(End of the American Dream)—I understand that the topic of this article is not too cheery, but this is important information. Someday, it could save your life and the lives of your family members. We live at a time when the potential for conflict between major powers that possess nuclear weapons is constantly in the headlines, and it is just a matter of time before someone crosses a line that will never be able to be uncrossed. When that day arrives, it is imperative that you have a plan.
Entire books have been written about how to survive a nuclear war, and so I will only be able to cover some of the most essential information in this article.
If you plan to keep on living once a nuclear war erupts, the first thing that you will need to do is to be located somewhere that is at low risk of being attacked. That means that you won’t want to be located anywhere near any military installations. If you are not sure if there is a military base close to you, you can find a list of military bases in the United States right here.
In addition, population centers that are of strategic importance such as Washington D.C. and New York City will also be targeted during an all-out nuclear conflict.
For those that are considering relocating, experts suggest looking “in remote and rural areas with warm climate and access to water and farmland”…
Real estate experts have concluded that the places in America that are best suited for nuclear war survival are in remote and rural areas with warm climate and access to water and farmland.
They have recommended against densely populated urban cities and places with mass transportation, shopping centers and other convenient amenities that are traditionally desirable for living.
I think that is very good advice.
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Once a nuclear war starts, you will not have any time to evacuate. In fact, if the Russians launch missiles from subs parked just off our coastlines, it would only be a matter of minutes before major coastal cities started getting hit…
If Russia launched a weapon from international waters just off the East Coast, people in cities like New York, Boston, and Washington, DC, might have just 10 to 15 minutes to prepare.
“You wouldn’t even have time to go get your kids from school,” Irwin Redlener, a public-health expert at Columbia University who specializes in disaster preparedness, told Insider last year.
If I was the Russians, I would conduct such a first strike in the middle of the night.
So the good news is that when it happens you will probably be at home sleeping in your own bed.
But if you do find yourself outside when it happens, you will want to get inside as soon as possible.
When an impact occurs, a fireball that is almost as hot as the core of the sun is created.
Whatever you do, it is imperative that you do not look at the explosion, because the brightness of the fireball can cause blindness…
The best course of action is simply to avert your eyes. When a nuclear bomb strikes, it sets off a flash of light and a giant orange fireball. A 1-megaton bomb (about 80 times larger than the “Little Boy” atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan) could temporarily blind people up to 13 miles away on a clear day and up to 53 miles away on a clear night.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends dropping to the ground with your face down and your hands tucked under your body to protect from flying debris or sweltering heat that could burn your skin. If you have a scarf or handkerchief, cover your nose and mouth.
But make sure to keep your mouth open, so your eardrums don’t burst from pressure. Research also suggests that if you’re in an above-ground building, avoid narrow hallways and doorways, which can act like a windtunnel, accelerating the detonation’s shockwaves to dangerous, bone-crushing pressures. Instead, seek shelter along walls in large, open spaces and avoid rooms with windows, if you can.
Following the explosion, radioactive particles known as nuclear fallout will start raining down from the sky…
If the detonation was a surface blast or the bomb hits the earth, large amounts of fallout are produced. The dust and debris kicked into the atmosphere rains down, bringing with it dangerous amounts of radiation. The fallout may rain down as contaminated black soot known as “black rain,” which is very fatal and may be of extreme temperature. Fallout will contaminate anything it touches.
It may take more than a week for all of the nuclear fallout from an explosion to return to the ground.
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So it is really important for you to stay inside during this time.
Even if you are nowhere near the initial explosion, you need to understand that those living “hundreds of miles downwind from the burst point” are potentially in danger…
It has been estimated that a weapon with a fission yield of 1 million tons TNT equivalent power (1 megaton) exploded at ground level in a 15 miles-per-hour wind would produce fallout in an ellipse extending hundreds of miles downwind from the burst point. At a distance of 20-25 miles downwind, a lethal radiation dose (600 rads) would be accumulated by a person who did not find shelter within 25 minutes after the time the fallout began. At a distance of 40-45 miles, a person would have at most 3 hours after the fallout began to find shelter. Considerably smaller radiation doses will make people seriously ill. Thus, the survival prospects of persons immediately downwind of the burst point would be slim unless they could be sheltered or evacuated.
I found a pretty good map that shows what areas of the U.S. will be in most danger from nuclear fallout in the aftermath of an all-out nuclear war, and you can view that map right here. If you live in an area that is likely to experience “severe fallout”, you will want to stay inside for at least 3 weeks.
While you are sheltering inside, I would highly recommend not drinking or using tap water even if it is still available.
Your water source may have been contaminated, and you do not want to ingest radioactive particles. So I would suggest having plenty of water stored up ahead of time.
Those that survive the nuclear fallout will find that they are now living in a society that has no electricity, no economy and no supply chains.
