The researcher presented instructions for surviving a nuclear explosion. How to survive a nuclear war

How to survive after a nuclear war

Nuclear war is not a scenario that most people want to survive. In the sixties, Cuban missile crisis has pushed us to the dangerous edge, but humanity has not yet been “lucky enough” to experience an event that would lead to its potential extinction.
Nuclear winter is itself a theoretical proposition; Scientists believe that in the event of a nuclear war, huge amounts of soot would be released into the stratosphere and spread by winds across the planet, blocking the sun and causing temperatures to plummet. The plants will wither and die, then the animals will follow. The collapse of the food chain will lead to the extinction of the human race.
A nuclear winter could last for years or even decades, and while it lasts, the people who survived the nuclear war will not be able to restore civilization. The only way to ensure the survival of the human race is to follow tips for surviving a nuclear winter.

10. Live in rural areas

This may sound like useless advice, but the question of who survives the first nuclear explosions will be decided by no more than geographical 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 in the initial blasts—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. Abandon religious beliefs

This advice (and image) may be somewhat controversial, but there are many good reasons why religious beliefs might hinder the efforts of survivors of a potential nuclear war. First of all, going to church on Sunday is not the number one priority after nuclear disaster. But seriously: in order to survive, you may have to perform actions that are unthinkable for many religious (or simply highly moral) people (see No. 8). The survivors' mindset must be decidedly "Machiavellian": the whole world is open to us; questions of morality are secondary to the question of survival at any cost.
If your religion prohibits you from eating certain foods, you should give up such dietary obligations 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 abandon your faith.

8. Kill/Release pets

So, you survived the initial explosion, and now you are an atheist living in the village. What's next? Let's think about your pets. Pets need food, water and care - and don't love them too much during a nuclear winter. You won't live long if you share every morsel of food with Rex.
For those heartless people who may be thinking of killing and eating their pet(s), please note that food will be extremely scarce. Most people (I hope) find these thoughts disgusting and will simply let their beloved animal go wildlife. But I say this 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 them - this will at least save them from hunger in the future.

7. Take cover

Science Minute: In the event of multiple nuclear explosions in major cities, massive amounts of soot and thick smoke from the fires would rise into the stratosphere, blocking sunlight from reaching much of the Earth's surface for years or even decades.
The surface temperature will decrease sharply, and near-zero values will remain indefinitely. In other words, the need for warm clothing cannot be ignored - so you can start packing your insulating clothes if you are not already doing so. Unfortunately, constant freezing is not the end of your worries; scientists suggest that massive destruction of the ozone layer will occur, that is, a huge amount of ultraviolet radiation, which leads to death from skin cancer. You can reduce this impact by avoiding sleeping in open spaces, and always wear some kind of hat 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 difficult for you to arm yourself against robbers or potential cannibals. Desperate conditions may cause many survivors to steal food from other survivors in order to stave off starvation. Robberying a local store with a pistol is a perfectly viable option for those in America (or any other country without significant control over firearms) - but you need to make sure that the store owner does not pull out the gun. Otherwise, you may want to keep 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 go extinct after a nuclear war, it will become inevitable that humans will resort to cannibalism to survive. In fact, you might consider cannibalism for yourself at some point when you're starving and find a useful corpse in your area.
As for the 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 flesh tend to suffer from Kuru symptoms; brain pollution, which leads to very noticeable consequences. For example, if a person is walking towards you swaying from side to side and struggling to walk in a straight line, then it is better to run away as he is either drunk or has symptoms of Kuru. Other symptoms include uncontrollable shaking and violent bursts 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 - nuclear winter or not!

4. Travel alone

Introverts will thrive in a post-apocalyptic environment, at least compared to those who are instinctively drawn to cell phones, finding yourself alone. Having a family - especially if it includes children - is not a smart move given the food shortages. Ignore the "outlaw" or "raider" gang clichés that Hollywood feeds us in films like "The Road" and "The Book of Eli." In reality, such groups will never be able to find enough food to support themselves in the long term. This doesn't mean you should abandon (or eat) your family. Just search large group is not good solution for those who want to avoid hunger.

