What to do in case of a nuclear explosion. How to survive a nuclear strike

In recent days, everyone has been discussing whether the third world war will begin between the United States and Russia or not. In the media and social networks you constantly come across materials about the coming “nuclear apocalypse”, which in turn provokes attacks of fear and hysteria in many. Over the past years, we have already forgotten the warning signals, and the younger generation knows about the threat only from computer games. Life tells what to do if a nuclear mushroom appears on the horizon.

This is, of course, not the Cuban Missile Crisis, but the degree of paranoia in the air has increased sharply. And although no one promises to turn other countries into “nuclear ashes,” there are still enough reasons. The latest of these is the US threat to launch a missile strike on Syria.

The atomic threat has already been largely erased from people's memory. Hardly anyone will now say what one long beep and two short beeps mean, or will quickly answer where the nearest bomb shelter is located. The nuclear mushroom on the horizon has become something like a zombie apocalypse - pure fantasy from books about stalkers and the third world war. We imagined how a reader of such literature would survive after a real nuclear strike.

First day

The threat of nuclear war was a tempting prospect for me. “Battles with marauders”, “survival in radioactive forests”, “clashes with mutants” - this sounded even cooler than a “zombie apocalypse”. I went online, found out that if something happened, Washington would start bombing cities at six o’clock in the evening, and read what products to take. I went to the dacha and took my grandfather’s cartridges - in the event of an apocalypse, they will become the most valuable resource. In addition, I purchased a pistol through an anonymous browser. In addition, I bought a used car so that after the explosion I could go into the forest.

Valuable tips:

• The need to take weapons and ammunition with you is one of the most common myths about the nuclear apocalypse. Marauders and even more so mutants are nothing more than a figment of the imagination of writers. If you take weapons and ammunition with you, you will have to part with them at the first checkpoint.
• Instead of filling your backpack with pasta, take as many medications as possible. You will need antibiotics, insulin, and a variety of wound care products. Please note: you will not be able to obtain truly effective anti-radiation agents in advance. Drinking iodine, as most guides advise, is also not worth it, except for self-soothing.

Day two

A huge nuclear mushroom appeared on the horizon. I admired it from the window of my house, then quickly grabbed my backpack and went down to the garage. He turned on the car and drove into the forests to survive.

Valuable tips:

• You will hardly need transport. And in the forest you definitely won’t be able to hide from the explosion (and subsequent radioactive fallout). If after the explosion you find yourself far from the affected area, then the car, of course, will help. However, a pre-prepared car in the garage of your home is not the most useful thing. In the first hours after the explosion, it is better to sit at home. If the glass has survived, then simply post a signal for help and wait. You need to wait about three days - during this time the radioactive background will significantly decrease.
• The walls of the house do a good job of weakening radiation contamination. Prepare clothing that is as closed as possible and try to assess the situation. Don't panic. Turn on the TV and try to understand what happened - an explosion at a nuclear power plant, a terrorist attack, or the third world war began. After that, wait for rescuers or the military. Only they really know what to do. It is better not to believe memos that have been floating around the Internet for decades and guides from stalker forums. Only the military has valid manuals, and they are not suitable for civilians.
• It’s better not to look at the “mushroom” - you can get a burn to the retina.
• Don’t count too much on mobile communications - if the third world war breaks out, you most likely won’t have access to it.

Valuable tips:

• Not all metro stations are suitable. You need deep stations that have retractable doors and a good ventilation system. Among the deep stations we can note "Admiralteyskaya" in St. Petersburg and the "Park Pobedy" station in Moscow. The metro may indeed be more useful than a bomb shelter, since it is regularly inspected. But staying in the subway for a long time is also not recommended. When the background subsides, try to leave the affected area. In this case, it is better to move underground - reduce your stay on the surface to a minimum.
• Once again: there is no need to go or run anywhere. Try to figure out which explosion zone you are in.

Valuable tips:

• Don't expect your life in a bomb shelter to be filled with dramatic events. Kitchen, toilet, bedroom - this is your route for the next couple of weeks.
• The main entertainment is, of course, information from outside. Bomb shelters are equipped (if you're lucky) with communication points.
• Despite the nervous situation, it is better not to run around the bomb shelter, so as not to increase the production of carbon dioxide.

Day ten

We rose to the surface for the first time. Now the adventures should definitely begin: searching for food, hunting, fighting with marauders.

• If you still have to look for food, then do it as far as possible from the affected area. We are talking about 100 kilometers from the epicenter of a nuclear explosion. Forget about hunting cats and dogs - the simpler the food, the less nuclides it contains. Therefore, it is better to get by with plant foods. But in general, of course, it is wiser not to get food, but to eat exclusively canned food.
• It's best to stay with the military as long as possible. The military will assemble buses for emergency evacuation of people. After transferring to the tent camp, you will need to change clothes and undergo disinfection. If the dose of radiation received is too high, you will be sent to hospital. In addition, you need to obtain anti-radiation medications.
• If the third world war begins, they will come for you from the military registration and enlistment office. The rest will wait to be transferred to the rear.
• In the event of a single explosion, you will be transferred to children's camps and rest homes for temporary accommodation.

