With tensions between countries on the rise, fears of a nuclear war happening have increased. Knowing where to take shelter during a nuclear attack is crucial for survival. This article will examine the best locations to hide and ways to increase your chances of surviving a nuclear war.
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
When a nuclear attack is imminent, one of the first questions is whether you should stay put or try to escape. There are pros and cons to both options:
Staying Home
- You are already familiar with the area
- You have supplies and provisions
- Avoid radioactive fallout outside
- Sheltering in a basement or interior room can protect from blast/heat
Evacuating
- Get away from likely target zones
- Avoid radioactive fallout by outrunning it
- Better chances of survival if blast/heat impacts your home
- Head to prepared shelters outside city
Evacuating requires an early warning and means of transport. Staying home is best if the attack is imminent and you cannot escape the impact zone. Having an underground bunker or shelter is ideal for remaining in place.
Choosing the Best Location at Home
If staying in your home during a nuclear attack, picking the right location can greatly improve your odds. Basements, cellars, or interior rooms on lower floors surrounded by thick walls provide the best protection. Avoid upper floors and exterior walls/windows which are vulnerable to damage.
Basement/Cellar
A basement or cellar is the best place to take shelter in most homes. The earth acts as an effective radiation shield. The more mass between you and the outdoors, the better. Get as deep below ground as possible.
Interior Rooms and Restrooms
If no basement is available, retreat to inner rooms and restrooms on the ground floor. Choose a room with no windows and thick walls/door if possible. Take cover in a cast iron or porcelain bathtub for added buffering.
Avoid Exterior Rooms
Stay clear of any rooms with exterior walls, windows, or flat roofs. Outer rooms are vulnerable to radiation exposure, blast damage, heat, and flying debris. Upper floors should also be avoided if lower floors are accessible.
How to Reinforce and Improve Shelter
For maximum protection during a nuclear blast, consider reinforcing and improving your shelter space. There are many options to strengthen the buffer between you and outside:
Add Shielding Material
Increase wall, floor, and roof thickness by stacking concrete blocks, bricks, books, or earth. Sandbags will help fortify windows and doors. The more dense material surrounding you, the better.
Build an Expedient Fallout Shelter
Use available materials to construct a small, shielded shelter within your home. A lean-to made of packed earth or bricks against an interior basement wall can provide life-saving separation.
Pre-Fab Shelters and Safe Rooms
Purpose-built shelters and safe rooms provide optimal protection. Options range from basic blast shelters to full luxury bunkers. Supply in advance for the long-term with provisions, water, medical supplies, and radiation detection.
Decontamination Area
Set up an area to remove contaminated clothing and wash. This will prevent tracking radiation into your shelter space. Have plastic sheeting, buckets, soap, and clean clothes/towels ready.
Top Locations Outside the Home
For those who can evacuate prior to an attack, ideal destinations are remote areas with dense geology. Get as far away as possible from likely ground zero targets. Favor hillsides, mountains, rocky terrain, and locations downwind.
Underground Parking Garages
Large underground parking garages, especially those made of concrete, provide excellent radiation shielding. Travel to the lowest garage level for maximum protection.
Subways and Tunnels
Subway tunnels deep underground are ideal shelters. Alcoves provide added blast shielding. Other transportation and utility tunnels also offer protection if accessed.
Sewers and Storm Drains
While not ideal for comfort, traveling deep into large sewer and storm drain pipes provides effective shelter from nuclear effects. Just be ready to deal with rats and waste.
Caves and Mines
Taking refuge deep inside a large hillside cave or mine complex has long provided protection from all types of attacks. Just be sure to move far from the entrance.
Remote Cabins
For those with the means, having a well-stocked and supplied cabin, lodge, or shack far removed from populated areas could make the difference between life and death.
Vehicles and Mobile Shelters
Vehicles provide portable shelters that allow fleeing a target zone, though they require preparation. Underground and mobile home parks also present options worth examining.