3. Eat insects

The sharp reduction in sunlight and precipitation during a nuclear winter will make growth impossible and kill off most plant life on Earth, many animals in turn quickly dying out from lack of food. For this reason small insects ants such as ants, crickets, wasps, grasshoppers and beetles are some of the creatures that are likely to survive in the long term. They will also be fantastic sources of protein to support muscle mass: Grasshoppers have the highest percentage of protein: 20g for every 100g of weight. Crickets are rich in iron and zinc, and ants are excellent sources of calcium. Of course, insects are not as tasty as a bucket of fried chicken (though you don't know for sure), but at least they are preferable to starvation.

2. Clean up trash

This may not be the most pleasant activity in a post-apocalyptic time. Who wouldn't want to be able to wander around shopping center, stealing any desired item without experiencing legal retribution? Don't get too excited, though: robbing cash registers will become a pointless exercise once civilization collapses. Instead, it's better to focus on hacking food and drink vending machines. If you're hungry, try emptying trash cans for scraps or looking for canned goods that have an indefinite shelf life. It's also fairly easy to find clothing to keep you warm, and if your country doesn't have gun control, you can find guns to protect yourself.

1. Avoid the contaminated area

The photo above shows the ghost town of Pripyat, the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986. 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 cancer later. Today the city is uninhabitable. Radiation levels are too high to safely support life. After a nuclear disaster, radiation levels are likely to be significantly higher. Anyone inside large cities that will be bombed will quickly receive a dose of radioactive poisoning and will soon die.

Nuclear war is one of the most common and real options 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 arrived - the nuclear apocalypse. Hundreds of nuclear Polaris, Tridents and other global sowers of democracy flew to the borders of our country with a joyful whistle. This entire “overseas gift” will arrive in about 30 minutes - approximately how long it takes for a rocket to fly from the launch silo to the “recipient”. And a completely logical question arises: “What to do?” (of course after the question - “Why did this happen to me?”). First of all, comrades, don’t really hope to quickly move to another world and party there with the angels/devils/houris. There are not so many thermonuclear ammunition 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 vastness of Texas and Oklahoma. Democracy and spirituality will be delivered to the bulk of the population by “regular” versions of this subject, that is, by nuclear devices.

To begin with, despite statements such as: “In Russia everything is in the wrong place,” early warning and civil defense systems are still working, and are even being gradually modernized. So you will be warned. They will warn you in the simplest and most intelligible form; you don’t need to remember any three green whistles. The warning system horns that hang on houses and at all intersections will simply blare (no, these are not decorations Soviet period), after which the voice of an elderly, frightened woman (or, alternatively, a wooden military man) will say the words: “ATTENTION EVERYONE!!” and in the same voice it will be stated exactly what kind of apocalypse is approaching us. In our case it will be about a nuclear missile attack. If you hear a signal, but it’s far from the swearing place, turn on the radio or zombie box - the same thing will happen there on all channels. The voice, by the way, will give advice on how to behave and where to run, as long as you have time. Then he will be silent forever.

In the first 24 hours after the impact, speed of movement will be vital - scurrying away from the epicenter, every kilogram of weight taken will directly affect your chances of survival and the rest of your life later. You should definitely take documents with you: passports, birth certificates (if you are a schoolchild or, on the contrary, 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 definitely survive, as well as its instruments: the police, the army, officials, and all of them will check the documents first. Persons without documents will be pushed into filtration camps, and if they behave inappropriately, they may be killed - citizens in uniform will also be very nervous. Take the money - communism will not come either. It’s still impossible to eat food until you leave the infected zone, and you won’t come out of it “clean”. Household radiation dosimeters are practically useless if it does not turn sour from electromagnetic pulse and penetrating radiation, their sensor is still not designed to operate in conditions of severe infection, it quickly degrades and will show nonsense. Unless you get food and water later, check it, but the batteries will run out quickly. The devices of nuclear scientists and the military require certain knowledge, and most importantly, they are heavy - the weight has already been mentioned. But be sure to take the radio receiver, just disconnect the antenna and battery, otherwise it will burn out from the impulse. And don't forget a map of the city and 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 an alarm, you will most likely not be able to get through to anyone by phone. About special anti-radiation drugs: they will probably slip in expired or improperly stored ones. In general, then contact the military or the Ministry of Emergency Situations, they will give you something suitable and in the correct concentration (by the way, about getting drunk: vodka does not remove radiation! But it reduces its damaging effect, so you need to drink before, not after, but it’s still better not to , because you won’t be able to run fast anymore - and this is important). As soon as all this nuclear fuss dies down, there is a choice of two options...

