What To Do In Case of Nuclear Fall-Out

The very first thing you should do in case of a nuclear fall-out is something you should already have done. You should make sure that you have adequate water, food and emergency supplies like you would for any catastrophe. In the case of a nuclear fall-out you want to also make sure that you have a supply of potassium iodine for every member of your family as it will prevent thyroid cancer. You can get potassium iodate at your local health food store. If you can't find the potassium iodate eat kelp or get some kelp capsules, it has potassium iodate in it naturally.

The second thing you should do is to locate the direction that the fall-out is taking. If you can relocate and avoid the fall-out, do so. Find out where the cloud is headed and go in the opposite direction. Make sure you have a good map, enough gas, supplies and a stash of cash. If you are unsure of where the cloud is moving it would be better for you to take shelter somewhere than to be exposed or stuck somewhere outside.

If you are staying put then you need to seek shelter. If you haven't already done so find a map of the local designated fall-out shelters. The best place is a designated fall-out shelter, think old cement block buildings, like capital buildings or old libraries. Remember the Fall-Out Shelter signs from the 1950s?

If you cannot find a fall-out shelter locate a place with the greatest mass between you and the outside, a basement is the first thing that comes to mind or a subway or anything as far under the earth as possible. Even a cave would be better than being outside.

Being OUTSIDE is the worst place you can be when experiencing a nuclear fall-out.

If you cannot locate a shelter or a basement then create a barrier within your home. Seal up the windows and doors of your house first. Take tables or inside doors (off their hinges) and build an enclosed area, fortify it with anything that will create mass, like earth-bags, sandbags, wood, books or anything that will provide mass between you and the outside air. The heavier the better. Just make sure that the enclosure doesn't collapse. Leave a small crawl space that you can close in after you enter.

According to a guide I found on a website when googling “what to do in case of a nuclear fall-out, an effective fallout shelter constructed in a basement may reduce your radiation exposure 100-200 fold. Thus, if the initial radiation intensity outside was 500 R/hr (fatal in one hour), the basement shelter occupants might only experience 5 R/hr or even less, which is survivable, as the radiation intensity will be decreasing with every passing hour. As uncomfortable as a make-shift shelter may be it could be the difference between life and death. Make sure you have all your supplies, food, water, flashlight, radio, a bucket for waste (see my blog on humanure toilets) and enough room for everyone to stay put for a couple of days.

I pray to God that we never experience a nuclear fall-out but with the news of radiation poisoning in Japan and previously in Chernoble and with loved ones who live on the coast of California I think that it is better to be safe than sorry.