Damaging factors of nuclear weapons

Nuclear weapons have five main damaging factors. The distribution of energy between them depends on the type and conditions of the explosion. The impact of these factors also varies in form and duration (contamination of the area has the longest impact).

Shock wave. A shock wave is a region of sharp compression of a medium that spreads in the form of a spherical layer from the explosion site at supersonic speed. Shock waves are classified depending on the propagation medium. A shock wave in the air occurs due to the transmission of compression and expansion of layers of air. With increasing distance from the explosion site, the wave weakens and turns into an ordinary acoustic one. When a wave passes through a given point in space, it causes changes in pressure, characterized by the presence of two phases: compression and expansion. The compression period begins immediately and lasts a relatively short time compared to the expansion period. The destructive effect of a shock wave is characterized by excess pressure at its front (front boundary), velocity pressure, and the duration of the compression phase. A shock wave in water differs from an air wave in terms of its characteristics (higher excess pressure and shorter exposure time). The shock wave in the ground, when moving away from the explosion site, becomes similar to a seismic wave. Exposure of people and animals to shock waves can result in direct or indirect injuries. It is characterized by mild, moderate, severe and extremely severe damage and injuries. The mechanical impact of a shock wave is assessed by the degree of destruction caused by the action of the wave (weak, medium, strong and complete destruction are distinguished). Energy, industrial and municipal equipment as a result of the impact of a shock wave can receive damage, also assessed by their severity (weak, medium and strong). The impact of a shock wave can also lead to damage to vehicles, waterworks, and forests. Typically, the damage caused by a shock wave is very great; it is applied both to human health and to various structures, equipment, etc.

Light radiation. It is a combination of the visible spectrum and infrared and ultraviolet rays. The glowing area of ​​a nuclear explosion is characterized by a very high temperature. The damaging effect is characterized by the power of the light pulse. Exposure to radiation in humans causes direct or indirect burns, divided by severity, temporary blindness, and retinal burns. Clothing protects against burns, so they often occur on open areas of the body. Fires at national economic facilities and in forests, arising as a result of the combined effects of light radiation and shock waves, also pose a great danger. Another factor in the impact of light radiation is the thermal effect on materials. Its nature is determined by many characteristics of both the radiation and the object itself.

Penetrating radiation. This is gamma radiation and a flux of neutrons emitted into the environment. Its exposure time does not exceed 10-15 s. The main characteristics of radiation are flux and particle flux density, dose and dose rate of radiation. The severity of radiation injury mainly depends on the absorbed dose. When ionizing radiation propagates through a medium, it changes its physical structure, ionizing the atoms of substances. When people are exposed to penetrating radiation, various degrees of radiation sickness can occur (the most severe forms are usually fatal). Radiation damage can also be caused to materials (changes in their structure can be irreversible). Materials with protective properties are actively used in the construction of protective structures.

Electromagnetic pulse. A set of short-term electric and magnetic fields resulting from the interaction of gamma and neutron radiation with atoms and molecules of the medium. The impulse does not have a direct effect on a person; the objects of its destruction are all bodies that conduct electric current: communication lines, power transmission lines, metal structures, etc. The result of exposure to a pulse can be the failure of various devices and structures that conduct current, and damage to the health of people working with unprotected equipment. The impact of electromagnetic pulses on equipment that is not equipped with special protection is especially dangerous. Protection may include various “additives” to wire and cable systems, electromagnetic shielding, etc.

Radioactive contamination of the area. occurs as a result of the fallout of radioactive substances from the cloud of a nuclear explosion. This is the damage factor that has the longest effect (tens of years), acting over a huge area. The emission from fallout radioactive substances consists of alpha, beta and gamma rays. The most dangerous are beta and gamma rays. A nuclear explosion creates a cloud that can be carried by the wind. The fallout of radioactive substances occurs within 10-20 hours after the explosion. The scale and degree of contamination depend on the characteristics of the explosion, surface, and meteorological conditions. As a rule, the radioactive trace zone has the shape of an ellipse, and the extent of contamination decreases with distance from the end of the ellipse where the explosion occurred. Depending on the degree of contamination and the possible consequences of external exposure, zones of moderate, severe, dangerous and extremely dangerous contamination are distinguished. The damaging effects are mainly caused by beta particles and gamma irradiation. Particularly dangerous is the ingestion of radioactive substances into the body. The main way to protect the population is isolation from external exposure to radiation and preventing the entry of radioactive substances into the body. It is advisable to shelter people in shelters and anti-radiation shelters, as well as in buildings whose design weakens the effect of gamma radiation. Personal protective equipment is also used.
Protective structures and actions to shelter in them

