We found out that in the event of a nuclear war, we, firstly, will not have time to warn about a nuclear strike, and, secondly, we will not have time to run to shelters. Ballistic missiles have such a short flight time that they do not allow any effective protective measures to be taken.
However, the question remains: what should we do? On this subject, I will state my thoughts, which, perhaps, are fundamentally different from everything that is written on this subject in manuals, recommendations and other legal documents on civil defense.
The most important point, which makes all these recommendations unusable, is that a nuclear attack on a civilian population will most certainly be sudden in the most literal sense of the word. The fact is that before the explosion of a warhead delivered by a ballistic missile, there are no sounds warning of danger. There is no roar of bombers, no howl of a falling bomb or the whistle of a shell, the sounds that usually warn of the beginning of a bombardment or shelling, give a chance to take cover. A greenish orb in the sky unfolds silently. This, by the way, is clearly seen in the footage of filming nuclear tests.
Processed frame from the chronicle of the Grable nuclear artillery shell test on May 25, 1953. The flash of a nuclear explosion initially has a greenish tint.
The hum occurs some time later, when the shock wave approaches. During this time, all those who were in the "burn radius" (the radius at which light radiation causes severe burns) and stood in an open area already have time to get severe burns or even die.
For an observer who does not see the light sphere of the explosion and does not fall under its rays (for example, is located indoors or under the cover of a house, in its shadow), the light flash will obviously look most like a very strong and close bluish-red lightning bolt. shade. Only the lightning is unusual, arising without a thunderstorm and not accompanied by immediate thunder. If you saw this, it means that you have already fallen under a nuclear explosion, grabbed a dose of penetrating radiation, and you have very little time to hide from the shock wave.
Three important consequences follow from this circumstance. First, you are protected from a nuclear explosion by what you are wearing. Secondly, survival and the degree of injury received depends on where you are and what position you occupy in relation to a nuclear explosion. Thirdly, you can only use what is directly with you.
Favorable location
Let's start with the second point, which requires some explanation. It is known that the probability of death and injury in a nuclear explosion depends on the location in relation to the epicenter. That is, whether you are far or close to it, whether there are any buildings and structures that can protect against light radiation and shock waves.
This factor, combined with the suddenness of a nuclear explosion, gives survival under a nuclear attack the character of a lottery: who is as lucky. If someone caught a nuclear explosion in a zone of severe destruction and a "burn radius", in an open place, for example, on the street, he will die. But if such a person, just before the explosion, turns the corner and finds himself under the protection of the building, then he will most likely survive and may not even get seriously injured. The repeatedly mentioned Japanese corporal Yasuo Kuwahara survived about 800 meters from the epicenter of a nuclear explosion because he was behind a large reinforced concrete fire tank. He was pulled out from under the rubble by soldiers who found themselves at the time of the explosion in a solid reinforced concrete building of a military hospital.
Who will live and who will die in a nuclear explosion? This largely determines the random confluence of factors. But still, you can slightly increase the chances if you roughly determine the most likely place of the explosion, the danger zone and your position in it.
Where will a nuclear warhead explode? Only an approximate answer can be given to this question, since the exact plans for a nuclear war and the coordinates of the targets are secret. But still: what will be affected in the event of a nuclear war?
The nuclear powers, primarily Russia and the United States, declare a counterforce strategy for nuclear strikes, that is, they declare that nuclear warheads are aimed at military facilities, launch silos, missile positions, and so on. However, if we analyze the logically possible course of a nuclear war, this will have to be doubted. Firstly, a successful counterforce strike is possible only with an absolutely sudden attack. But there will be no sudden strike, since the launch of the missiles will be detected by satellites and radars of the missile attack warning system. The attacked side still has enough time to launch its missiles, that is, to make a retaliatory strike.
So, the attacking side knows that the attacked side will detect the launch of missiles and fire back even before its missile positions are destroyed. That is, the blow will fall on mines and installations that have already fired their missiles. Their defeat in this case is meaningless, ammunition will be wasted. Accordingly, the attacked side also faces a situation where its enemy has already fired its missiles, and defeating their starting positions is also pointless. A retaliatory strike must have some other target list to be effective. So the counterforce strategy under the present conditions is ineffective and, apparently, exists more to intimidate the enemy.
It follows from this, if we proceed from the desire of both sides for the most effective nuclear strike, that initially most missiles are not aimed at enemy missile positions. Some of them may be intended to destroy command centers, large air and naval bases, but there are relatively few such targets. The damage must be done as much as possible. In general, in my opinion, nuclear warheads are aimed at objects of the fuel and energy complex: large thermal and nuclear power plants, oil and gas chemical plants, large power grid nodes, oil and gas pipeline nodes. Almost all of these objects are easily hit by a nuclear weapon, most of them burn well, and their destruction inflicts a tipping blow on the entire economic and transport system, and it will take several months to restore the energy system at least partially.
Some of these facilities are located in or near cities. Based on this, it is not difficult to determine the most threatened zones. It is enough to take a fairly detailed map, for example, a Yandex map, find your home or place of work on it, as well as the nearest large power plant, and measure the distance. If the place where you are constantly or regularly staying for more or less of a day is less than 2 km from the likely target (the radius at which the shock wave inflicts fatal injuries is about 2000 meters for a 400-kiloton charge), then you have there are reasons for concern. If the location is within 2 to 7 km of your likely target, you are more likely to survive, but may be injured, wounded, or burned, with the odds becoming minimal beyond 5 km. Your location over 7 km from the nearest likely target indicates that you are not in danger. Even if the warhead deviates from the aiming point, neither light radiation, nor shock wave, nor penetrating radiation can reach you.
A little favorite pastime of nuclear militarists - drawing the circles of the affected areas on satellite images: solely to illustrate the above thesis.
Situation. Target - Konakovskaya GRES (at the top of the diagram). The aiming point is the machine room of the state district power station. Distances of 2 km are laid off from it in the direction of the city of Konakovo - a zone of severe destruction and fatal injuries, and 7 km - the border of a completely safe zone (at the bottom of the diagram). The quarters of the city are perfectly visible in the picture, and it can be seen that only a small part of residential development in the northernmost part of the city falls into the danger zone outlined in red circles.
