The Threat of a Nuclear Crisis Is a Harsh Reality We Can No Longer Ignore: The Time to Prepare Is Not After a Nuclear Disaster—It’s Today

The threat of a nuclear crisis is a harsh reality that we can no longer ignore. The world is becoming increasingly volatile, and the risk of a nuclear conflict is higher than ever before. Russia’s recent experimental medium-range ballistic missile tests against Ukraine, and the subsequent threat of a “decisive and symmetrical” response, have sent shockwaves around the globe. The speed and accuracy of these missiles, which can travel at speeds of over Mach 11, have left many wondering if we are on the brink of a new era of nuclear warfare.

The consequences of a nuclear crisis would be catastrophic. The devastating effects of radiation, the destruction of infrastructure, and the loss of life would be unprecedented. The economic and social impact would be felt for generations to come. It’s not just the immediate blast that we need to worry about, but also the long-term effects of radiation poisoning, the displacement of people, and the breakdown of society. The thought of such a disaster is terrifying, but it’s essential that we prepare for the worst-case scenario.

Despite the gravity of the situation, many of us are not prepared for a nuclear crisis. We may think that it’s unlikely to happen or that we’ll be able to evacuate in time. But the reality is that a nuclear crisis can happen at any moment, and we need to be prepared. In this article, we’ll outline the 10 essential steps you need to take to prepare for a nuclear crisis. From knowing where the nuclear shelters are in your area to building a radiation detector, we’ll cover everything you need to know to survive a nuclear disaster.

Know Where the Nuclear Shelters Are in Your Area
One of the first things you should do is find out where the local blast shelters and fallout shelters are located. You can try doing a web search for this information in relation to your local area and also ask at your town or city clerk’s office.

Since the United States has become remarkably lax in this area, you may not get any viable answers.

If you find that you cannot get the address and information on a viable nuclear shelter, then start looking around for places that might make a viable shelter in a time of need. Old brick churches, schools, or other sturdy buildings with solid basements might be of some use.

Do not overlook underground parking garages or other places where you can put a lot of heavy material between you and the radiation. If you find a viable place, but no plans have been made to store water, food, and other supplies, now might be a good time to approach the owner and get some volunteer efforts going in that direction.

Given the current state of the news, you may find people are more amenable to these ideas than they would have been even a year ago.

Have a Plan for Getting Underground and Test It

It is often said that most people living in a city will be doomed if a nuclear bomb is detonated. On the other hand, if the city buildings survive, there is every chance the lower and underground levels of the buildings may be suitable for a fallout shelter.

Therefore, if you live in a city, locate at least five buildings with basements that you can get into quickly in a time of need. Try to space out the buildings so that you can get to them in under five minutes on foot.

If you have to approach a building owner or superintendent to make these arrangements, do not forget to add extra supplies. Unfortunately, people can become very untrustworthy in a time of need; however, you may still find others who will honor their agreements.

No matter whether you live in a rural area or a location in the city where you can dig into the ground, build a small fallout shelter that you can reach in a matter of minutes. There are several resources online that you can use for starter plans to build everything from a foxhole design to larger ones.

When building your shelter, you must make sure you have at least 3 feet (6–7 feet is better if you can manage it) of well-packed soil around you and above you. Just remember to make sure there is also enough room in the shelter to store at least 5 days of water, food, and anything you may decide to take along to another area.

If you are looking to build the shelter in less than 24 hours, you can also add a vent shaft; however, the air will need to be pulled in through a MIRV 16 filter or better to remove as much radioactive dust as possible.

Be Able to Calculate When and Where to Go

As soon as you find out there has been a nuclear blast and that you are in the radiation zone, get underground or put as much material as possible between you and the blast site. When you find the safest possible shelter, you’ll need to stay there for about 5 days.

When it comes to short-term, fast prepping for a nuclear disaster, you will find the time after this much more challenging. Even though the most immediate threats from heavy doses of radiation will be over, you must still contend with all the contaminated things in your area. This includes food, water, tools, and anything else that would normally be of use in a time of need.

Insofar as where to go after emerging from your blast/fallout shelter, it will depend largely on where the blast occurred and what else is going on in surrounding areas.

If you are dealing with a single nuclear power plant, you must know where the radioactive fallout is most likely to be carried by wind and water currents. Heading away from the projected fallout zone will be your best bet.

Make sure you know where all the nuclear power plants are within a 500-mile radius of your locality. Some college campuses also have nuclear reactors for research purposes, so make sure that you know where those are in case they also get hacked.

Listen to the radio and find out what other areas are contaminated so that you have a better chance of picking a safe area. Take geographic features such as mountains and fresh water resources into consideration when deciding where you will go.

At the current time, relatively few analysts think that North Korea has a vehicle capable of reaching the eastern areas of the United States. Most also think North Korea has not yet developed a MIRV device, so it is likely you will be dealing with a single detonation as opposed to a localized pattern.

On the other hand, a strike far enough into the West Coast can still bring a lot of radiation to the eastern areas in a matter of a day or two. It is important to know how to get to the mountains or other areas where air and water currents from the west will be mainly blocked out.