Protective structures are structures specifically designed to protect people, in particular, from the effects of the damaging factors of a nuclear explosion. They are divided into shelters and anti-radiation shelters (PRU), as well as the simplest shelters - cracks. In the event of a sudden attack, premises suitable for this purpose can be adapted for shelters and control structures. Shelters provide reliable protection for the people sheltered in them from the effects of all damaging factors of a nuclear explosion. People can stay in them for a long time. Reliability of protection is achieved through the strength of structures and the creation of normal sanitary and hygienic conditions. Shelters can be built-in or free-standing (built-in is the most common). Anti-radiation shelters protect people from external gamma radiation and direct contact of radioactive substances with the skin, from light radiation and shock waves. The protective properties of the PRU depend on the attenuation coefficient, which shows how much the radiation level in the open area is greater than the radiation level in the shelter. Basements and basements of buildings with a high attenuation coefficient are often adapted for PRUs. The PRU must create conditions for the normal life of the sheltered people (appropriate sanitary and hygienic conditions, etc.). The simplest shelters - cracks, naturally provide much less protection from damaging factors. The use of cracks is usually accompanied by the use of personal protective equipment. Work to bring protective structures into readiness is carried out under the guidance of civil defense headquarters, and their compliance with established standards is checked. The rules and procedures for people to take shelter in protective structures are established by the Civil Defense headquarters.
Personal protective equipment

Respiratory protection. These include gas masks, respirators, cotton-gauze bandages and anti-dust fabric masks. These products provide respiratory protection from harmful impurities and radioactive substances contained in the air.

Skin protection products. In case of nuclear contamination, there is an urgent need to protect the entire human skin. Skin protection products are divided according to the principle of action into isolating and filtering. They provide complete skin protection from alpha particles and attenuate the light radiation of a nuclear explosion.

Medical protective equipment is used to weaken the impact of damaging factors on the human body and prevent the undesirable consequences of this exposure (radioprotective means from an individual first aid kit).
Nuclear explosion and radioactive contamination

The effects associated with nuclear explosions are deadly - blinding light, intense heat (thermal radiation), primary radiation, explosion, fire caused by the thermal pulse, and secondary fires caused by destruction. A nuclear explosion produces radioactive particles called fallout, which can be carried hundreds of miles by wind.

The use of a radiation dissemination device (RDD, often called a "dirty nuclear bomb" or "dirty bomb") by terrorists is considered more likely than the use of nuclear weapons. These weapons are a combination of conventional explosives and radioactive materials and are designed to spread deadly weapons over a wide area. and close to lethal amounts of radiation, terrorists like them because, compared to nuclear ones, they require almost no technical skills to assemble and use. In addition, the radioactive materials used in them are widely used in medicine, agriculture, industry and. research and are much more accessible compared to substances at the level of uranium or plutonium.

Terrorist use of nuclear weapons will very likely be limited to one fairly small “suitcase.” The power of such weapons is approximately equal to the range of bombs used in World War II. The nature of the impact would be similar to if the weapon were delivered on an intercontinental missile, but the range and force would be much more limited.

It is impossible to know how much advance warning there will be before a terrorist attack. The possibility of a surprise attack cannot be ruled out.

The danger of a massive strategic nuclear attack with a large number of weapons has diminished with the end of the Cold War. However, states with nuclear programs have supported some terrorists.

In the event of a threat of attack from a hostile country, people living near potential targets will be warned to evacuate or may themselves decide to move to a place not considered a likely target.

In general, potential targets are:
Location of strategic weapons and military bases.
Government centers such as the national capital, and regional capitals.
Important transport and communication hubs.
Manufacturing, industrial, technological and financial centers.
Oil refineries, power plants and chemical plants.
Major ports and airports.

In the event of a nuclear attack, shelter is absolutely necessary. There are two types of shelter - from explosion and from radioactive fallout. A blast shelter provides some protection from blast pressure, initial radiation, heat and fire, but even such a shelter will not withstand a direct nuclear strike. Fallout shelters do not have to be specially constructed. This can be any sheltered location as long as the walls and ceiling are thick and dense enough to absorb the radiation emitted by the sediment particles. The three protective factors of a fallout shelter are reflection, distance and time.
Reflection. The heavier and denser the materials - thick walls, concrete, bricks, books and earth - between you and the sediment particles, the better.
Distance. The greater the distance between you and the radioactive particles, the better. A location underground, such as the basement of a home or office building, will provide better protection than the ground floor. The center floor of a high-rise building may be better, depending on what is nearby at that level and where significant precipitation particles will accumulate. Particles collect on flat roofs, so the top floor is not suitable, nor is the floor adjacent to the flat roof of an adjacent building.
Time. Radiation levels from precipitation fall relatively quickly. After some time you will be able to leave the shelter. Radioactive fallout is most dangerous to people during the first two weeks, during which time radiation levels drop to approximately 1-3%.