In addition, it will be almost impossible to grow food outdoors because of the nuclear winter that has begun…
This makes Earth freezing cold even during the summer, with farmland in Kansas cooling by about 20 degrees centigrade (about 40 degrees Fahrenheit), and other regions cooling almost twice as much. A recent scientific paper estimates that over 5 billion people could starve to death, including around 99% of those in the US, Europe, Russia, and China – because most black carbon smoke stays in the Northern hemisphere where it’s produced, and because temperature drops harm agriculture more at high latitudes.
So if you plan to survive a nuclear war, you will want to have enough food and supplies for yourself and for everyone that will be depending upon you for as long as you plan to stay alive.
I apologize for being blunt. I am just trying to be straight with you.
We live at a time when the risk of nuclear war is greater than ever, and I believe that nuclear weapons will eventually be used during the period of tremendous global chaos that is ahead of us.
I am trying to do my best to sound the alarm, and many others are too. But most of the population seems to think that it is party time, and so they aren’t even paying attention as our leaders drag us ever closer to the brink of nuclear conflict.
Michael’s new book entitled “Chaos” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
Horse manure!
I agree. This is HS and BS.
The best way to survive a nuclear war is NOT to have one. Pray, pray, pray.
Exactly!!! There is NO surviving such a war. It’s literally tilt, game over. And Kruschev’s sage observation stands today: “The survivors will envy the dead.”
Move to Mars until the radioactivity returns to a safe level in 2.5 billion years.
You won’t last on mars without its magnetosphere no matter what, Mars died from full scale uninhibited warfare, that’s why many cultures call that planet and ascribe it to ‘War’, it’s the epitome of unrestricted warfare on all fronts, Nuclear, Biological and chemical.
That is my sincerest Hypothesis on Mars.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki are uncontaminated, thriving cities, and have been since they started recovery a mere two years later, with no residual radiation.
…there is NO way to survive a nuclear war…a full blown nuclear war would effect every continent in the whole world…the only question is to what extent that damage would be for any particular continent…north America would sustain such damage that most major cities would become a waste land…most of Europe would be destroyed also…but every place that has a human presents, which is about everywhere, will feel the terrible effect of radiation, soil, air and water deterioration that the quality of life would be difficult to sustain beyond a primitive perspective…but some of the Progressive-liberal-Democrats would probably survive since they are accustom to living under a rock or under a bed in their parents basement…so there would be a sub-standard of human life after all the destruction has been accomplished…
In case of nuclear war, I hope an h-bomb lands right on my head, because surviving the aftermath will be worse than death.
…there is NO way to survive a nuclear war…a full blown nuclear war would effect every continent in the whole world…the only question is to what extent that damage would be for any particular continent…north America would sustain such damage that most major cities would become a waste land…most of Europe would be destroyed also…but every place that has a human presents, which is about everywhere, will feel the terrible effect of radiation, soil, air and water deterioration that the quality of life would be difficult to sustain beyond a primitive perspective…
In the event of a Full Scale Nuclear war, our planet will look and be exactly like Mars, a damaged magnetosphere, damaged and destroyed atmosphere, there wont be enough of anything to support life, let alone a cockroach or a flea.
(and its “Affect’ not Effect, thank you.)
Most big cities in the US are already a wasteland, thanks to crime, corruption, illegal aliens, and extremely high taxes. Tourists who for some reason want to visit NYC can’t reserve hotel rooms–because they are full, housing illegal aliens and getting paid by our tax money.
The future belongs to the prepared.
There wont BE anything to prepare for, everything loses in a full-scale nuclear war.
Your only hope is to be at the detonation site for the first nuke.
so if nuclear war comes soon does that mean aoc will never become president? asking for a friend.
what if russia did a sneak attack on the united states and a few other nato supporting countries but did not launch weapons against europa hoping they would sue for peace and biden was the target of the faint.
A sneak attack? It’s called “out of the blue” and it would be detected at the very instant of launch by Russia. And our policy is to launch very soon thereafter (within minutes) before the R’s nukes land here. And Russia would NOT target just America. It would, accurately, presume America’s nukes sitting all over Europa would launch soon after.
btw: Most likely initiator is North Korea. Same hell breaks loose if it ever launches. The entire world is toast.
Suggestion: Read “Nuclear War: A scenario” by Annie Jacobson.
Well, it’s more humane than what the Democrats, WEF, CDC, FDA, and W.H.O. have been doing.
Solved that problem. Never worry about it. Live very near military installations and will be incinerated if and when a nuclear war starts.
As a septuagenarian, I remember cowering under my school desk when we had air raid drills. What in the world did the adults of that period think????? Barring immediate annilhilation, I would try to live the remaining days as close to my maker as possible.
Run into any dinosaurs lately??
The author of this needs to study up on geophysics and paleoclimatology —— no surviving a nuke war!