Option #1: Sit in the basement as long as there is enough air and food. In the first days 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 decrease. Moreover, not everyone is capable fast pace travel the 10 to 20 kilometers over rough terrain necessary to escape an area with a deadly level of infection. If we assume that the explosion was simply nuclear (if still thermonuclear - in this 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 little 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 only danger is the ingestion of radioactive dust into the body (but you will not die from this immediately, but after years). So, if you have a respirator, there is no point in sitting out for more than an hour waiting for the radiation level to drop. A respirator or gas mask is your best friend in this case. Yes! You also need to choose the right direction in which to scurry, otherwise you might end up running somewhere you shouldn’t.

Option No. 2: Based on the fact that you won’t be able to sit in the basement, you should get out and move on 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 blocked, breathing problems will quickly begin, and if it was plowed up by a shock wave, its remains will not protect it from radiation. Quite cosmic levels of radiation will be closer to the epicenter than your basement (since you survived the penetrating and shock wave in it), and in the first hours after the explosion, the bulk of the radioactive crap is still hanging high in the atmosphere. Leave the most danger zone infection during this time is quite possible.

Regardless of when you got out, use the rubble of the surrounding buildings to determine where the shock wave came from, and quickly stomp in the opposite direction, but towards the exit from the city (but under no circumstances into the wind!!). Don’t be too distracted by saving others; in general, avoid people who have obvious signs getting hit - severe burns, torn legs, etc. You won’t be able to save them, you’ll just die yourself, because they are already self-propelled Chernobyls, not people. The faster you get out of the city, the less radiation you will pick up, and the less likely you are to fall under the second strike

The main threat in the first few days will be dust enriched with both primary nuclear decay products and secondary sources. Inhaling or swallowing it means transmitting radiation directly to vital organs, and it is extremely undesirable to come into contact with 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 direction of the last observation of mushroom clouds), do not sit / lie on the ground, avoid lowlands (there will be the highest concentrations radioactive canoe), do not go downwind unless this is the only available direction from the epicenter. Restrain excretory processes for as long as possible. The worst thing that can happen is that it will rain and the rain will be so intense that at the first sign of it, immediately hide under awnings, trees, etc.

Once you get out of the city so much that the city is barely visible, turn on the radio and listen to alerts. The army and other services will set up service points for the population, look on the map to see which one is closest, and go there. A real paranoid person will know the collection points in advance; the local Ministry of Emergency Situations will tell you about them - the main thing is to inquire in advance. Upon arrival, go through control (memorize or write down the results), decontamination - eat the drugs given, take off and throw away outer clothing. Next, little will depend on you, just don’t worsen the situation, especially with screams like: “Everything is lost!!” - this is breeding panic, they have the right to shoot. Help (or at least do not interfere) with those who save you.

Most civil defense shelters built from the late 1970s to the present day for civilians are designed for a shock wave pressure of 0.1 MPa ( type A-I V), and now only this type is being built. The best and smallest shelters (type A-I) are at 0.5 MPa, 0.3 MPa (A-II), 0.2 MPa (A-III). But don’t delude yourself: as a rule, the stronger the shelter, the more strategic the object next to it, which means the higher the likelihood of a targeted strike on the object. Since the late 1950s, structures at 0.15 and 0.3 MPa have been built. Pre-war structures were not designed for a nuclear explosion, but ordinary basement shelters will withstand some kind of shock wave, no more than 0.5 MPa, more likely 0.1 - 0.2 MPa. More durable protective structures, 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 - these are the metro and some special bunkers . Metro stations located at a depth of about 20 meters (second-class shelters) will withstand not only the epicenter of an airborne 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 power of up to 100 kilotons) in close proximity. In the immediate vicinity - does not mean that directly under the explosion, it is somewhere in a few dozen - a hundred or two meters from the boundaries of the crater; 15 kt in an explosion on the surface is a crater with a depth of 22 m and a diameter of 90 - 95 m, 100 kt respectively 42 m and 350 m.