If the deflection of the warhead is to the south, then the zone of severe destruction in the city will be larger. If the deviation is to the north, west or east, in general to the north of the target, then the city can only get off with broken windows.
In general, it is necessary to demand from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation or the Ministry of Units of the Russian Federation to draw up detailed diagrams of the most threatened parts and areas of settlements and cities. This would greatly simplify the process of preparing for survival in the event of a nuclear strike. But such an assessment can be done on an individual basis, since the necessary electronic cards are freely available.
Due to this circumstance, everything that will be said below applies to those who are often and for a long time in the most threatened zone, which is two radii from the probable epicenter: up to 2 km - a zone of severe danger, from 2 to 5 km - a zone of medium danger.
Home is a refuge
The suddenness of a nuclear explosion leaves no chance to run to the shelter. But this does not mean that people in dangerous areas are completely defenseless. Even from the experience of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it is known that being in solid reinforced concrete buildings is much better than in open areas. A solid building completely protects against light radiation (with the exception of some areas irradiated through windows), and also protects well from the shock wave. The house will, of course, collapse, but unevenly. The facade of the building facing the epicenter of the nuclear explosion will suffer the most, while the side and back facades will suffer little, mainly from the shock wave flowing around the building. However, if there are other buildings, structures or trees in front of the facade facing the epicenter, then the shock wave will be greatly weakened and this will give chances for survival.
Rooms with windows overlooking the direction of a probable nuclear explosion can be somewhat strengthened. First, stick transparent film or tapes of transparent film on the glass so that the shock wave squeezes them out whole, and does not break them into fragments. Secondly, hang a thick white cotton curtain. A number of tests have shown that white fabric is a good protection against light radiation. You can paint the windows white. Thirdly, the safest place in such a room is lying under the window opening, standing or sitting in the wall between the window openings. The wall will protect from light radiation, the shock wave will pass above or to the side. You can be seriously injured by shrapnel, debris, and the shock wave reflected from the walls of the room, but the chances of survival are slightly increased.
For rooms with windows facing the opposite side from the epicenter of a probable explosion, the greatest threat is glass fragments broken by a flowing or reflected shock wave. They can also be reinforced with transparent film.
Will the house collapse under the impact of the shock wave? Perhaps, but it all depends on the design of the house and the strength of the concrete. Through the efforts of the party and the government, the main buildings in Russian cities are reinforced concrete, the most resistant to a nuclear explosion. The most durable and stable houses are block and monolithic.
Block reinforced concrete house of the II-18 series, one of the most durable and difficult to destroy. If your house is like this, then you are the safest in a nuclear explosion.
True, modern monolithic houses, as a rule, have weak enclosing walls, which, most likely, will be pressed inward by a shock wave. Through skyscrapers with glass walls, the shock wave can pass through, throwing all the contents out. These buildings are the most dangerous. The most common panel houses, of course, will be destroyed, but first of all on the side that faces the epicenter of a probable nuclear explosion. But, unlike gas or bomb explosions inside the premises, leading to the destruction of entire entrances, the force of the shock wave will be applied from the outside, and the structures of the house will work in compression. It all depends on the strength of the concrete. If it is strong, then the destruction can be limited to the fact that the external enclosing plates fall off the house, stairwells and elevator shafts can be destroyed. Thus, people on the lower floors may be trapped in the rubble, and people on the upper floors will not be able to come down.
It seems that the recommendations for survival in a nuclear strike will be generally similar to the recommendations for survival in earthquakes (a house during the passage of a shock wave and during an earthquake will experience similar loads), with the difference that during a nuclear explosion it is safer to be inside the building. For this reason, a nighttime nuclear attack will be much less effective than a daytime one, since at night the vast majority of the population is in their homes, protected by reinforced concrete structures.
What to wear and what to have in your pockets
Survival in a nuclear explosion also depends on what you are wearing. This is in case you had to catch a nuclear explosion in the open. Thick, light-colored cotton clothing is best protected from light radiation (tests have shown that light-colored cotton fabric lights up much more slowly than dark or black). Jeans and a denim jacket are fine. Woolen fabric protects very well from the heat of light radiation. Not bad will protect the usual winter clothes, thick and little heat-conducting. Worst of all - light dark synthetic fabrics. Synthetics exposed to light will either flare or melt, causing severe and very painful burns. So in a period when the likelihood of nuclear war increases, it is better to change the wardrobe of outer and street clothes.
Clothing should be selected so that there are as few uncovered parts of the body as possible. Then the probability of getting extensive burns, wounds and skin cuts is sharply reduced. It can be uncomfortable and hot in the summer, but you don't want pictures of your burns to be shown at exhibitions about the horrors of nuclear war.
In the instructions for civil defense, it is recommended to wear a gas mask after a nuclear explosion. And this is written even in modern recommendations. This begs the question to the authors of such works: why don't you leave the house without a gas mask on your side, and your native GP-5 is always with you? The absurdity of this recommendation is obvious. The suddenness of a nuclear explosion virtually eliminates the possibility of having gas masks, respirators, special fabric masks and similar protective equipment at hand.
GP-5 is a good thing, but we don't carry it with us every day.
But this does not mean that you cannot always have protective equipment with you so as not to swallow radioactive dust. Wet wipes (usually made of viscose non-woven fabric) and medical masks, which were absent in Soviet times, have now appeared on wide sale. It is quite possible to always have a small package of wet wipes and 3-4 medical masks with you in your pockets. After the shock wave has passed, you can wipe your face and hands from radioactive dust with wet wipes and put on a medical mask that filters dust well. To leave the area of a nuclear explosion, its capabilities are quite enough. If there is no mask, then a damp cloth can be pressed to the nose and mouth. Napkins and medical masks are a simple and cheap tool that is available to everyone and everyone, which you can always carry with you.
Thus, personal survival under a nuclear attack is quite possible. Although it is in the nature of a lottery, and someone may be very unlucky, the following principles nevertheless apply.
First, when in the danger zone of a possible nuclear explosion, it is safer to be in a building than on the street. On the street, it is safer to be not in an open place, but near buildings and structures, so that they block you from the direction of a probable nuclear explosion. Secondly, it is safer to wear clothes made of low-flammable light materials (cotton or woolen fabrics) that leave a minimum of exposed parts of the body. Thirdly, it is better to always have a bag of wet wipes and a few medical masks with you to protect yourself from radioactive dust.