Remember, any protection, no matter how temporary, is better than no protection at all, and the more reflection, distance and time you can take advantage of, the better.
Electromagnetic pulse

In addition to other effects, the explosion of a nuclear bomb in or above the earth's atmosphere can create an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), a high-density electric field. EI is similar to a lightning strike, but stronger, faster and shorter. EI can damage electronic structures connected to power sources or antennas, including communications systems, computers, electrical appliances, and the ignition system of a vehicle or aircraft. Damage can range from a minor malfunction to burning components. Most electronic equipment within a 1,000-mile radius from a high-altitude nuclear explosion could be damaged. Radios with short antennas that run on batteries generally do not malfunction. Although EI is unlikely to harm people, the pulse may be harmful to people with pacemakers or other built-in electronic equipment.
How to prepare for a nuclear explosion or radioactive contamination

1. Listen to warning signals and all warning sources in your community. You need to know what these signals are, what they mean, how they are used, and what you should do if you hear them.

2. Gather and keep ready an emergency kit of food, water, medicine, fuel and personal items. The supply should last up to 2 weeks - the more, the better.

3. Find out which public buildings in your community may have been designated as fallout shelters. They may have been built many years ago, so start there and find out which buildings are still in use and could be used again as a shelter.
Call your local emergency management office.
Look for black and yellow radiation shelter signs on public buildings. Note: With the end of the Cold War, many signs were removed from specially designed buildings.
If official shelters have not been built or you cannot find them, make your list of potential shelters near your home, place of work and school: a basement or windowless room on the central floors of a high-rise building, as well as subways and tunnels.
Give your family clear instructions about where radiation shelters are located and what actions to take in the event of an attack.

4. If you live in an apartment building or high-rise, discuss with the manager the safest place in the building for shelter and how to maintain life support for residents until it is safe to go outside.

5. There are not many public shelters in suburban and rural areas. If you want to build a shelter yourself, consider the following features.
The best place to shelter from radioactive fallout is a basement or underground room. Often, only minor changes are enough, especially if your home has two or more floors and the basement - or one of its corners - goes underground.
In peacetime, radiation shelters can be used as warehouses, but only if the items stored there can be quickly removed. (When putting things away, dense, heavy objects can be used to enhance the reflection.)
A windproof room can be used as a shelter during a nuclear explosion or for protection against radiation, especially in a house without a basement.
Items needed to stay in the shelter do not have to be stored as long as you can quickly move them to the shelter.

6. Find out about your community's evacuation plans. Plans may include evacuation routes, evacuation locations, public warning systems, and provision of transportation for those without cars and for people with special needs.

7. Purchase any other emergency preparedness booklets you may need.
What to do during a nuclear explosion or radiation contamination

1. Don't look at the flash or fireball - you may go blind.

2. If you hear an attack warning:
Take shelter as soon as possible, UNDERGROUND IF POSSIBLE, and do not emerge until otherwise instructed.
If at this time you find yourself outside and cannot immediately get into the room, take cover behind any object that may provide protection. Lie flat on the ground and cover your head.
If the explosion occurred at some distance, the blast wave may take 30 seconds or more to reach you.

3. Protect yourself from radioactive fallout. If you're close enough to see a blinding flash or nuclear explosion, fallout will occur in about 20 minutes. Take shelter even if you are miles from the epicenter—winds can carry radioactive particles hundreds of miles. Remember the three protective factors: reflection, distance and time.

4. Carry a battery-powered radio with you and listen to official announcements. Follow the instructions you receive. Instructions from local authorities should always be followed first: they know the situation on the ground best.
What to do after a nuclear explosion or radiation contamination

In a public or home shelter:

1. Do not leave your shelter until officials say it is safe to do so. Once out of hiding, follow their instructions.

2. In a special radiation shelter, do not leave until local authorities say that it is possible or advisable to leave. The length of your stay can vary from one day to two to four weeks.
Contamination from a radiation propagation device can cover a wide area, depending on the amount of conventional explosives used, radioactive material and atmospheric conditions.
A terrorist’s “suitcase” nuclear device, detonated on the ground or near the surface of the earth, will draw soil and debris into the explosion cloud and produce a large amount of radioactive fallout.
A nuclear weapon delivered by a missile from a hostile country would likely explode much more powerfully and create a larger cloud of radioactive fallout.
The decay time of radioactive fallout is the same, that is, residents of areas with the highest levels of radiation must necessarily remain in a shelter for up to a month.
The most intense precipitation will be limited to the explosion area and the area along the wind movement. 80% of precipitation will fall within the first 24 hours.
Due to this, and due to the extremely limited number of weapons that terrorists could use, most of the country will not be affected by the fallout.
In most affected areas, people will be allowed to leave shelters within a few days and, if necessary, evacuate to uninfected areas.

3. Although it may be difficult, make every effort to maintain sanitary conditions in the shelter.

4. Water and food may be in short supply. Use them sparingly, but do not impose a rigid diet, especially on children, the sick or the elderly.