This guide could save your life one day.

Hawaii residents recently received a warning about missile strike. However, after a few minutes it turned out that the alarm was false. But during this time, many realized that they absolutely did not know how to behave in the face of such a threat.

So, imagine that you find yourself in a similar situation: an intercontinental ballistic missile or other nuclear weapon is fired at your city. What to do?

Flash left, flash right

To be saved, you must first know what the danger is nuclear explosion and how it manifests itself. This is a whole range of effects:

Light flash;
Thermal impulse;
Radioactive radiation;
Fireball;
Blast wave;
Fallout.

The first three phenomena spread at the speed of light, so they overtake victims immediately after the explosion. In this case, the effect of heat can last several seconds and cause burns even several kilometers from the epicenter.

The last two effects, that is blast wave and radioactive fallout occur almost simultaneously, although the distance of the blast wave is somewhat greater. It is this that causes the greatest damage - overturning cars, destroying houses, etc. The last to spread is the bulk of the radioactive fallout - the explosion lifts it into the atmosphere, from where it falls down.

We must remember that when we are indoors, we are largely protected from these effects. In addition, it is important to understand that the power of nuclear weapons is not infinite, but is limited by the amount of explosive material in the bomb or missile. Thus, a single explosion - or even several explosions - leaves most people with a good chance of survival.

Arms control experts suggest that, for example, North Korea could have missile warheads with a yield of 10 to 30 kilotons of TNT - the lower limit of this corridor is slightly less than the power of the bomb dropped by the Americans on Japan in 1945.

The greatest destruction and the least chance of survival are characteristic of the “zone of severe destruction.” For a 10-kiloton bomb (that's two-thirds the power of the Hiroshima explosion), that's about a kilometer radius.

It is possible that North Korea could also launch a miniature thermonuclear weapon that would produce an explosion equivalent to 100 kilotons, but even then the area of major destruction would be limited to a radius of about two kilometers.

Brooke Buddemeyer, a civil defense and radiation specialist at Livermore National Laboratory, says, "You don't need a bomb shelter for protection—a regular building will greatly improve your chances."

However, buildings are different, and after the blast wave has passed, it may be wiser to move.

Where to hide before an atomic explosion

It's hard to find a worse shelter than a car, Buddemeyer says. The machine offers almost no protection from radiation, including radioactive fallout. In addition, the driver may be temporarily blinded by the flash of the explosion - and lose vision for a period of 15 seconds to a minute.

“The rods and cones in your retina become overloaded and take time to regain sensitivity - during which time you can easily lose control of the car. If you are driving along the road and suddenly lose your vision, like other drivers around you, an accident cannot be avoided,” explains the expert.

So if you're driving under a missile warning, your best bet is to drive to the nearest place where you can park safely, get out of your car, and make your way to the nearest building.

“Once you're inside, go to the middle of the house or to the basement to help avoid injuries from broken glass, flash blinding and thermal burns,” says Buddemeyer.

The expert says blast protection techniques are similar to tornado protection: "If your home is in the path of a tornado or blast wave, it's better to be in the strongest part of it."

Another tip: avoid rooms with a large number ceiling tiles, lamps or moving objects - it is better if there is nothing to fall on you.

In an office building, take cover on the stairs:

“It's in the center of the building, surrounded by load-bearing walls, and there's not a lot of clutter, so it's an ideal location.”

If the alarm finds you at home, go down to the first floor and stay closer to the center. If there is a basement, run there. At the dacha, an ordinary cellar can save you.