It slammed, but you remained on your feet and were not seriously injured. Where to go? The two most viable options. The first is the nearest large hospital, if it is nearby and the road to it is known. The second is to go to the nearest major highway or main street and wait for help. First of all, rescuers will appear there, on large streets and roads not blocked by rubble.
72 hours after a nuclear disaster
Part one, traditional (introductory)
After reading the feature articles previously published on VO (“Nuclear fears, imaginary and real”, “Useless civil defense”, “Personal survival in a nuclear war”), the author came to the conclusion that these publications do not contain details on how to save themselves from ionizing radiation.
In a rush to strengthen civil security, I will try to fill this gap without much straining the reader with highly specialized terminology. Knowledge is a force that helps in the fight against phobias and a potential adversary.
I propose to proceed from the assumption that in the event of a nuclear catastrophe (whether local or global, peaceful atom or military), rescuers and the military will deal with anyone, but not you. Just compare how many of you (civilians) and how many of them. The rescue of drowning people is known whose business.
From the author's point of view, it is not a nuclear war that is more likely, but a global lightning strike with conventional cruise missiles, including against electric power generation facilities, including nuclear power plants. On the other hand, an accident at a nuclear power plant is possible "in the order of current operation" and can be caused by a wide range of reasons - from low qualification of personnel to deterioration of infrastructure. In favor of the latter, it should be remembered that the "emergency" units of the Fukushima NPP had been in operation since the 70s and either had already exhausted their resource by the time of the earthquake, or were close to this due to the "fatigue" of the structures. Recently, the extension of the service life of a number of nuclear power units took place in our country, the REA concern received the appropriate expert opinions - naturally, after a thorough examination, but this is another story.
Part two, boring but necessary (materiel)
The explosion of a nuclear weapon (especially one that fell on a nuclear power plant) is accompanied by a powerful burst of ionizing (capable of destroying biological tissues and the normal state of their constituent elements) radiation, the peak of which falls at the very moment of the explosion.
Different types of ionizing radiation have different penetrating power. For example, alpha radiation is unable to penetrate the skin deeper than a millimeter, so prolonged contact with an alpha emitter can only cause a radiation burn. Gamma radiation passes through a person "through" and can damage the structure of DNA.
A day after the explosion, the radioactivity in its place will decrease by almost a million times due to the rapid decay of short-lived products of a nuclear reaction. The radiation level is determined by the dosimeter in strict accordance with the instruction manual.
Atmospheric transfer of radioactivity by wind leads to noticeable radioactive fallout at a distance of several hundred kilometers, but the main (primary) fallout is observed mainly in the 10-kilometer zone from the explosion site.
Specific radionuclides tend to accumulate in specific organs, behaving chemically like their natural, non-radioactive counterparts. Radioactive iodine accumulates in the thyroid gland, cesium - in the kidneys, plutonium - in the genitals, strontium - in the bones, etc. This property of radionuclides can be used for drug replacement therapy.
Irradiation can be external (source - outside the body) and internal (source - inside the body). Internal irradiation is much more dangerous, since it acts on the body constantly and from it, as from external irradiation, it is impossible to run away and hide. For example, The natural half-life of weapons-grade plutonium is 200 years.
Radiation enters the body orally (with water and food), inhalation through breathing and contact, "leaking" through the pores of the skin and open wounds.
From this follow the basic principles of radiation protection:
Time protection (the less you are near a source of radiation, the better);
Screen protection (the thicker the wall/clothes behind which you are, the better).
Part three, content (useful civil defense)
So, let's imagine that at hour H a nuclear weapon is blown up, the fireball cools down, the shock wave rushes past. Fires in the industrial zone and wooden buildings are burning down. There is no electricity, the Internet, television and radio are silent. Panic and traffic collapse in the city. The entrance to the shelter is blocked. You are at home not very far from the epicenter, the glazing miraculously survived. Where to run and what to do, how to be saved?
There is no need to run anywhere, if only because there is panic on the streets, and a reasonable but inadequate person is much more dangerous than the consequences of a nuclear explosion. On the first day, you need to close at home and seal (not tightly, but with the help of filtering agents - such as newspapers) windows, doors, ventilation systems. If the plumbing is damaged, do not rush to flush the water in the toilet: in the drain tank it is guaranteed to be free of radionuclides. Make (and even from handkerchiefs) the simplest means of protecting the respiratory organs, at the same time there will be prevention of acute respiratory infections. If there are no radioprotective drugs, take ordinary iodine orally (20-40 drops per glass of water 3 times a day), this will save you from radioactive iodine that has leaked into the room. Review medications. Do not flicker in window openings - you do not need extra attention. Save clean water and food.
Put on a gas mask and thick clothing. If there is no gas mask, clothing should be hooded and any goggles should be worn (protection of the skin and eyes from alpha and beta radiation). Leave the zone of visible destruction (aka the zone of the greatest radioactive contamination) in a direction perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction. Try not to raise dust - choose, if possible, expensive paved ones. Go in the opposite direction - you risk getting into the epicenter of the explosion. Take with you a set of changeable clothes and shoes, documents, valuables, money, weapons, matches, twine, a knife, leftover water, canned food. A map of possible evacuation routes can be drawn up in advance using the wind rose in your locality. Leave a note for relatives and rescuers with a message telling where you have gone. Take a look at the nearest pharmacy - pharmacies will be plundered by marauders in the first place, and you urgently need antibiotics, painkillers and anti-burn drugs, as well as drugs that accelerate the natural elimination of radioactive substances from the body. Use a dosimeter to select the least polluted routes. As practice and calculations in certified programs show, a distance of 30 km from the epicenter of the explosion will be sufficient, and 10 kilometers is necessary. If possible, make rest stops inside buildings and structures, do not touch anything without need. If you meet rescuers along the evacuation route, follow them to the shelter. Do not argue with the rescuers and do not demand an individual approach to yourself - they have little time and a lot of work. Take care of children - the cells of their growing organisms divide faster than yours, and the radiation consequences will be more severe (which is why the first 300 liquidators of the Fukushima accident were 50 or more years old, unlike the young soldiers at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986).