5. Help shelter managers. Being with a lot of people in a small space can be challenging and unpleasant.
Returning home

1. Listen to the radio for information on what to do, where to go and what places to avoid.

2. If your home was within the shock wave of a bomb, or if you live in a high-rise or apartment building that was hit by a normal explosion, check for signs of collapse or damage, such as:
leaning chimneys, falling bricks, crumbling walls, crumbling plaster.
fallen small pieces of furniture, paintings and mirrors.
broken window glass.
overturned bookcases, walls or other firmly standing objects.
fire escaping from damaged fireplaces and stoves.
breakthrough of gas and electric lines.

3. Immediately clean up spilled medications, flammable liquids, and other potentially hazardous substances.

4. Listen to battery-powered radios for instructions and information about services in your community.

5. Regularly listen to information about help that may be announced on radio and television. Local, state and federal governments and other organizations will help meet emergency needs and repair damage or losses.

6. The danger may be aggravated by damage to water mains and power lines.

7. If you turned off gas, water and electricity before going to the shelter:
Do not turn on the gas yourself. The gas company will turn it on or you will receive other instructions.
Turn on the water, the main valve only after you know that the water supply is working and the water is not contaminated.
Turn on the electricity, the main unit, only after you know that the wires in your house are not damaged and the power supply in your area is functioning.
Check the waste disposal system for damage before using the toilets.

8. Stay away from damaged areas.

9. Stay away from areas marked “radiation hazards” or “hazardous materials.”
Drugs for the prevention and treatment of radiation sickness

To prevent radiation injuries and treat various forms, stages and manifestations of radiation sickness, a large number of different medications are used. Preventive agents are grouped under the general name “radio-protectors.” They are used when there is a threat of radiation injuries, radiation therapy for cancer patients, and when working with radioactive substances. Some drugs have a general (systemic) effect. Others are used topically to prevent and treat lesions of the skin and adjacent tissues. As general radioprotectors, usually used orally, sulfur-containing compounds (Cystamine), serotonin derivatives (Mexamine), glycerol ethers (Batilol), etc. are used. To protect the thyroid gland from damage by radioactive iodine, potassium iodide is used. If radioactive compounds enter the stomach, enteral sorbents (activated carbons, etc.) are used; various complexones (Pentacin, Ferrocin, etc.). To treat general manifestations of radiation sickness (damage to the nervous and cardiovascular systems, vomiting, hematopoiesis disorders, etc.), medications of the appropriate pharmacological profile are used (Leukogen, Zymosan Suspension, Actovegin). For the prevention and treatment of skin radiation injuries, a number of ointments, liniments and other dosage forms are used (Tezana Liniment, Parmidine Ointment, Dietone Ointment, etc.).

Most of the destruction from a nuclear explosion will result from a shock wave traveling at supersonic speed (in the atmosphere - more than 350 m/s). While no one was looking, we took the W88 thermonuclear warhead with a capacity of 475 kilotons, which is in service with the United States, and found out that when it exploded within a radius of 3 km from the epicenter, there would be absolutely nothing and no one left; at a distance of 4 km, buildings will be thoroughly destroyed, and beyond 5 km and further, the destruction will be medium and weak. The chances of survival will appear only if you are at least 5 km from the epicenter (and only if you manage to hide in the basement).

Light radiation

Causes ignition of flammable materials. But even if you find yourself far from gas stations and warehouses with Moment, you risk getting burns and eye damage. Therefore, hide behind some obstacle like a huge boulder, cover your head with a sheet of metal or other non-flammable thing and close your eyes. After a W88 explodes at a distance of 5 km, the shock wave may not kill you, but the light beam can cause second degree burns. These are the ones with nasty blisters on the skin. At a distance of 6 km there is a risk of getting first-degree burns: redness, swelling, swelling of the skin - in a word, nothing serious. But the most pleasant thing will happen if you happen to be 7 km from the epicenter: an even tan is guaranteed.

Electromagnetic pulse

If you are not a cyborg, the impulse is not scary for you: it only disables electrical and electronic equipment. Just know that if a nuclear mushroom appears on the horizon, taking a selfie in front of it is useless. The radius of the pulse depends on the height of the explosion and the surrounding situation and ranges from 3 to 115 km.

Penetrating radiation

Despite such a creepy name, the thing is fun and harmless. It destroys all living things only within a radius of 2–3 km from the epicenter, where the shock wave will kill you in any case.

Radioactive contamination

The meanest part of a nuclear explosion. It is a huge cloud consisting of radioactive particles raised into the air by an explosion. The area where radioactive contamination spreads strongly depends on natural factors, primarily on the direction of the wind. If W88 is detonated in a wind speed of 5 km/h, the radiation will be dangerous at a distance of up to 130 km from the epicenter in the direction of the wind (infection does not spread further than 3 km against the wind). The rate of death from radiation sickness depends on the distance of the epicenter, weather, terrain, characteristics of your body and a bunch of other factors. Infected people can either die instantly or live for years. How this happens is purely a matter of luck.

