Disaster Preparedness

[Paper Hearts]

From the good folks at www.ready.gov

Nuclear Blast

A nuclear blast is an explosion with intense light and

heat, a damaging pressure wave and widespread radioactive material that

can contaminate the air, water and ground surfaces for miles around.

While experts may predict at this time that a nuclear attack is less likely

than others, terrorism by its nature is unpredictable. If there is a flash or

fireball, take cover immediately, below ground if possible, though any

shield or shelter will help protect you from the immediate effects of the

blast and the pressure wave. In order to limit the amount of radiation you

are exposed to, think about shielding, distance and time. If you have a

thick shield between yourself and the radioactive materials, it will absorb

more of the radiation and you will be exposed to less. Similarly, the farther

away you are from the blast and the fallout, the lower your exposure.

Finally, minimizing time spent exposed will also reduce your risk.

***

Okay, let me make sure I have this straight:

If I see a fireball (!!!) I should try to dig my ass a hole real quick. Remembering shielding, distance and time, if I can't claw my way into the Earth within about a second or so I should get behind a nearby tree. I should NOT attempt to enter the exact spot where the missle has struck no matter how funny I think it would look to other people...and as soon my molecules have finished melding with that of the tree that I was behind, I should return home and have a good shower.

[BrassFusion]

Also, make SURE not to get in your car to drive radially away from ground zero, because that's what everyone else will be doing, and you don't want to die like a loser in your car, do you? Leave on foot, and don't stop to gather supplies or equipment. Equipment can be obtained by looting, and food can be obtained by eating children that don't look radiated. Also, since the groundwater may have been contaminated, drink their blood, too.

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Actually. Cars are really bad. Once radiated they act like microwave ovens. Say your in an area that was radiated just enough to make it unsafe to stay in for any length of time... the cars will kill you within about a half hour of getting in.

[HipsterDufus]

...food can be obtained by eating children that don't look radiated. Also, since the groundwater may have been contaminated, drink their blood, too.

Now THAT is gourmet.

[BrassFusion]

Now THAT is gourmet.

I wasn't talking to you. You, who is not fulfilling his responsibility of making sure we have enough children to eat when the nuclear apocalypse happens.

Barstid.

[Anathema]

somewhere i have this video tape with stuff from the 50's/60's about atomic bombs and what to do if one hits. there's this cartoon turtle in a school showing kids what to do. it's rather disturbing as he sings and what not. does hiding under a desk really do much if your hit with an a-bomb? that's what i want to know!!

[Msterbeau]

In the fifties, "Duck and Cover" was their idea of surviving. I think I'll try that first.

As for cars... their electronics will be dead from EMP. Unless you have something pre-ww2 or so.

[Onyx]

When I was in elementary school, (back in the dark ages), we had to watch films about such things. After the film they would have a drill where we would bend down and put our heads between our knees and under our desk. The teacher would always say the same thing - "now children, put your heads under your desk between your knees"

and a few of us would whisper 'and kiss your ass goodbye".

[Scary Guy]

I remember an early South Park epsidoe had that "duck and cover" for a lava disaster.

http://www.cddc.vt.edu/host/atomic/civildef/duckncvr.html for that movie

http://www.clayloomis.com/acafe.html a shit load of wav files with original speaches and propaganda about nuclear things.

Ideal conditions would be to have a bunker about 6 miles down shielded entirely out of lead since that absorbs all types of radiation (alpha and beta are bad if exposed long enough. Older smoke detectors and probably some still used today use a small radioactive alpha particle and a sensor so when the radiation is obstructed by smoke it goes off, gamma will kill you given enough time, and instantly in some cases).

Most older structures have atomic bunkers (somewhat) like I know the library in royal oak has one as it has the symbol on the building

Theoretically cars would stop too along with all other electronics, so you'd all be walking anyway.

Good movies to see are:

The Day After http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085404

Fail-Safe http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058083

and just for fun

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057012

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Hey Marc... you mean pre-1980's. Batterys are immune to EMP.. mostly. as is most of the wiring... well.. not immune... but batteis create thier own free electrons.. so the "recover" pretty fast from an EMP. Then all that is left is getting free electrons back in the wires... which happens as soon as the battery creates them and you turn the key. All you need is a non-computer controlled car. Which most are pre-1984.

As a side note... Vacum tubes are immune too. So radios and such from the 70s back would still work.

The car is still going to be a microwave oven.. but it will run within a week or so of the explosion. Also... if it's a stick... it will run that day as long as you push it to get it started. Diesils will also run the same day.

The thing is... If your in the blast area... your dead anyway. The shock wave, the heat wave and the radiation waves get first crack at you. Then the return shock wave has a go at you. My high school senior project was a study on moderen nuclear weapons and surviability (growing up in the cold war was weird). If Stratigic Nukes are used... ever... we are fucked. Say a 100 megaton bomb... like the CIA says Russia still has aimed at Detriot.... 500 mile same day kill zone. That means most of Michigan, Chicago, a good portion of Canada... ohio and Indiana... all dead within 24 hours. within 200 miles... dead within 30 minutes to an hour from Radiation (go me!)... within 100 miles... dead within seconds from the Blastwave. within 50 miles... instant Death and most likely vaporized.

[Paper Hearts]

A: "Oh look! Is that a fireball, over there?"

B: "Do you mean that one which seems destroying everything for miles around?"

A: "Why, yes, that's the one."

B: "Well, it's a good thing we've come prepared."

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Something else... most people dont know that Stratigic Nukes are the only ones that are against International law to use...

[HipsterDufus]

I wasn't talking to you. You, who is not fulfilling his responsibility of making sure we have enough children to eat when the nuclear apocalypse happens.

Barstid.

Something tells me that other peoples' children would be far more satisfying.

"I want my baby-back, baby-back, baby-back..."

[BrassFusion]

Something tells me that other peoples' children would be far more satisfying.

"I want my baby-back, baby-back, baby-back..."

you get the gold star for sending me into a fit of sadistic hysterics.

[Hellion]

:devil I'd rather just be vaporized,why suffer radiation sickness,(slow painful death)

The planet would be contamited for centuries,IMO.

[Scary Guy]

:devil I'd rather just be vaporized,why suffer radiation sickness,(slow painful death)

The planet would be contamited for centuries,IMO.

Yeah I think they have a name for that....

nuclear winter