In the building you are also partially protected from the radiation wave, and this is important because its excessive exposure in a short time can greatly damage the body - it will stop recovering, fight infections, and so on - this is called acute radiation sickness.

Several hours of exposure to an intensity of about 750 millisieverts is thought to result in illness—that's about 100 times the natural and medical exposure the average person receives in a year. With a 10-kiloton explosion, such a dose can be received while being approximately within a radius of two kilometers, in a zone of moderate destruction. (When moving a few kilometers away, the radiation dose drops to tens of millisieverts.)

However, Buddemeyer clarifies that most estimates are based on nuclear tests which took place in deserts.

He says: “This does not take into account that there may be some obstacles between you and the explosion - reinforced concrete, steel and others that absorb radiation building materials».

So a suitable shelter can reduce the radiation dose by a factor of ten or more. However, it is not a fact that you need to stay in the shelter that you find before the explosion after.

How to protect yourself from radioactive fallout

The next danger is radioactive fallout. This is a mixture of products of the splitting of atoms, so-called radioisotopes.

During an explosion, these particles rise high into the sky and within 15 minutes can settle on the ground, and although their concentration is highest in the area of the explosion, the wind can carry them over hundreds of square kilometers.

The danger of these particles is that they continue to decay, emitting gamma radiation - it is invisible, but carries a lot of energy, penetrates deeply into the body and can cause significant damage.

However, in terms of radiation contamination, a ground-based nuclear explosion is more dangerous than a missile warhead explosion, since the latter are usually designed to explode high above the target, which means they throw up less dust into the air.

“If the first building you come across, in which you took refuge from an explosion, is not very safe, and there is a more suitable one nearby, it is worth moving there to protect yourself from radioactive fallout,” he advises.

After the explosion, you have 10-15 minutes, depending on the distance to the epicenter, to change your shelter. Ideally, this should be a basement without windows so that the earth and concrete protect you from radiation.

However, if you don’t know where to go, it’s better to stay in the first shelter - there may be fires or obstacles in the form of debris from destroyed structures around.

Buddemeyer notes: “The main thing is to be in the room both during the explosion and during the period of radioactive fallout.”

A 2014 study found that in some situations it may be useful to wait in the first shelter for an hour after a detonation, then move to a more suitable location if it is within 15 minutes of travel.

Buddemeyer advises following the rule “hide, don’t go anywhere, make contact” (that is, choose a shelter, don’t leave it and try using radio or mobile phone receive official instructions on where to go next).

“The consequences of radioactive fallout can be avoided - if it happens in big city, then understanding how to behave can save hundreds of thousands of people from death or radiation sickness,” the expert notes.

There are other techniques you can use to increase your chances of survival.

So, it is useful to have a set of the most necessary things at home, at work and in the car: a radio, water, a couple of nutrition bars and the medicines you need - this will not be superfluous in any disaster, not necessarily nuclear.

Can be sealed to protect against radioactive fallout broken windows or doors with plastic film, and also turn off all ventilation systems that draw in air from the street. In addition, it is good if there is access drinking water bottled and canned food or other food that does not spoil and does not require cooking.

If you have been exposed to radioactive fallout, particles can be removed as follows:

Take off your outer clothing and put it in plastic bag and throw it out of the shelter outside.
If possible, take a shower; Wash your skin and hair thoroughly, with shampoo but no conditioner, or wipe your body with a damp cloth.
Blow your nose to remove radioactive dust from your nose.
Rinse your eyes, nose, and facial hair (including eyebrows and eyelashes) with water or wipe with a damp cloth.
Put on clean clothes (from a drawer or a plastic bag).

Potassium iodide tablets, often considered the most important anti-radar drug, are not a very effective means of protection against radiation fallout. Buddemeyer estimates that radioactive iodine makes up only 0.2% of the total fallout you might encounter outdoors, and these tablets are more likely to solve long-term problems associated with food contamination.

He reminds: “If you receive a nuclear warning, the most important thing is to find shelter.” And he adds: “In Hiroshima, people survived 300 meters from the epicenter. They didn't try to find shelter - they just happened to be in the building at the time of the explosion. And they received the most serious injuries from flying glass.”

