Surviving the First 72 Hours After A Nuclear Incident
Hopefully, you have a chance to gather these items and learn this before something happens
A nuclear attack in this current geopolitical environment with Russia and Ukraine, among all the other players is not imminent. For decades we have heard of the concept of mutually assured destruction. If one country utilizes their arsenal, the others will follow. The type of nuclear incident I am referring to is a release from a nuclear plant, waste site or accident where the radiation is leaking. If you are in the blast radius of a nuclear weapon, there is no amount of preparation that will help you survive. Beyond that, if a nuclear site near you experiences an explosion, attack or accident you can survive if you know the right information.
Basic Radiation Information
We have seen historic accidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima have a wide range of effects on communities surrounding the reactors. Following reactor meltdowns, many perished and others became ill with lifelong illnesses, whole cities became exclusion zones, soil and plant life were forever altered, animals in the area genetically changed for generations.
There are 4 major types of radiation you can experience from nuclear incidents — alpha, beta, neutron and electromagnetic. Alpha particles are heavy and usually occur in natural materials such as uranium and radon. Beta particles are small and not attached to a nucleus, they exist in space and are also used for carbon dating. Neutron radiation exists in the nucleus of an atom and only emits from processes such as fission when the atom splits. Finally, electromagnetic radiation is most commonly known as gamma radiation or x-ray radiation.
Neutron radiation can travel the farthest through solid structures such as wood, metals, the human body and building materials. Alpha is the least energetic and shortest travel through solid materials, a sheet of paper can shield against alpha radiation. Beta is the second lowest energy and can barely penetrate the skin, but has uses in cancer therapies. X-ray radiation is next, which is how we are able to use them to see inside the body for medical decisions. Gamma penetrates most solid objects freely, but can be shielded by lead.
Protecting Yourself
Should you be near an area where there is a nuclear accident, there are three basic measures to protect yourself — time, distance and shielding. The first and most obvious is limiting your time and proximity to the area. Radiation can draft for miles after an accident. However, you can limit your exposure by leaving the area as soon as possible creating a time and distance barrier. Shielding yourself can take many forms.
You can retreat to a basement and cover your windows in wood or plastic sheeting. You can also brick them in if you have the resources. Creating a blind with metal might be harder, but if you plan ahead you can have one sized and cut for your windows in the basement of the home. The key is getting underground or behind rock, wood and metal. The solid structures that make up a home can do a great job at shielding you from radiation. Lead sheeting is also available if you have the financial ability to purchase it and place it.
If you are in an area that is vulnerable to radiation, you could prepare ahead of time and install and underground shelter. Or you can build or reframe a room in your home as a shelter for this type of event. Some shelters can be purchased or built out if you have the ability to choose or customize one. They are relatively easy to build or install if you have excavation equipment. FEMA released design guidance for fallout shelters if you want to learn more.
Natural Shielding and Unclaimed Shelter
A secondary option is using a cave system. This option could be dangerous if you do not have the resources or ability to survive the elements. There are several repositories for maps and information in America’s cave systems. The National Caves Association breaks them down by region. Be warned, living in a cave, exploring caves or using them as shelter can be fatal. Some caves lead to naturally occurring gases and liquids that can be dangerous. Others have steep drop offs, unexplored areas, crushing hazards, overhead and falling hazards, animal and wildlife hazards and other natural risks that should never be taken lightly. Do not explore a cave without precaution, mapping, expertise and a buddy system as well as a rescue plan. Do not decide that a cave will be your shelter before familiarizing yourself will taking great precaution and doing extensive research. Entering a cave to survive just fallout and then escape will require you survive it for at least 24 hours. So you will need a go bag that can carry you food, water, warmth and equipment wise for roughly 72 hours. This space accounts for travel during escape planning and an overnight in the cave system.
Another option, although just as dangerous and not recommended, is abandoned mines. Beware the access, lifts, environmental hazards and wilderness hazards in mines. They are caves that are manmade. These areas can also have explosives that are left over from operations, an additional risk that natural caves do not have. The same precautions of research and mapping need to be made. Another additional hazard is you entering a property you do not own. To certain owners it does not matter that its a life or death situation and you need shelter, they will protect their property. Some owners may also booby trap their owned areas. Be familiar with unowned mines, and again this is not an ideal option. The same preparation rules apply as well, bring a bag with you that you can survive with for 72 hours.
What to Pack In Your Bag
If your plan is to leave, be warned, most recommendations are that you stay sheltered for at least 24 hours. However, if shelter is not an option for you and you have to escape to a shelter, having an easy go-bag is key and you have roughly 10 minutes before radiation fallout finds you, depending upon your distance from the blast. This bag is specific to a scenario involving nuclear incidents where you are not in the blast radius. You should keep a trash bag, Tyvek suit, an N95 respirator, safety goggles, booties and gloves as well as a dosimeter. These can be worn as you travel and removed outside of your intended shelter. They will be radiated, most likely, and you will need to remove them outside of where you will be sheltering. Those should be at the top of the bag for easy access, the rest will stay in the bag and travel with you. Be advised, however, this outfit does not protect against all forms of radiation and it will only slow it down, you have to get to shelty and take it off as fast as you can.
Remove your trash bag and personal protective equipment, dress out and cover your backpack in the trash bag while you escape. This is imperfect, but it is a solution. In the bag you should also have a flashlight, an AM/FM radio, some form of battery block or charger that can be recharged by the sun, food for 3 days (I suggest MREs, Huel, Soylent, meal sub powders, etc). You should keep a small filtering system, as well as enough water for at least 24 hours. You can increase your water’s utility for you by keeping products that place nutrients in water (Liquid IV, Gatorade, etc).
Sheltering In Place
Sheltering in place is the ideal decision for nuclear fallout. An interior location in your home that is cut off from draft or windows, underground is ideal. It is recommended you use a basement or cellar. However, as stated, you can also plan ahead and have a shelter installed. If you are in a public place such as your workplace or a store, there might be signage or maps for shelters in the building, follow that signage, even if it is a tornado shelter. If not find an interior bathroom or other area most deeply inside the building. In public areas, listen for overhead announcements for shelter and information.
If the shelter is in your home, ensure that you have properly planned with food and water. The same supplies you would find in a bag, just in bigger volume and easier access. You can lose utilities and cellular service, along with other modern conveniences for days or weeks, plan ahead and be ready for any weather conditions that effect the environment in addition to supplies