Prepare for Radiation Sickness

You can start preparing for radiation sickness by having potassium iodide tablets on hand. Even though you will not need them until a nuclear event happens, it is still important to have them readily available. If you live close enough to a nuclear power plant, they may give them out for free if you ask for them.

There are also some vitamins (E and C) that can help reduce the effects of nuclear radiation; however, they are best taken beforehand. Do not take more than the recommended amounts of these vitamins as some can be poisonous if you take too much.

See our articles on foods and vitamins for prepping to identify what you need to be consuming now, as well as which foods are best to store. Fortunately, the most useful vitamins for nuclear prepping can be found in a good-quality multivitamin.

Just make sure that you include a new bottle in your food cache so that you have an uncontaminated supply at your shelter location.

Overall, treatment for radiation sickness will entail managing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, cough, and bleeding. To keep things as simple as possible, buy extra OTC medications you use for the most common symptoms and keep them in your shelter area. This includes any herbal remedies that you may already have experience with.

There are also some medications you can use to remove radiation from your body if you become exposed to it. The cheapest and easiest to obtain will be activated carbon capsules and zeolite capsules. When using zeolites, bear in mind that they can be carcinogenic. Try not to use zeolites for a prolonged period.

Build a Radiation Detector

The fastest and cheapest way to build a radiation detector is to follow the designs for a Kearny Fallout Meter.

Try to build at least three or four of them, and place them in different areas. Once you know how to read the meters, it will be easier to determine when radiation levels are elevated in your area.

If you have some extra money, you can also buy a device that will attach to your cell phone to function as a Geiger counter.

Secure a 5-Day Food Supply

One of the most important things you can do is store away at least five days’ worth of food. Stick to canned, dried, or powdered foods that do not require heating.

At least half of your food choices should be items that will shield your body from radiation or remove it from your system. It may also help to store away a few MREs for more balance. Sadly, I would not necessarily recommend putting food in a bug-out bag, as it will get contaminated by radiation while you are moving to a place of safety.

Store your foods in your fallout shelter, and the remainder under at least 6 feet of dirt, then retrieve them when it is safe to do so.

Water Cleaning During a Nuclear Disaster

The cheapest way to remove nuclear radiation from water is to use uncontaminated dirt. Zeolites and activated carbon will also remove some radiation. Later on, when you emerge from your shelter, the best thing you can do is distill the water.

Although distillation will not remove tritium, it will still eliminate other nuclear contaminants. It is crucial to have a 5-day supply of bottled water in your fallout shelter.

The plastic bottles will shield the water from radiation. Be sure to thoroughly wipe any dust off the bottles to avoid contaminating the water with fallout that may have entered the shelter.

Secure Decontamination and Hygiene Essentials

With the exception of gamma radiation, most other forms of radiation will be trapped by your clothes. Therefore, it is critical to have a change of clothes in your shelter.

The most effective decontamination method is a long shower using lye soap and scrubbing thoroughly. Since it is unlikely that you will have access to an underground plumbing system within a day, ensure that your skin and hair remain covered as much as possible with white fabric.

Pack a bandana or scarf (preferably made of sari cloth, as it can double as a water filter) that you can quickly slip over your nose and mouth to block radioactive dust. Even weaker alpha and beta radiation particles can cause significant harm if inhaled or ingested.

For hygiene, store wet wipes and other items for keeping clean without relying on water. It is also important to have sealable bags for waste, such as urine and feces. Dispose of these in a separate tunnel or sealed area away from your living quarters.

Avoid placing waste above ground, as this could expose you to detection or radiation. Emerging from the shelter to dispose of waste could also increase your exposure risk.

Be Ready to Defend Yourself

If you own a firearm and ammunition, you will have a better chance of defending yourself. However, it is equally important to stockpile other weapons, such as knives, and practice basic self-defense techniques. Spend at least 15 minutes daily on situational awareness and defense skills.

Depending on the severity of the nuclear event and your location, you may encounter desperate individuals searching for food, water, and medicine. Even those severely affected by radiation sickness may attempt to break into your shelter.

To protect yourself, camouflage your shelter entrance to prevent detection. If you have neighbors, consider working on your shelter at night or during times when you are unlikely to be observed.

Communications and Gathering Information

Electronics, including phones and radios, are highly susceptible to damage from electromagnetic pulses (EMPs). To safeguard these devices, store them in EMP-proof bags.

Keep an unlocked smartphone, mobile SIM card, and backup files in your shelter. Even without internet or cell service, a smartphone can store vital information, such as downloaded PDFs, maps, and offline videos.

Additionally, have an AM/FM radio to receive news and updates. Place transistor or IC-based radios in EMP-proof bags along with solar battery chargers and rechargeable batteries. While solar charging may not be viable during the first five days of a nuclear disaster, it will be essential once you emerge from your shelter.

If a crank radio is too expensive, learn to build a foxhole radio or simple transmitter using basic materials.

Final Thoughts

These steps are just the beginning of nuclear crisis preparedness. While they focus on surviving the initial days following a nuclear disaster, they provide a foundation for longer-term survival and recovery.

The reality of a nuclear crisis is terrifying, but preparation is key. By taking these precautions, you increase your chances of protecting yourself and your loved ones. Act now while resources are available, and remain vigilant as global tensions continue to rise.

The time to prepare is not after a nuclear disaster—it’s today.