Settle in your new temporary home (your dacha, a rural house of relatives), wait for help and further instructions from the government. Use available respiratory protection, change it regularly and wash your hands. Leave street clothes and shoes in a room adjacent to the house. Remember that radioactive dust accumulates in the same place as regular dust - on the hair, collar, cuffs, protruding parts (knees, elbows, shoulders, stomachs). Wash these places more carefully. Do not leave your home unnecessarily, only in search of help and replenishment of water / food supplies. Drink only bottled or artesian water. If only rainwater is available - after repeated boiling and settled, no more than 2/3 of the volume of the container, drain the remaining water. To obtain water from snow, do not use its top layer and avoid taking snow from the folds between the drifts. Greens and vegetables from open beds are prohibited, allowed from closed greenhouses after thorough washing. Mushrooms are strictly prohibited. Organize round-the-clock duty - beware of the appearance of marauders. Do not be afraid of two-headed dogs: firstly, such a mutation makes a newborn animal unviable, and secondly, mutations are extremely rare and can only appear after generations.
Estimated cost of the "survival kit" per 1 person. (after the nuclear bombing, you are unlikely to be able to buy right away, I don’t name brands deliberately, the price is closer to a minimum):
1) civilian filtering gas mask (adult) - 2500 rubles;
2) anti-radiation first aid kit (adult) - 2800 rubles;
3) disposable anti-dust suit with a hood - 600 rubles;
4) a closed set of a modular type, lead-coated (far from the epicenter, it is useless and even harmful due to its mass) - 44,000 rubles.
5) a set of antibiotics, anti-burn and painkillers, deactivating (alcohol) agents - 1500 rubles;
6) household dosimeter (radiation indicator) - 6000 rubles;
7) canned food - 1000 rubles;
8) cash in small denominations - at least 5,000 rubles.
Total from 20 to 60 thousand rubles. per adult, but security cannot be cheap, such is the price of his phobias.
If a military medic reads this article, please leave in the comments the names of drugs (available at the nearest pharmacy) that allow you to accelerate the natural elimination of radionuclides from the body - I think it will be useful.
And the last.
As a citizen with increased social responsibility, I want to declare: drive away, drive away from yourself thoughts about slowly (so as not to cause panic in this harsh time) crawl towards the cemetery: not all taxes have been paid yet, and someone (who, if not you?) must get even with the aggressor.
With faith in viability Perimeter systems("Dead Hand" according to NATO classification) and respect for the reader.
Clear instructions. How to survive after a nuclear attack
Shock! Nuclear explosion!!! How to survive??? Documentary
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Nuclear war is one of the most common and real options for the end of the world. This manual will briefly tell you how to protect yourself from the consequences of a nuclear apocalypse.
So, comrades, you live your measured life, go to work / study, make plans for the future, and suddenly this harsh moment has come - the nuclear apocalypse. Hundreds of nuclear "Polaris", "Tridents" and other global sowers of democracy with a joyful whistle flew to the borders of our country. This whole "overseas gift" will arrive in about 30 minutes - about the time it takes for a rocket to fly from the launch silo to the "recipient". And a completely natural question arises: "What to do?" (Of course, after the question - "Why did this happen to me?"). First of all, comrades, do not really hope to quickly go to another world and light it up with angels / devils / houris. There are not so many thermonuclear munitions in the world, and they will be spent primarily on the destruction of retaliatory strike weapons hidden in the depths of Siberian ores / in the expanses of Texas and Oklahoma. Democracy and spirituality will be delivered to the bulk of the population by "usual" versions of this subject, that is, by nuclear devices.
For starters, despite statements such as: "In Russia, everything is through the wrong place," early warning and civil defense systems still work, and are even being modernized little by little. So you will be warned. They will warn you in the most simple and intelligible form, you do not need to memorize any three green whistles. The horns of the public address system that hang on houses and at all intersections will simply roar (no, these are not the scenery of the Soviet period), after which the voice of an elderly frightened aunt (or a wooden military uncle) will say the words: "ATTENTION EVERYONE !!" and in the same voice it will be stated what kind of apocalypse is approaching us. In our case, it will be about a nuclear missile attack. If you heard a signal, but it's far from the swear-box, turn on the radio or the zombie box - it will be the same on all channels. The voice, by the way, will also give advice on how to behave and where to run, as long as it has time. Then he will be silent forever.
On the first day after the impact, the speed of movement will be vital - scrabble away from the epicenter, every kilogram of weight taken will directly affect your chances of surviving and the rest of your life later. You should definitely take documents with you: passports, birth certificates (if you are a schoolboy or vice versa, you have already planed your Pinocchio), registration certificate / military ID. Do not think that after the blow, mother-anarchy will come, some kind of power will surely survive, like its tools: the police, the army, officials, and all of them will check the documents first of all. Persons without documents will be stuffed into filtration camps, and if they behave inappropriately, they can be soaked - citizens in uniform will also be very nervous. Take the money - communism will not come either. Food - to eat until you leave the zone of infection, you still can’t, and you won’t take it out of it “clean”. Household radiation dosimeters are practically useless if it does not turn sour from an electromagnetic pulse and penetrating radiation, their sensor is still not designed for action in conditions of severe infection, it quickly degrades and will show delirium. Unless then to get food and water to check, but the batteries will sit down quickly. The devices of nuclear scientists and the military require certain knowledge, and most importantly, they are heavy - the weight has already been said. But be sure to take the radio receiver, just disconnect the antenna and the battery, otherwise it will burn out from the pulse. And don't forget the map of the city and its immediate surroundings, if available.
Leave your cell phone at home - cellular networks will be turned off once and for all. Due to objective reasons, immediately after the alarm, it is most likely that you will not be able to get through anywhere. About special drugs-antirads: for sure they will slip expired, improperly stored. In general, then contact the military or the Ministry of Emergencies, they will give you something suitable and in the right concentration (by the way, about swell: vodka does not remove radiation! It reduces its damaging effect, so you need to thump before, not after, but it’s better not to , because you won’t be able to run fast anymore - and this is important). Immediately, as soon as all this nuclear rigmarole subsides, there is a choice of two options ..