Prepared by Evgenia Sidorova

Explosion nuclear bomb, depending on the rated power, causes catastrophic destruction within a radius of one to ten kilometers from the point of initiation. At the epicenter of the explosion, energies of monstrous magnitude rage: the temperature rises to several hundred thousand degrees, the pressure increases abruptly from five to eight times, then sharply drops below atmospheric pressure. It is impossible to survive at the epicenter even in a fortified shelter: surge seismic activity leads to the instantaneous collapse of any existing cavities located closer than two kilometers from the surface of the earth.

It is possible to survive in the secondary damage zone. At a distance of more than ten kilometers from the explosion site, the increase in temperature is insignificant, but there are other damaging factors that change over time. When a nuclear strike alert is triggered, you should find cover as quickly as possible. Ideally, it will be a subway or a specialized bomb shelter. Less reliable shelters include basements and concrete fortifications located below ground level. At the moment of the explosion, a bright flash is observed in the sky, which the human eye is still able to see. In a few seconds, the brightness of the light grows to a luminous radiation of monstrous power.

Light radiation

If there are no suitable fortifications around, you should hide behind a ledge made of opaque, high-density material as quickly as possible. Concrete barriers, large stones, and building walls will work well. If there is nothing like that, you should be at least 1-1.5 meters below ground level. Intense light radiation lasts from 30 to 80 seconds, heating objects up to several hundred degrees, so a person’s stay on open space within a radius of up to 30 kilometers from the explosion is deadly. The action of light radiation causes widespread fires and melting, and partially destroys buildings.

Penetrating radiation

Within 40 seconds of initiation, hard ionizing radiation is released, which can cause death almost instantly. The effect of radiation occurs at the stage of residual glow. Stone walls, concrete floors and thick soil can protect against the effects of penetrating radiation, but you need to wait until the active phase of the explosion is completed.

Shock wave

One minute after the nuclear charge is initiated, the supersonic shock wave leaves the epicenter and loses speed as it spreads. Deep basements and wells remain reliable shelter from the shock wave; in their absence, you can hide in the folds of the terrain. In open areas, the wave can lift up to two meters of soil into the air.

Radiation pollution

After the explosion, you must leave the affected area as soon as possible. After 6-10 hours, the initial precipitation of suspended particles of decomposition products occurs on the surface. You should leave against the wind if it is directed towards the epicenter of the explosion or in one of the directions. If the wind blows from the epicenter, you should leave the affected area perpendicular to the direction of the air flow.

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. Most likely application time nuclear strike Moscow time - about 18 o'clock 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) the attention of the duty services decreases at this time;
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 superpower of ammunition is limited by the capabilities of the delivery vehicles and is determined by large area metropolis of Moscow, the concentration of central intelligence and defense units and enterprises in it, and along its perimeter - a belt of missile and aviation complexes cover, but first of all - the high security of the shelters of the presidential and government apparatus and management services of the Ministry of Defense, which are 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 launch vehicles from sea-based submarine-launched missile carriers occupying positions in the North Atlantic and North Arctic Ocean. This corresponds to the flight time 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 later (or earlier by order of the shelter senior, who is convinced that there are assigned groups in the shelter in in full force) after the first warning signal, all entrances to the shelter must be blocked and blocked according to combat mode, regardless of the cases of those who did not have time to take refuge in them and the number of those 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 in at the moment are located, without delay or panic, taking all necessary measures for protection and sheltering from factors 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 to move 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, descending in an arc 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 accuracy modern means guidance 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 slightly reduces the radius general defeat 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 increased degree strength within a radius of ten to fifteen kilometers.

8. Thermal damaging factor.

8.1. At the epicenter of the explosion, a light flash appears, the brightness of which is many times greater than that 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 boiling top layer Khimki Reservoir. 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. Damage factor 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. Within the entire affected area, an area of sharply decreased atmospheric pressure due to both oxygen burnout in the air and concentric expansion 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 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 appears 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.