perishable food, water, protective gear, high grade first aid, iodine, and hygiene supplies. Create a plan for everyone in the family in all situations of a nuclear attack. Doing extra research while there is time left is one of the best things to do to formulate a plan and to learn more about the various threats and dangers that a nuclear attack would bring. Finally, prepare a fallout shelter, as it is probably one of the most important parts of surviving fallout.
Part 3: How to Build a Shelter
Building a shelter is probably one of the most important parts of surviving a nuclear attack. A shelter needs to be able to support life for at least 2 weeks. It also needs to protect from the harsh radiation of the fallout. Depending on location, a shelter should either be made to resist a head on nuke attack or be
made to resist harmful fallout. To resist nuclear fallout and radiation, a shelter should either be made of large amounts of packed materials like wood and earth or made of highly resistant materials like metal or lead. Another way to make a shelter just that little
bit more shelter-y is to make it secluded, like in a cave or basement of a house. The more isolated and covered a shelter is, the better. The shelter can have
but does not require basic amenities like tables and cupboards, entertainment (books and board games), and ways to produce food (gardens). Things that are necessary to a shelter include sleeping areas, way to
generate electrical power (generators), some way to get fresh air, and ways to mask and/or dispose of
waste materials. An incredibly effective way to keep your shelter from smelling like a skunk for your stay is to use cat litter, as it works well at masking the
smell of waste. With these tips, hunkering down in a shelter will be easy! But, what if there was not
enough time to construct a shelter, or really prepare at all?
Part 4: How to Survive an Immediate Threat Let's say that there is an immediate or already present threat of fallout or an attack. If the attack has not been launched yet, then gather supplies while you can. When that bomb hits, do what all people during the Cold War would do, duck and cover! While a very old trick, the duck and cover tactic is very effective at dodging a wave of debris from the initial explosion. After the bomb has gone off, and there is no more shockwaves coming, there are several options. Option 1 involves going to a shelter at a good distance away, which is most effective if there is some distance from the blast zone. Option 2 involves going a longer distance to a shelter, which is only recommended if the blast zone is far away. Option 3 is to seek immediate shelter nearby, then to go to a better shelter once safe, which is best when closer to the initial blast. As soon as possible, wash off any radiation using water and soap. Do not ever voluntarily go outside with fallout, as even the thickest of clothes cannot fully protect a person. Ways to get in contact with others and to hear news updates, such as radios, are extremely critical to survival after an immediate attack. If there is no shelter immediately available, try to make one out of packed dirt and rocks in seclusion to try and limit radiation exposure. Any makeshift shelter should at least last 8-9 days. If none of these options are available, then plan to evacuate as soon as possible.
Part 5: Post Fallout Threats While things like radiation sickness and nuclear explosions are dangerous, they are not the only threat to be aware of. Due to the ensuing chaos after the vault doors have opened, it is critical to be aware of post-fallout threats. Gangs and tribes are both very dangerous, especially in urban areas. If possible, stay away from urban centers, as the large amount of people there serve as competition for survival. It is much easier to survive the chaos with a group or gang, as they can provide critical assistance and sup
port. One of the most important things to do is to become self sufficient. Animals like rabbits and chicken can be easily farmed for easy eggs and meat. Techniques like survival gardening can produce large amounts of food with little to no watering, fertilizing, or pesticides. If the situation goes to societal collapse levels of severe, make sure to keep important texts and books ranging from ways to farm to bibles and other religious texts to rebuild and preserve culture. If there are enemy gangs or looters that manage to find your shelter, then make all efforts to prevent them from entering. Fortifying a post-fallout base can either prevent or scare off attacks from enemies.
Works Cited: "How to Survive a Nuclear Attack." WikiHow. MediaWiki, n.d. Web. 04
Nov. 2015.
Dodson, Brian. "How to Survive a Nuclear Bomb: An Update on "Duck and Cove
r"" How to
Survive a Nuclear Bomb: An Update on "Duck and Cove r" Gizmag, 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 04 Nov. 2015. Bohannon, John. "How to Survive a Nuclear Explosion." How to Survive a Nuclear E xplosion. AAAS, 14 Jan. 2014. Web. 04 Nov. 2015. Roberts, James. "How to Survive a Nuclear Attack." How to Survive a Nuclear Attack. S ecretsOfSurvival, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2015.