Option number 1: Sit in the basement for as long as there is enough air and grub. In the first day after the impact, radiation levels are expected in the surrounding area, at which the existence of protein bodies is very difficult. Remember - the great law of half-life works for you, according to which the level of radiation will steadily subside. In addition, not everyone is able to quickly cover the 10 to 20 kilometers of cross-country required to escape from an area with a deadly level of infection. If we assume that the explosion was just nuclear (if it was still thermonuclear, in which case you are already dead and you don’t care), then already at a distance of 500 meters from the epicenter, just an hour after the explosion, the radiation level will not exceed 1 R / h. This level of radiation already poses a small threat to life. At a distance of 1 km, the radiation level in an hour will be completely less than 0.1 R / h. The danger is only the ingress of radioactive dust into the body (but you will die from this not immediately, but after years). So, if there is a respirator, there is no point in sitting in anticipation of a drop in the level of radiation for more than an hour. A respirator or gas mask is your best friend in this case. Yes! You also need to choose the right direction in which to drape, otherwise you can run completely where you don’t need to.
Option number 2: It comes from the fact that it will not be possible to sit out in the basement, you should get out and move further, while you can still walk. If there is gas in your house, you will have to get out immediately, otherwise you will quickly feel like a grilled chicken. However, even without gas, fires will pose a much more obvious threat than radiation. If the basement is completely filled up, breathing problems will quickly begin, and if it is plowed up by a shock wave, its remains will not protect against radiation. Absolutely cosmic levels of radiation will be closer to the epicenter than your basement (since you survived the penetrating and shock waves in it), and in the first hours after the explosion, the bulk of the radioactive shit is still hanging high in the atmosphere. It is quite possible to leave the most dangerous zone of infection during this time.
Regardless of when you got out, determine from the blockage of surrounding buildings where the shock wave came from, and quickly stomp in the opposite direction, but towards the exit from the city (only not in the wind!). Do not get too distracted by saving others, in general - stay away from people who have obvious signs of falling under the distribution - severe burns, torn off paws, etc. You will not save them, just die yourself, because they are already self-propelled Chernobyls, and not people. The faster you get out of the city, the less radiation you pick up, and the less likely you are to fall under a second blow.
The main threat in the first few days will be dust enriched with both primary nuclear fission products and secondary sources. Inhaling it or swallowing it means passing radiation directly to vital organs, and it is extremely undesirable to contact it with bare skin. Do not breathe through your mouth and in general breathe only through a rag, do not eat, drink only tap water, at worst running water (unless, of course, it flows from the side of the last observation of mushroom clouds), do not sit / lie down on the ground, avoid lowlands (there will be the highest concentrations canoe), do not go downwind unless this is the only available direction from the epicenter. Excretory processes hold back as long as possible. The worst thing that can happen is that it will rain and this rain will be so vigorous that at the first sign of it, immediately hide under awnings, trees, etc.
As you get out of the city so that the city is barely visible, turn on the radio and listen to alerts. The army and other services will arrange public service points, look at the map, which is the closest, and stomp there. A real paranoid will find out in advance the collection points, they will tell you about them at the local Ministry of Emergencies - the main thing is to inquire in advance. Upon arrival, go through control (remember or write down the results), decontamination - eat the medicines given out, take off and throw away outer clothing. Further, little will depend on you, just do not worsen the situation, especially with cries like: "Everything is lost !!" - this is breeding panic, they have the right to shoot. Help (or at least don't interfere with) those who save you.
Most civil defense shelters built from the late 1970s to the present for civilians are designed for a shock wave pressure of 0.1 MPa (type A-IV), and now only this type is being built. The best and smallest shelters (type A-I) - by 0.5 MPa, 0.3 MPa (A-II), 0.2 MPa (A-III). But do not flatter yourself: as a rule, the stronger the shelter, the more strategic the object next to it, which means the higher the probability of a pinpoint strike on the object. Since the late 1950s, facilities for 0.15 and 0.3 MPa have been built. Pre-war structures were not designed for a nuclear explosion, but ordinary basement shelters can withstand some kind of shock wave, no more than 0.5 MPa, rather 0.1 - 0.2 MPa. More durable defenses, except for the metro, are not intended for us, ordinary citizens. In the 1960s - 1970s, shelters of the fifth class (0.05 MPa), fourth (0.1 MPa), third class 0.4 - 0.5 (MPa), second and first classes were built - this is the metro and some special bunkers . Subway stations located at a depth of about 20 meters (second-class shelters) will withstand not only the epicenter of an air explosion, but even in the immediate vicinity of a small-caliber ground explosion (up to 10-15 kilotons). Deeply located, over 30 m, stations and tunnels (first-class shelters) will withstand a medium-caliber explosion (with a capacity of up to 100 kilotons) in the immediate vicinity. In the immediate vicinity - does not mean that directly under the explosion, it is somewhere in a few tens - a hundred or two meters from the boundaries of the funnel; 15 kt in an explosion on the surface is a funnel 22 m deep and 90–95 m in diameter, 100 kt, respectively, 42 m and 350 m.
How to survive after a nuclear warNuclear war is not a scenario that most people seek to live through. In the 1960s, the Cuban Missile Crisis pushed us to a dangerous edge, but humanity still hasn't been "lucky enough" to experience an event that would bring about its potential extinction.
Nuclear winter is itself a theoretical assumption; scientists believe that in the event of a nuclear war, a huge amount of soot would be released into the stratosphere and spread by winds across the planet, blocking the sun and causing temperatures to drop. The plants will wither and die, then the turn of the animals will follow. The collapse of the food chain will lead to the extinction of the human race.
Nuclear winter can last for years or even decades, and while it lasts, people who survived a nuclear war will not be able to restore civilization. The only way to ensure the survival of the human race is to follow the advice for surviving a nuclear winter.
10. Live in the countryside
This may sound like useless advice, but the question of who survives the first nuclear explosions will be decided by no more than geographic location. Estimates made in the 1960s indicated that Russia was launching a devastating attack on the United States in which 100-150 million people would be killed by the first explosions - more than two-thirds of the population at that time. Major cities will be completely inaccessible as a result of the explosion and the radiation that will accompany the explosions. In general, if you live in a city, you are almost certainly doomed, but if you live in a rural area, you have a moderate chance of survival.