Cars and Trucks
A car or covered truck can offer temporary shelter to those trying to escape a blast area prior to detonation. Being inside a vehicle reduces radiation exposure compared to being outside.
Recreational Vehicles
RVs allow you to be self-contained and mobile. Flee the projected target zone as quickly as possible. Have food, water, and emergency shelter supplies ready to go.
Mobile Homes
These provide more living space but less mobility. Seek an established mobile home park with community shelters or head for open country.
Underground RV Parks
Some RV parks cater to those seeking underground protection. Take advantage of parking shelters carved into hillsides. Preferred spots fill up fast.
Nuclear Fallout and Radiation Concerns
A major threat after a nuclear detonation is radioactive fallout. Fine particulate matter gets sucked up in the mushroom cloud and distributed by winds before settling to earth. Avoiding this radiation is key.
Stay Tuned for Fallout Forecasts
Monitor emergency broadcasts to track expected fallout zones. Move perpendicular to wind direction. Rain can also bring particulates down rapidly, so seek quick shelter.
Limit Exposure Time
The less time spent exposed to fallout, the better. Have shelters ready to allow remaining for at least 48 hours if needed. Fallout radiation declines exponentially over time.
Remove Contaminated Clothing
Outerwear will be covered in radioactive dust and ash after passing through fallout. Remove carefully upon reaching shelter and seal in plastic bags. Shower/wash thoroughly if possible.
Potassium Iodide Pills
Take KI pills if told to do so by officials. This non-radioactive iodine protects the thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine-131 by saturating it, reducing cancer risks.
Psychological Preparation
The mental stresses of nuclear war, especially the disruption of normal life as we know it, cannot be underestimated. Proper psychological preparation is a key part of survival.
Practice Positive Thinking and Calming Rituals
Visualize yourself competently handling challenges. Meditate. Listen to uplifting music. Stay occupied to keep your mind off depressing thoughts. Maintain routines like showering and games.
Store Comfort Items and Entertainment
Keep favorite books, music, photos, toys for kids, etc. in your shelter. Familiar objects help relieve stress. Have crafts and activities to pass time meaningfully.
Stay Calm and Take Action
Panic and helplessness become self-fulfilling. Focus your mind on what you can control. Tackle survival tasks systematically. Celebrate accomplishments, no matter how small.
Maintain Social Bonds
In dire times we need human connection most. Cooperate, talk, play, and mourn losses together. Be empathetic – everyone will process this trauma differently.
Post-Detonation Survival Concerns
After initially surviving a nearby nuclear blast, continued precautions and preparation will be necessary for long-term survival in the aftermath and ruins.
Escape Secondary Fires
Nuclear explosions can ignite widespread secondary fires via thermal pulses. If not adequately sheltered, evacuate urban/forest areas prone to firestorms spreading out of control.
Beware Residual Radiation
Fallout zones will remain dangerously radioactive for a long time. Have Geiger counters and protective clothing. Avoid water/food from contaminated areas.
Stockpile Food/Water
Growing and transporting food will be impaired after a nuclear war. Store at least a 3 month supply of non-perishables and water if possible. Be prepared to forage.
Have Backup Power
Expect extended blackouts in the electrical grid. Solar cells, generators, fuel cells can provide vital electricity. Maintain batteries for essential electronics.
Treat Injuries
Nuclear blasts cause various trauma from burns to blindness. Keep a well-stocked first aid kit. Learn basic medicine and self-care techniques.
Defend Against Chaos
Desperate people may turn violent. Be wary of other survivors. Set up security systems if staying long-term in your shelter location.
Conclusion
Surviving a nuclear war will require planning, preparation, and quick thinking. Choose a well-protected shelter location in advance, ideally underground and away from likely targets. Gather necessary provisions and fortify your shelter. During an attack, take immediate cover and remain sheltered until radiation levels decline outside. With informed decisions before and after a blast, your chances of surviving this nightmare scenario can be greatly increased.