NUCLEAR BLAST
At the end of the cold war, Americans started to get used to the idea that the threat of a nuclear attack was becoming a thing of
the past. Now, with third world countries and terrorists getting closer to acquiring nuclear weapons, the threat seems to have
reemerged as a major concern for the United States. A nuclear device can range from a weapon carried by an intercontinental
missile launched by a hostile nation or terrorist organization, to a small portable nuclear devise transported by an individual. The
fact of the matter is that terrorists’ organizations may already have nuclear weapons in their possession.
Nuclear explosions
can cause deadly effects blinding light, intense heat (thermal radiation), initial nuclear radiation, blast, fires started by the
heat pulse, and secondary fires caused by the destruction. They also produce radioactive particles called fallout that can be carried
by wind for hundreds of miles. The size of the affected area of a nuclear blast depends on the size of the bomb and whether
it is exploded at ground level or in the air above the target. Those that are detonated at ground level expend some of the energy
into the ground, so the blast effects are smaller, but the amount of radioactive fallout generated is much greater due to the debris
that is produced. The size of modern nuclear weapons ranges from 1 kiloton to 1,000 kilotons. Most are in the 100-kiloton
range, which is about ten times stronger than the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, killing as many as 300,000 people. A much
larger bomb (20 kiloton) was dropped on Nagasaki, but the damage was less widespread due to its hilly terrain and lower population.
A suitcase nuke used by terrorists is likely to be about the same size as the Hiroshima or Nagasaki bombs and depending on the
target, terrain and placement of the bomb, we could expect many more deaths than what was reported in the bombings in Japan.
Radioactive Fallout:
Nuclear radiation cannot be seen, smelled, or
otherwise detected by normal senses. It can only be detected by radiation monitoring devises. It is possible, to some
extent, to predict which areas will be affected and the time that it will take for the fallout to reach these areas. It
will be necessary for people to depend on official monitoring information to determine if they will be affected. However, any
increase in build-up of gritty dust or dirt should be a warning for taking protective measures.
Electromagnetic Pulse (EMT)
In addition to other effects, a nuclear weapon detonated in or above the earth's atmosphere can create
an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), a high-density electrical field. EMP acts like a stroke of lightning but is stronger, faster and briefer.
EMP can seriously damage electronic devices. This includes communication systems, computers, electrical appliances, and automobile
or aircraft ignition systems. The damage could range from a minor interruption to actual burnout of components. Most electronic equipment
within 1,000 miles of a high-altitude nuclear detonation could be affected. Battery powered radios with short antennas generally would
not be affected. Although EMP is unlikely to harm most people, it could harm those with pacemakers or other implanted electronic
devices. Read more in the EMP section.
PREPARING FOR A NUCLEAR ATTACK:
Since the end of the cold war; the chances of an all-out nuclear war, with another nation, has
been significantly reduced. A nuclear attack on the United States would most likely be by a small country with limited nuclear
capability or a terrorist organization with a single device. The attack would most probably be directed at a “high value” target.
Examples of “high value” targets are:
· Strategic missile sites and military bases
· Centers of government such as Washington, DC and state capitals
· Important transportation
and communication centers
· Manufacturing, industrial, technology, and financial
centers.
· Petroleum refineries, electrical power plants and chemical plants
· Major ports and airfields
· Densely populated areas
There is no real protection from the effects of a nuclear blast at “ground zero.” Even blast shelters are not able to
withstand a direct hit from a nuclear device, but they can be effective if you are several miles away. For this reason, most
preparedness steps are focused on the effects of radioactive fallout.
There are three factors
for protection from radiation; distance, shielding and time:
· Distance - the more
distance between you and the fallout particles, the better. An underground area such as a home or office building basement offers
more protection than the first floor of a building. A floor near the middle of a high-rise may be better, depending on what is nearby
at that level on which significant fallout particles would collect. Flat roofs collect fallout particles so the top floor is not a
good choice, nor is a floor adjacent to a neighboring flat roof.
· Shielding - the
heavier and denser the materials - thick walls, concrete, bricks, books and earth - between you and the fallout particles, the better.
· Time - fallout radiation loses its intensity fairly rapidly. In time, you will be able to leave the fallout shelter. Radioactive fallout poses the greatest threat to people during the first two weeks, by which time it has declined to about 1 percent of its initial radiation level.
*Remember that any protection, however temporary, is better than none at all, and the more shielding, distance, and time
you can take advantage of, the better.
To prepare for a nuclear attack you should take some specific actions:
1. Find out the locations of any designated fallout shelters in your area. If there are none, make a list of potential shelters
near your home, workplace and school. These places would include basements or the windowless center area of middle floors in
high-rise buildings, as well as subways and tunnels. You may need to have emergency supplies on hand that you can grab in a
hurry so that you are somewhat equipped to stay in the sheltered area for an adequate amount of time.
2. Review
and complete your nuclear blast checklist.
3. Prepare an evacuation route from heavily populated areas.
4. Have emergency evacuation supplies ready. Keep your emergency automotive supplies in your vehicle
and always keep your vehicle fuel tank at least half full.
5. Be sure to have a battery-operated radio
(other than your car radio). Consider keeping radio and other small electronics in a small Faraday Cage to protect them from
the effects of the EMP that will accompany a nuclear blast.
6. The best way to prepare for the after affects
of a nuclear attack is to have exercised general preparedness.
7. Make sure that you have a supply of
potassium iodide (KI) and that you are familiar with its use.
8. Become very familiar with your
local weather patterns. In the event of a nuclear blast, this knowledge could save your life, especially if your radio is not
working or officials are slow with information. After a blast, radioactive fallout will be carried by prevailing winds and will
be distributed along its path. Knowing your local weather patterns will give you some indication of the danger areas and help
you decide if you should evacuate.
If an attack warning is issued:
If a warning is issued, you will have to determine your best course of action. If you suspect
that you are within the intended nuclear blast radius, taking shelter may be a futile effort. It may be a better idea to attempt
to put as much distance as possible between you and the target. However, if you just don’t know where and when the blast will
occur, you should take shelter immediately and listen for official information.
If a Nuclear Blast Has Occurred:
1. Do not look at the flash or fireball – it can blind you.
2. Take cover behind anything that might offer protection.
3. Lie flat on the ground and cover your head. If
the explosion is some distance away, it could take 30 seconds or more for the blast wave to hit.
4. Cover your
mouth and nose to keep from breathing contaminated dust.
5. Remove any dust before you enter shelter.
6. Take shelter as soon as you can, even if you are many miles from ground zero where the attack occurred - radioactive fallout can be
carried by the winds for hundreds of miles. Remember the three protective factors: Distance, shielding, and time.
7. Refer to your nuclear blast checklist for specific actions that may apply to your situation.
8. Shut off ventilations
systems and seal doors, windows and vents.
9. If instructed to do so or if you feel that it is prudent, take
your potassium iodide (KI) tablets. Be sure that you have read and understand the instructions. DO NOT take potassium
iodide if you are allergic to iodine.
10. Remove your clothes and shower if possible.
After a Nuclear Blast:
Depending
on how much radioactive fallout is deposited in an area; residents could be required to shelter for up to a month. However,
in most areas, people will be able to come out of their shelters within a few days and, if necessary, evacuate to unaffected areas.
· Remain sheltered until you are told that you can come out. If you have no communication or hear no word, err on the side of
caution and stay sheltered for a month or until your situation requires that you come out.
· Be prepared to evacuate as soon as possible.
· Keep listening for official news and
instructions.
· When you go outside, keep your nose and mouth covered.
· Stay away from the blast area and all other affected areas.