9. Renounce religious beliefs
This advice (and portrayal) may be somewhat controversial, but there are many good reasons why religious beliefs can hinder the efforts of survivors of a potential nuclear war. First of all, going to church on Sundays is not the number one priority after a nuclear disaster. But seriously, in order to survive, you may have to perform actions that are unthinkable for many religious (or simply highly moral) individuals (see #8). The thinking of the survivors must be decidedly "Machiavellian": the whole world is open to us; questions of morality are secondary to the question of survival at all costs.
If your religion forbids you from eating certain foods, you must forgo such dietary commitments and eat what you can find. Perhaps the realization that God (or any other deity) could prevent the collapse of civilization, if he/she really exists, will help you to give up your faith.
8. Kill/Release Pets
So, you survived the initial explosion, and now you are an atheist living in the countryside. What's next? Let's think about your pets. Pets need food, water and care - and don't get too fond of them during a nuclear winter. You won't live long if you share every bite of food with Rex.
Those heartless people who may be thinking of killing and eating their pet(s), be aware that food will be extremely scarce. Most people (hopefully) find these thoughts disgusting and will simply release their beloved animal into the wild. But in all seriousness, nuclear winter survivors, give up all hope of saving your goldfish. Small animals can simply be destroyed without even trying to eat - this, at least, will save them from starvation in the future.
7. Take cover
Science moment: in the event of several nuclear explosions in large cities, a huge amount of soot and thick smoke from fires will rise into the stratosphere, preventing sunlight from reaching most of the Earth's surface for many years or even decades.
The surface temperature will decrease sharply, and near-zero values will persist indefinitely. In other words, the need for warm clothing can't be ignored - so you can start packing up warmer items if you haven't already. Unfortunately, permanent freezing is not the crown of your worries, scientists assume that there will be massive destruction of the ozone layer, that is, a huge amount of ultraviolet radiation will leak onto the surface of the planet, which leads to death from skin cancer. You can reduce this effect by avoiding sleeping outdoors and always wear some sort of head covering to protect your face from the cold and harmful UV rays.
6. Arm yourself
If you live in a country where guns are readily available and legal, it won't be too hard for you to arm yourself against robbers or would-be cannibals. Desperate conditions may cause many survivors to steal food from other survivors in order to prevent starvation. Robbery of a local store with a handgun is a perfectly viable option for those in America (or any other country with no significant gun control) - but care must be taken to ensure that the gun is not drawn by the store owner. Otherwise, you can save a knife for protection. For several months after the initial explosions, hunting will still be possible, as the animals are not yet extinct. If possible, stock up on meat early on.
5. Learn to recognize cannibals
When all the big meaty animals die out after a nuclear war, it will be inevitable that humans will resort to cannibalism to survive. In fact, you may consider cannibalizing yourself at some point when you are starving and find a useful corpse in your area.
As for other survivors: they will either try to help you or try to eat you, of course, it is important to distinguish between these two reasons. People who eat human meat tend to suffer from Kuru symptoms; pollution of the brain, which leads to very noticeable consequences. For example, if a person is walking towards you, swaying from side to side, and is struggling to walk in a straight line, then it is better to run away, as he is either drunk or has Kuru symptoms. Other symptoms include uncontrollable shaking and eerie outbursts of laughter in inappropriate situations. Kuru is an incurable disease and death usually occurs within a year of infection, so don't eat human flesh - no matter the nuclear winter!
4. Travel alone
Introverts will thrive in a post-apocalyptic setting, at least compared to those who instinctively reach for cell phones when alone. Having a family - especially if it includes children - is not a very smart move, given the lack of food. Ignore the 'thugs' or 'raiders' gang clichés that Hollywood feeds us in movies like The Road and The Book of Eli. In reality, such groups will never be able to find enough food to sustain themselves in the long run. This does not mean that you should leave (or eat) your family. Simply looking for a large group is not a good option for those who want to avoid starvation.
3. Eat insects
The drastic reduction in sunlight and rainfall during a nuclear winter will make growth impossible and kill most of the plant life on Earth, many animals in turn will quickly die out from lack of food. For this reason, small insects such as ants, crickets, wasps, grasshoppers and beetles are among the creatures that are likely to survive in the long run. They will also be fantastic sources of protein for maintaining muscle mass: Grasshoppers have the highest percentage of protein: 20g for every 100g of body weight. Crickets are rich in iron and zinc, and ants are excellent sources of calcium. Granted, insects aren't as tasty as a bucket of fried chicken (though you don't know for sure), but they are at least preferable to starvation.
2. Take out the trash
Perhaps this is not the most pleasant activity in a post-apocalyptic time. Who wouldn't want to be able to roam the mall stealing any item they want without experiencing legal retribution? However, don't get too excited: looting cash registers will become a pointless exercise with the collapse of civilization. Instead, it's better to focus on hacking food and drink vending machines. If you're hungry, try emptying trash cans for leftovers or looking for canned goods that have an indefinite shelf life. It's also easy enough to find clothes to keep warm, and if your country doesn't have gun control, you can find guns to protect yourself.
1. Avoid the pollution area
The photo above shows the ghost town of Pripyat, the site of the 1986 Chernobyl accident. Due to massive radioactive contamination caused by an explosion at a nuclear power plant, the city was evacuated. The disaster caused 31 immediate deaths from radiation poisoning and several hundred more from various types of cancer subsequently. Today the city is uninhabitable. Radiation levels are too high to sustain life safely. After a nuclear disaster, radiation levels are likely to be much higher. Everyone who is inside the major cities that will be bombed will quickly receive a dose of radioactive poisoning and soon die.
For administrative use
INSTRUCTIONSHeadquarters of the Civil Defense of Moscow
Departments of the Ministry of Emergency Situations
Fire, emergency, rescue and medical manuals§one. Preliminary information.
1.1. The most probable time for a nuclear strike on Moscow is about 18:00 Moscow time. This is because:
a) 10 a.m. Washington time makes it possible to prepare and carry out a strike during the working morning of the relevant law enforcement agencies, without drawing prematurely increased attention of our intelligence to the activity of the agencies of a possible enemy during non-working hours;
b) all types of urban and long-distance communications are overloaded at the end of the working day, and coordination of emergency defensive measures is difficult;
c) the attention of the duty services at this particular time is reduced;
d) a significant part of the population is on the road between places of work and residence, which further complicates the coordination of measures and actions;
e) transport arteries are paralyzed by traffic jams, and the population located in them is primarily unprotected from damaging factors.