I found an invaluable reminder on the Internet in case - GOD FORbid it comes in handy - a nuclear war or an attack on Moscow and other Russian cities.
After the recent well-known events over Chelyabinsk, it is also relevant.

Activities related to the “Nuclear Alert” situation

Headquarters of the Moscow Civil Defense Departments of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Management of fire, emergency, rescue and medical services.

1. Preliminary information.

1.1. The most likely time for a nuclear strike on Moscow is around 18:00 Moscow time. This is due to the fact that:

A ) 10 a.m. Washington time allows us to prepare and carry out a strike during the working morning of the relevant security forces, without prematurely attracting increased attention from our intelligence services to the activity of the departments of a possible enemy during non-working hours;

b) all types of urban and intercity communications are overloaded at the end of the working day, and the coordination of emergency defensive measures is difficult;
V) At this time, the attention of the duty services decreases;
G) 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;
d) Transport arteries are paralyzed by traffic jams, and the population located in them is primarily unprotected from damaging factors.

1.2. The most likely yield of a thermonuclear weapon is from 2 to 10 megatons. The super-power 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 intelligence and defense units and enterprises there, 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 control services Ministry of Defense, which is the main target.

1.3. The most probable time from the moment of the warning signal “Atomic alarm!” until the moment of striking:

A) about 14 minutes when launching ground-based launch vehicles from the American continent;
b) about 7 minutes when launching carrier rockets from sea-based submarine-launched missile carriers occupying positions in the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean. This corresponds to the flight time of ballistic missiles moving in above-atmospheric space along ballistic trajectories at a speed of the order of the first cosmic speed, i.e. 7.9 km/sec, or approx. 28,000 km/h. In practical terms, in combat conditions it is possible to foresee some failures and communication delays, which can actually reduce the warning time to several minutes.

2. Signal “Atomic alarm!” served voice on all television and radio broadcasting channels, and is also duplicated by the beeps of railway locomotives and watercraft - one long beep and two short beeps, repeated several times.

3. Persons provided with shelters due to their official position, immediately begin to act according to the evacuation plan in case of a nuclear alarm under the leadership of civil defense officials, or building commandants, or team leaders, or independently. You should act without panic, in an organized manner, without the slightest delay. Any manifestations of panic must be immediately suppressed by any possible means, including the use of force and weapons. No more than 6 minutes (or earlier by order of the shelter senior, who is convinced that the full strength of the assigned groups is present in the shelter) after the first warning signal, all entrances to the shelter must be blocked and blocked according to combat mode, regardless of cases of those who did not have time to take cover in them and the number remaining outside. Attempts to prevent the closure of entrances by any persons without exception must be immediately suppressed by any means, including the use of weapons.

4. At the signal “Atomic alarm!” persons without shelter, act independently depending on where they are currently located, without delay or panic, taking all necessary protective measures and hiding from the factors of nuclear destruction. You should act calmly, competently, assessing the specific conditions of your location, using your voice and action to encourage others to follow your example and instilling confidence in them. 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 take refuge in the basement. The cracks in the doors should be plugged with any cloth that 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 take refuge in a closed room - an internal corridor, a bathroom, a storage room - which is separated from the external walls by an additional partition and has no windows. It is also useful to seal door cracks and stock up on water.

4.3. In a room with a window, lie on the floor with your feet facing the outer wall, covering your head with your hands. Choose a spot at the bottom or side of a window so that as little light falls on you as possible. It is better to hide from the light behind a heavy object - a closet, 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) the metro is the best of all possible shelters;
b) any basements, boiler rooms, underground garages;
V) sewer wells and tunnels of any underground routes;
G) foundations and lower premises of new buildings;
d) underground passages and road tunnels;
e) warehouses, underground toilets, etc.

4.5. If you are on public ground transport, you should immediately leave it and take cover (see above). ….

….4.9. All entrances to the metro are closed immediately upon a warning signal. Any manifestations of panic among the population or attempts to counteract the immediate closure of entrances are suppressed immediately by station police pickets using appropriate means, up to and including the use of lethal force. At the same time:

A) all escalators switch to descent; after all citizens have descended onto the station platforms, all escalators stop;
b) station personnel switches the power supply of all equipment to emergency in economic mode;
V) trains do not depart from the stations; trains located in tunnels on stretches continue moving to the nearest station and remain there or within possible proximity;
G) Trains that find themselves in open spaces must reach the entrances to the tunnels and, if possible, go deeper into them.

5. In clear cloudless weather During daylight hours, the approach of a descending warhead can be determined by a white contrail, similar to that of an aircraft at a higher altitude, arcing down from the upper atmosphere towards the center of Moscow at high speed.
Remember: the sound of a warhead approaching and descending will not be heard due to its supersonic speed.

6. With the accuracy of modern guidance systems 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 overall damage compared to an above-ground explosion, but increases the strength of the seismic wave, which leads to ground movements such as tectonic disturbances of a nature similar to a high-power earthquake in the upper layers, leading to crushing and destruction of even significantly buried shelters of increased strength within the radius ten to fifteen kilometers.

