Menu
Nuclear survival
In the eventuality of an attack utilizing nuclear weapons, everyone should know minimum basic planning, action, and reaction, necessary to reduce harm to self, family, and neighbors.
Nuclear bursts have the following basic factors associated with a detonation:
a) Primary radiation: Gamma‚ energy radiation, traveling at the speed of light, much like X-ray, which violently disrupts,‚ and heats (microwaves) body tissue. If you can see the burst, you have been radiated. You will suffer some degree of damage; anywhere from a mild sun-burn, unto death, depending on the amount of radiation received during the burst; which is determined, primarily by the bomb size, and distance from the burst.‚ If you know it is coming, gamma radiation can be minimized by placing as much material‚ as possible between self and the burst. Dirt is the best material available. The best source of safety would be a storm cellar, keeping oneself as low as possible.
b) Secondary radiation: (Alpha and Beta‚ energy is emitted by anything (wood, metal, dirt, rock, food, water, etc) contaminated by the fire ball. Fall-out‚ is partly destroyed particles from the blast zone, heavily irradiated, lifted into the atmosphere, carried by the wind, and drops to earth. The ionizing (dangerous) affectation radiates only a short distance from the actual particle, so must be very close to the skin, or inside, your body, to greatly damage tissue. Ingestion is by far the most hazardous to tissue. Filter the air you breathe, as well as you can (gas-mask, filter-mask, or a clean cloth mask). Do not eat or drink anything that may be contaminated. Wash off, thoroughly, food cans, or sealed packages, before opening. Wash your skin, and cover your body as thoroughly as possible.
c) Shock damage: Burst pressure moves the atmosphere away from the blast so fast it causes the atmosphere to almost be a solid material. Expect a two facet shock (air moving up to 400+ mph), initial pressure away from the blast, followed by an almost equal return pressure, as the atmosphere collapses back to the blast area. Buildings, vegetation, and anything not tied down (cars, bikes, furniture, etc.) become missiles, and are extremely dangerous (a pencil flying at hundreds of miles per hour is deadly).
d) Heat damage: The closer one is to the blast, the more heat is dangerous. People, as well as wood become combustible, considering the blast having a temperature close to the Sun.‚
e) Seismographic damage: The quaking of the earth, caused by the blast, weakens buildings, to a point of potential collapse, especially when conjoined with Pressure damage.‚ Use tornado savvy‚ to protect from this hazard.
f) Social damage (this writer‚s personal insertion): This may be the hardest to comprehend, and live with, due to the Anarchy‚ that will probably prevail, after you survive. Items of survivability, things you may have amassed to survive with, will soon become coveted items by those who did not prepare for survival. Your Christian attitudes and beliefs will be tested to the maximum when involved with Social damage.‚
There are four basic types of burst: High-altitude: paralyze/kill everything electronic; Air: does most blast and primary (Gamma) radiation damage; Surface: less distance to destruction, but more secondary (Alpha and Beta) ionization; and Subsurface: seldom used in warfare.
Special note: Do Not stare at, or look in the direction of any visible Fire Ball,‚ as the Gamma radiation can and will blind you if viewed for more than a moment!
Types of bursts:
1. The High-altitude burst is primarily utilized for Gamma‚ radiation; and for (Electro-magnetic pulse‚ emission of energy, rendering electronic high-tech equipment unusable. It renders unusable: anything using electricity (auto ignitions, computers, televisions, radios, and so on), making them useless. The main hazard to the human body is Gamma radiation, which is next to impossible for the average person to protect from. Items: a and f (above), apply.
2. The Air burst is the most destructive of all four types. It emits Gamma radiation from the initial burst. It creates a tremendous heat and shock wave by forcing the atmosphere away from the blast, at super-sonic speed, and ionizes material sucked into the fire ball. Items: a through f (above), apply.
3. The Surface burst, covers less area than the Air burst, but the secondary radiation damage is far greater. The blast area will be contaminated, and unlivable, for years to come with copious quantities of Secondary radiation material contaminating the area, and swept by the wind to other downwind areas. Items: a through f, apply.
4. The Sub-surface burst affect is primarily seismic, causing earth shift, and unless the blast breaks surface, emits minimal Secondary radiated particulate. The Sub-surface blast would primarily be used to generate earth quakes, or destroy sub-surface facilities. This burst is the least dangerous in most areas. Items: e and possibly b (above) apply.
Items of primary concern, needed to survive any nuclear burst:
Water: Keep a refreshable‚ supply on hand. Consider placing extra storage tanks ahead of your water heater, so the tank water is always refreshed. This is the most important item to have for survival (There is no such thing as too much good water).
Food: Keep on hand a supply of nutritional canned goods. Frozen goods will spoil should electricity be lost, and probably will be.
Clothing: Dust resistant, full body covering clothing (rain gear, thick cloth attire, gloves, goggles, hats, etc). Some type of breathing protection is a must-have‚ item.
Bedding: Warm bedding (sleeping bags, quilts, etc.
Personal protection: Some type of firearm (shotgun is the most versatile), to protect self, family, and less capable, from those who would take your life for what you have.
Barter items: Money will have little value, but, water, canned food, salt, and first-aid items (Aspirin, Iodine, salve, etc) will be the most in demand.
This is a very short article for surviving a Nuclear burst, whether intentional, or accidental.
You might expect assistance in the case of an accidental burst, but, probably no government help in an all-out nuclear exchange; and then, only if you survive until help arrives.
The basics, of the above information, are also valuable for most natural‚ disasters.
Remember always: Panic and ignorance are more deadly than a nuclear burst. Knowledge, about what to do to survive, dramatically enhances survivability, even from a nuclear blast.
A closing thought: Christians‚ plan, not only for self, but others they can help.
Shalom in Christ