1.2. The most probable yield of a thermonuclear weapon is between 2 and 10 megatons. The superpower of the ammunition is limited by the capabilities of the delivery vehicles and is due to the large area of the Moscow metropolis, the concentration of central reconnaissance and defense units and enterprises in it, and along its perimeter - belts of missile and aviation cover systems, but first of all - the high security of the shelters of the presidential and government apparatus and services departments of the Ministry of Defense, which are the main goal.
1.3. The most probable time from the moment of the warning signal "Nuclear alert!" until the moment of the striking blow:
a) about 14 minutes when launching ground-based launch vehicles from the territory of the American continent;
b) about 7 minutes when launching missile carriers from submarine-based missile carriers occupying positions in the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean.
This corresponds to the flight time of ballistic missiles moving in superatmospheric space along ballistic trajectories at a speed of the order of the first space speed, i.e., 7.9 km/sec, or approx. 28,000 km/h. In practice, in combat conditions, it is possible to foresee some failures and communication delays, which can actually reduce the notification time to several minutes.§3. Persons provided with shelters according to their official position immediately begin to act according to the evacuation plan in case of an atomic alarm under the guidance of civil defense representatives, or building commandants, or team leaders, or independently. It is necessary to act without panic, in an organized manner, without the slightest delay. Any manifestations of panic must be immediately suppressed by any possible means, up to the use of force and weapons.
Not more than 6 minutes later (or earlier on the order of the senior in the shelter, who made sure that the assigned groups are in the shelter in full strength) after the first warning signal, all entrances to the shelter must be blocked and blocked according to the combat mode, regardless of the cases of those who did not have time to take refuge in them and the number of those left outside. Attempts to prevent the closure of the entrances by any person, without exception, must be immediately suppressed by any means, up to the use of weapons.§four. At the signal "Nuclear alarm!" persons not provided with shelters act independently, depending on where they are currently located, without delay and panic, taking all necessary measures for protection and hiding from the factors of nuclear destruction. One should act calmly, competently, evaluating the specific conditions of one’s place of residence, encouraging others to follow their example and instilling confidence in them with their voice and action. First of all, it is necessary to take care of the safety of children and women, as well as the elderly.
4.1. If the house has a basement, you should hide in the basement. The cracks in the doors must be plugged with any cloth, it can be wetted. It is useful to take a small supply of drinking water with you.
4.2. While in a building, it is better to hide in a closed room - an inner corridor, a bathroom, a pantry - which is separated from the outer walls by an additional partition and has no windows. It is also useful to plug door cracks and stock up on water.
4.3. In a room with a window, lie on the floor with your feet against an outside wall, covering your head with your hands. Choose a location at the bottom or side of a window so that the light falls on you as little as possible. It is better to hide from the light behind a heavy object - a wardrobe, a sofa, a table.
4.4. Those on the streets should immediately take shelter in buildings, at least in their entrances, or use other natural shelters, which include:
a) underground - the best of all possible shelters;
b) any basements, boiler rooms, underground garages;
c) sewer wells and tunnels of any underground routes;
d) foundations and lower premises of new buildings;
e) underground passages and car tunnels;
f) warehouses, underground toilets, etc.
4.5. While in public land transport, you should immediately leave it and take cover (see above).
4.6. While in the car, you should immediately leave it and take cover (see above). If the car is in the tunnel, you should stop in it. If it is impossible to leave the car in a traffic jam or there are no shelters nearby, you should lie on the floor between the seats and cover your head with your hands, protecting yourself from radiation from outside.
4.7. If it is impossible to hide in any room, lie down on the ground near the building under the wall opposite the city center, where the epicenter of the explosion will be located. Try to choose a yard-well closed on all sides or a narrow passage between buildings.
4.8. If you are in a park area away from possible shelters - identify a thick tree, or a hill, or a ditch, or any uneven terrain, or a monument, and lie down with your feet towards it, facing away from the city center, where the epicenter of the explosion will be located. This will protect you from thermal radiation, which is the main damaging factor.
4.9. All entrances to the subway are closed immediately upon a warning signal. Any manifestations of panic among the population or attempts to counteract the immediate closure of the entrances are immediately suppressed by the employees of the station pickets of the police with appropriate means, up to the use of weapons to kill. However:
a) all escalators are switched to descend; after
the gathering of all citizens on the platforms of the stations, all escalators stop;
b) the station staff switches the power supply of all equipment to emergency in the economy mode;
c) trains do not depart from stations; trains located in tunnels on hauls continue to move to the nearest station and remain at it or within the limits of possible proximity;
d) trains that find themselves in hauls in open space must reach the entrances to the tunnels and, if possible, go deep into them.§5. In clear, cloudless weather during daylight hours, the approach of a descending warhead can be identified by a white contrail, similar to the trail from an aircraft at a higher altitude, arcing downward from the upper atmosphere towards the center of Moscow at high speed. Remember: the sound of an approaching and descending warhead will not be heard due to its supersonic speed.
§6. With the accuracy of modern guidance means, the epicenter of the explosion will be located within the Boulevard Ring, focusing on the Kremlin-Lubyanka-Arbat area.
§7. A ground explosion should be expected in Moscow. This somewhat reduces the radius of the general damage compared to an above-ground explosion, but increases the strength of the seismic wave, which leads to ground movements of the type of tectonic disturbances of a nature similar to an earthquake of high power in the upper layers, leading to crushing and destruction of even significantly buried shelters of an increased degree of strength in the radius ten to fifteen kilometers.
§eight. Thermal damaging factor.
8.1. At the epicenter of the explosion, a light flash occurs, the brightness of which is many times greater than the observed sunlight. Within 0.03-0.04 sec. the flash is formed into a dazzling luminous sphere 1.5-2 km in diameter, with a temperature of 10-20 million "C. It covers the city center within the radius of the Boulevard Ring - the Kremlin - Polyanka, and everything entering this space instantly ceases to exist, passing to the plasma state.