8. Thermal damaging factor.

8.1. At the epicenter of the explosion, a flash of light appears, the brightness of which is many times greater than the observed sunlight. Within 0.03-0.04 seconds. the flash forms 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, turning into a plasma state.

8.2. Within a radius of 3-4 km, all objects of organic origin immediately exposed to the direct thermal radiation of the explosion (unsheltered people, animals, plants, wooden parts of buildings facing the direction of 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 exposed to the direct thermal radiation of an explosion and hidden to a depth of several meters, melt, evaporate, and instantly burn out. . All substances, both organic sheltered and inorganic heat-resistant, within the radius of the Garden Ring, immediately following the moment of explosion, burn 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 and plants facing the direction of the explosion and accessible to direct thermal radiation flare up, metal roofs burn through, concrete, brick, glass, metal, stone melt; Window frames burn, glass evaporates, wires melt, asphalt catches fire. The active fire zone instantly covers the city within the Moscow Ring Road. A ring forest fire breaks out outside the Moscow Ring Road. Fully built-up areas and forested areas catch fire. The reservoirs of the Moscow River and Yauza are evaporating, and the upper layer of the Khimki Reservoir is boiling. Remember: direct radiation thermal effects last from fractions of a second to several seconds and even up to several tens of seconds, depending on the power of the explosion, and spread only in a straight line, i.e. any obstacle between you and the explosion, in the shadow of which you find yourself, can to save your life in a situation of sufficient distance from the epicenter of the explosion.

9. 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, but lags behind its instantaneous effect as it moves away from the epicenter of the explosion, the further, the longer the period of time. In the second affected area, the speed of the air shock wave reaches 1-5 thousand m/sec, i.e. everything in this zone, which has already been subjected to thermal effects, is blown away by a powerful explosion in the direction from the epicenter to the periphery, turning into a leveled surface of crushed debris burning at high temperatures (the so-called blowing away 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 speed of the shock wave decreases slightly, especially at the surface itself, but continues to remain above supersonic, i.e. up to 300-500 m/sec at the border of the Moscow Ring Road, which causes instantaneous destruction all ground-based buildings, both high-rise and low-rise. The hot and burning parts of the surfaces facing the epicenter, mixing with other materials during demolition, give the so-called. a 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 components move in the air at speeds on the order of artillery shells, aggravating the process of destruction of everything that rises above the surface. All plantings are torn out, water is squeezed out of all reservoirs.

9.3. The forests, settlements and airports closest to the Moscow Ring Road are also subject to complete or primary destruction, partial or complete destruction and burning.

9.4. Inside the entire affected area, an area of ​​sharply reduced atmospheric pressure arises due to both the burnout of oxygen in the air and the concentric separation 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 significantly lower speed, comparable to the speed of an ordinary hurricane, but it brings masses of fresh oxygen to the entire fire area, which creates the effect of a bellows, creating the so-called. firestorm over the entire affected area. The zone within the Moscow Ring Road is likened to the leveled surface of hot coals in a furnace.

10. Seismic impact of ground explosion causes an earthquake effect with compaction and displacement of surface layers. All underground metro structures within the Circle Line and the stations closest to it are 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, Ilyich Square are crushed, destroyed and collapsed. All entrances and exits from the metro, ventilation shafts, emergency and service exits collapse, or are crushed, or are completely blocked by a layer of hot mass on the surface.

11. The external picture of the explosion looks normal and is characteristic of a high-power thermonuclear explosion. The white plasma sphere, which covers the center of Moscow like a two-kilometer cap and is four times the height of the Ostankino TV tower, after a few seconds begins to dim, becomes covered with a crimson smoky veil and separates from the surface, floating up. The burning city lies in all directions, like a circle of dominoes, is covered with billowing smoke, and streams of smoke and fire rush from the periphery of the MKAD circle to the rising sphere, forming a characteristic mushroom stalk, which expands at the bottom to the limits of the affected area, narrowing at the top to a sphere that is enveloped in a cloud mushroom caps. The billowing smoke at the base of the mushroom reaches a kilometer in height, the diameter of the stem narrows to eight hundred thousand meters under the cap. The mushroom continues to rise, and although the rise looks slow due to its gigantic size, after three to five minutes its height reaches 25-35 km. With a high-power explosion, this picture can last up to several hours.

12. The fire itself, which does not make it possible to begin any rescue work, can continue, taking into account the affected area of ​​​​the Moscow metropolis, for up to several days.

13. High background radiation will not allow any rescue work to begin 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 beyond the Moscow Ring Road line.

14. The crater at the epicenter of the explosion is a crater with a diameter of about 2 km and a depth in the center of up to 200-300 m. Its surface is a glassy mass up to 10-12 m thick.

Second affected area It is a relatively flat surface covered with a layer of glassy sintered mass 0.3-0.9 m thick.