8.2. Within a radius of 3-4 km, all objects of organic origin that are directly exposed to the direct thermal radiation of the explosion (uncovered people, animals, plants, wooden parts of buildings facing the explosion) instantly evaporate and incinerate. Asphalt road surfaces, metal fences, roofs and parts of building structures, concrete and brick walls, including those with stone and ceramic cladding, both open to direct thermal radiation of the explosion and covered to a depth of several meters, melt, evaporate, instantly burn out. . All substances, both organic covered and inorganic heat-resistant, within the radius of the Garden Ring, immediately after the moment of explosion, burn out within a few seconds with a temperature of tens of thousands of degrees.
8.3. Within a radius of 20-25 km, all wooden, plastic, painted surfaces, plants facing the direction of the explosion and accessible to direct thermal radiation flare up, metal roofs burn through, concrete, brick, glass, metal, stone are melted; window frames burn, glass evaporates, wires melt, asphalt catches fire. The active fire zone instantly covers the city within the limits of the Moscow Ring Road. Outside the Moscow Ring Road there is a ring forest fire. Completely built-up areas and forest park zones ignite. The reservoirs of the Moskva River and Yauza evaporate, the upper layer of the Khimki reservoir boils up.
Remember: direct radiant heat exposure lasts from fractions of a second to several seconds and even up to several tens of seconds, depending on the power of the explosion, and spreads only in a straight line, i.e. any obstacle between you and the explosion, in the shadow of which you find yourself, can save you life in a situation of sufficient distance from the epicenter of the explosion.§9. The damaging factor of the shock wave.
9.1. The action of the air shock wave begins immediately at the moment of the explosion and follows the thermal radiation, however, lagging behind its instantaneous effect as the distance from the epicenter of the explosion is farther, the longer the period of time. In the second affected zone, the speed of the air shock wave reaches 1-5 thousand m/s, i.e. everything in this zone, moreover, already exposed to heat, is blown away by a powerful explosion in the direction from the epicenter to the periphery, turning into a leveled surface of crushed fragments burning at high temperatures (the so-called "deflation of the landscape"). Crushed burning fragments of substances located between the radii of the Boulevard and Garden Rings are ejected by a shock wave along an expanding concentric circle into zone three.
9.2. In the third zone, i.e. within Moscow inside the Moscow Ring Road, the shock wave speed decreases somewhat, especially at the very surface, but continues to remain above supersonic, i.e. up to 300-500 m / s at the border of the Moscow Ring Road, which causes instantaneous destruction all ground structures, both high-rise and low-rise. The red-hot and burning parts of the surfaces facing the epicenter, mixing with other materials during demolition, give the so-called. "fire carpet" with a temperature that ensures the combustion of metals and the melting of ceramics. During the passage of the shock wave, individual parts and parts move in the air at speeds of the order of artillery shells, aggravating the process of destruction of everything that rises above the surface. All plantings break out, water from all reservoirs is “squeezed out”.
9.3. The forests, settlements and airports closest to the Moscow Ring Road are also subject to complete or predominant destruction, partial or complete destruction and combustion.
9.4. Within the entire affected area, an area of sharply reduced atmospheric pressure arises due to both the burning out of oxygen in the air and the concentric "pushing apart" of air masses. As a result, soon after the passage of the shock wave, a “reverse shock wave” appears, directed towards the epicenter. It is characterized by a much lower speed, commensurate with the speed of an ordinary hurricane, but it brings masses of fresh oxygen to the entire area of fire, which creates the effect of "bellows", creating the so-called. "firestorm" over the entire area of destruction. The zone within the Moscow Ring Road is likened to a leveled surface of hot coals in a furnace.§ten. The seismic impact of a ground explosion causes an "earthquake effect" with compaction and displacement of the surface layers. All underground structures of the subway within the Circle Line and the stations closest to it are being destroyed and completely collapsed. All bomb shelters within the Garden Ring are completely destroyed. All basements within the Moscow Ring Road are completely destroyed. All sewerage and ventilation underground structures in the area of Prospekt Mira, Zoo, Serpukhovskaya, Ploshchad Ilyicha are being crushed, destroyed and collapsed. All entrances and exits from the metro, ventilation shafts, emergency and service exits are filled up, or crushed, or completely blocked by a layer of hot mass on the surface.
§eleven. The external picture of the explosion looks normal and is typical for a thermonuclear explosion of high power. The white plasma sphere, which covers the center of Moscow like a two-kilometer dome and is four times as high as the Ostankino Tel****nu, after a few seconds begins to fade, twitch with a crimson smoky veil and separates from the surface, “floating up” upwards. The burning city “lays down” in all directions, like a circle of dominoes, is covered with swirling smoke, and streams of smoke and fire rush from the periphery of the MKAD circle to the rising sphere, forming a characteristic “mushroom stem”, which expands below to the limits of the affected area, narrowing at the top to the sphere , which is wrapped in a cloud of "mushroom caps". The swirling smoke at the foot of the mushroom reaches a kilometer height, the diameter of the "leg" narrows to eight hundred - thousand meters under the "hat". The "mushroom" continues to rise, and although the rise looks slow due to its gigantic size, after three to five minutes the height
it reaches 25-35 km. With a high-power explosion, this picture can stand for up to several hours.§12. The fire itself, which makes it impossible to start any kind of rescue work, can continue, taking into account the affected area of the Moscow metropolis, up to several days.
§13. The high radiation background will not allow starting any rescue work in the metropolis earlier than in 15-20 days, with the exception of special operations of special importance. Carrying out any rescue operations should be considered appropriate in an area no closer than 5-10 km behind the MKAD line.
§fourteen. The funnel at the epicenter of the explosion is a crater about 2 km in diameter and up to 200-300 m deep in the center. Its surface is a vitreous mass up to 10-12 m thick.
The second affected area is a relatively flat surface covered with a layer of vitreous sintered mass 0.3-0.9 m thick.The third lesion zone is a bumpy surface, largely covered with a vitreous sintered mass with a thickness of several millimeters to several centimeters.
Tests of such ammunition, carried out by both the USSR and the USA and France, showed with reliability that attempts to carry out any rescue work within the indicated radii have no real grounds. The defeat of open and sheltered manpower, equipment and buildings reaches 100%. Rescue work should focus on resettlement and assistance to people who find themselves outside the zone of direct destruction, outside the 100-kilometer zone.