Third affected area It is a lumpy surface, largely covered with a glassy sintered mass ranging in thickness from several millimeters to several centimeters. Tests of such ammunition, carried out by both the USSR, the USA and France, have reliably shown that attempts to carry out any rescue operations within the specified radii have no real basis . The defeat of open and hidden manpower, equipment and buildings reaches 100%. Rescue efforts should focus on relocating and providing assistance to people who find themselves outside the immediate affected area, beyond the 100-kilometer zone.

We all live in difficult period of history. The situation in the world is far from stable, and threat of nuclear conflict although not large, it hovers invisibly in the air.

In the first part of our material, we examined in detail why this country could become a catalyst for nuclear Armageddon.

The second part will be devoted to those things and activities that you need to have with you and complete in the event of a real nuclear conflict.

Start.

First of all, you should remember that when starting warnings about enemy use of nuclear weapons(this could be television, radio, siren sounds of civil defense and emergency services) you have no more than 5-10 minutes to get to cover.

Depending on the distance from the epicenter of the explosion and the power of the weapon used, the destruction and danger to humans will decrease. So within a radius of 4 km from the point of detonation there will be a complete defeat of all living and nonliving things. Within a radius of 8 km– almost 100% destruction, the probability of survival is minimal. 15 km– average destruction, probability of survival is good. 15-30 km– minor damage, the risk of death is minimal. The most dangerous in this case are the secondary factors of damage from nuclear weapons - radiation, toxic fallout at a distance of over 20 km (depending on weather conditions). Other factors of damage are shock wave, light radiation, electromagnetic pulse (EMP).

If you are in an open area during a nuclear strike it is necessary to protect the respiratory system. A gas mask, a special respirator, or (as a last resort) fabric bandages are suitable for this. The ideal option at the time of a nuclear strike would be to be in a bomb shelter or the basement of a “main” house. The probability of survival there is much higher than in open areas.

If an alarm is triggered in the city, you should immediately proceed to the nearest shelter, the location of which will be notified accordingly. If the alarm does not stop after the first strike, then there is a high risk of it happening again. You are unlikely to be able to use the phone; the network will be heavily overloaded, and after an EMP occurs, its operation will be paralyzed. For residents of large cities additional the nearest metro stations can become shelter. Especially deep, as, for example, in Moscow.

If the alarm signal caught you in an apartment or office and there is no time to quickly get to a specialized shelter, you need to secure your location as much as possible. Close all entrances and exits, plug up the cracks of doorways and windows, use furniture and improvised means to strengthen walls and doors from the effects of the shock wave.

Evacuation.

When a mass evacuation begins or you decide to leave the city on your own, you need to have on hand minimum set of things and food– portable reserve, based on your physical capabilities and your family members.

What you need to have on hand:

— maps and compass(GPS, GLONASS, cellular network and alternative navigation options will stop working);

— knife and ax(this is not only a necessary tool, but also a means of self-defense);

— canned food and cereals(rice lasts longer than buckwheat, and sweets and flour products will quickly become unusable);

— first aid kit(if you need to take specialized medications, it’s worth stocking up on them in advance and in sufficient quantities; adding iodine, and more, would also be a good idea);

— matches and candles;

— fabric and bags(the fabric can be used as a dressing material, and bags are needed to put garbage in them, which will be in excess during a long stay in the shelter);

— mechanical watch;

— flashlight and batteries;

— documents identification documents (for yourself and family members);

— soap(unsanitary conditions and the troubles that arise with it may be worse than what is happening outside the safe zone);

— drinking water(a person can survive without food much longer than without water; an adult requires at least 2.5 liters of water per day, nursing mothers and children up to 3.5 liters).

This list is presented only with the most necessary things that will not hurt to have on hand in case of complications of the situation.

Hygiene and medicine.

Water is your main ally. It not only supports life in the body, but is also useful for washing wounds and personal hygiene.

If it is not possible to throw garbage outside, then it must be stored away from everyone else, in boxes, buckets or bags. Maintaining cleanliness in the new “home” plays an important role in the conditions of a nuclear war and its damaging factors. In conditions of lack of electricity and saving water, a broom can help.

Having medical knowledge and skills is very useful when you are far from medical care. At least one person in the family must be able to provide medical care, know the indications for the use of medications and methods of treating wounds.

How to act.

It will become important for you in conditions of disorganization knowledge of government strategy and action plan to ensure the safety of the population in a nuclear war. If you do not have such knowledge, you must work out your plan and provide for any possible developments. From the most negative to the most favorable, as well as your response if certain circumstances arise.

After some time you will decide get to the surface. The first day after a nuclear explosion is the most dangerous for humans. If the shelter is secure and there are enough supplies, then you need to stay in cover as long as possible.

Coming to the surface, beware of the wind and precipitation coming from the direction of impact, protect your respiratory system and move towards filtration points outside the city, where help awaits you.

We hope for the best, prepare for the worst.