How to Prepare for Nuclear War

Co-authored by Ky Furneaux

Last Updated: December 9, 2024 References

Recent events around the globe, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have left people fearing the worst: nuclear war. While nuclear war is still unlikely according to experts, even the remote possibility of such a scenario can be upsetting and scary. Having a plan in place for what to do in the case of nuclear war can help relieve some of that anxiety, and there are things you can start doing to prepare today. Keep reading to learn how to prepare your home for nuclear war, create a safety plan for you and your family, and respond during an imminent nuclear attack.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Surviving a Nuclear Blast

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1
Watch the news media for an alert about an upcoming attack. If a nuclear attack on your region or city is imminent, the local and national news media will be reporting on the event. Also pay close attention to any ballistic-missile warning systems that may broadcast a warning across radio, TV, or even though text messages. Hawaii's ballistic-missile-threat system is a good example of this type of warning.^{[1]
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- Even 5–7 minutes of warning before the blast will provide enough time for you to take steps that will save your life.
2
Get inside of a sturdy building and make your way to the center. Inside of a building is the safest place to be in the case of a nuclear strike. Enter the building as soon as you hear the siren, even if you suspect that it may be a drill and want to be sure that the alert is real. Make your way to a central room and stay there.^{[2]
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- If you're planning for a nuclear war weeks or months in advance, make a plan regarding how you'll get yourself to a large, secure building within 5 minutes of a bomb warning.
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3
Make your way to an underground basement or ground floor. If it's possible, move as low as possible within the building. Preferably, try to find a room without any exterior windows or doors. Stand or sit in the middle of the room and wait for the bomb to hit.^{[3]
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- Locating yourself away from exterior windows and walls will decrease the amount of radiation you receive.
4
Remain inside for at least 30 minutes following the blast. If the building that you're in remains standing after the bomb blast hits it, don't go outside right away. A large wave of radiation will sweep outward from the bomb location. This radioactive fallout will take several minutes to arrive at your location. So, stay indoors (preferably still underground) where you'll be relatively safe from the radiation.^{[4]
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- If you step out within the first few minutes after the blast, the radiation wave is likely to kill you.
5
Stay in the shelter for 24 hours to avoid the worst of the fallout. This may not be practical in some situations (e.g., if the building was partially destroyed and is no longer safe). While you must stay inside for 30 minutes after the blast, after that time has passed, you can quickly relocate yourself to a larger, sturdier building if there's one within ¹⁄₄ mile (0.40 km). Again, seek out a central room or basement away from windows.^{[5]
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- Once you're in a safe, sturdy building, stay there for up to 24 hours.
6
Listen for official instructions regarding when and how to evacuate. Use a radio set, a television, or your cell phone to check official news sources. Government officials should keep the public posted regarding ways to evacuate the radiated area. You'll also receive information regarding parts of the city that are heavily radiated and should be avoided.^{[6]
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- If you don't have a radio or phone with you, try to find a public building that would have a phone or TV.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Putting Together a Nuclear War Survival Kit

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1
Put together survival kits in anticipation of nuclear war. Find a sturdy backpack and fill it with survival items. These should include: 2 litres (0.53 US gal) of water, packaged food, a flashlight, maps, matches, and a battery-operated radio. Also pack any prescription medications that you take, a handful of cash, and a first aid kit.^{[7]
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- Having these items already assembled and in a bag will save you time if you need to evacuate your home or workplace quickly.
2
Pack pet food and extra water in a survival kit if you have pets. If you have dogs or cats, add a month's supply of their food to your survival pack. While tins of canned food will take up less space in a backpack, they'll also weigh 2-3 times as much as a bag of kibble. Also pack an extra 1 litre (0.26 US gal) of water per pet.^{[8]
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- Unfortunately, if you have to leave your home during a nuclear war, small pets like fish or larger pets like horses will be impossible to bring with you.
3
Include a sleeping bag or warm blanket. In the event of an evacuation following a nuclear strike or nuclear war, you may be forced to spend the night in an impromptu shelter or even in the open. Prepare for this situation by packing a warm wool or fleece blanket or a sleeping bag in your survival kit. If you'd like to have a large survival kit, also pack a 2-person tent.^{[9]
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- If you live in a chilly northern climate, plan to bring more than 1 sleeping bag or blanket for each person in your family.
4
Bring a full change of clothing and a warm jacket. If your home is destroyed in a nuclear war or if you're evacuated for a long period, you'll need to have extra clothing with you. Pack 2 pairs of underwear and socks, a pair of heavy-duty pants, a thick shirt, and a hat. Also bring a pair of outdoor shoes, like snow boots or hiking boots depending on your climate.^{[10]
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- If you live in a cold climate, pack accordingly. For example, plan to bring 2 sweaters and a heavy parka.
5
Create 2 more survival kits for your car and home. For maximum preparedness, prepare 3 identical survival kits. Keep 1 in your home, 1 in your vehicle, and 1 at your workplace. This will allow you to be prepared for a nuclear strike or the outbreak of a nuclear war regardless of your physical location.^{[11]
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- For example, if there's a nuclear strike while you're at work, you won't have to travel back to your house to get the survival kit.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Preparing Your Home

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1
Stock up on bottled water before a nuclear war. In the case of a large-scale nuclear war, public water reservoirs (and other supplies) would become contaminated with radiation. To avoid drinking radiated water, you'll need to have a large private supply. Over a period of several months, purchase (or bottle at home) at least 300 gallons (1,100 L) of clean water per person in your household.^{[12]
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- Depending on how much water you and your family members use for showering and cleaning purposes, this amount should last about 250 days.
2
Purchase several months' worth of packaged food. Any crops and animals struck by radiation will either die or be completely irradiated, and any food derived from them will be irradiated as well. Even if you're not concerned about irradiated food, there's a good chance that the majority of existing food supplies will be destroyed in a nuclear war. To prepare, visit your local supermarket regularly and stock up on packaged and non-perishable foods.^{[13]
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- Cans of tuna, soup, and chili
- Canned vegetables
- Sealed packages of frozen meat
- Sealed bags of chips, pretzels, and other snacks
3
Seal windows and doors by taping plastic up over them. If you're at home and concerned about nuclear blasts—or if there's already a nuclear war going on—cut apart several large plastic garbage bags. Use masking tape to tape the plastic bags up on the inside of your home's windows. Taping plastic on the inside of the windows will protect you should an air blast from an atomic bomb shatter the glass and send shards flying inward.^{[14]
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- Taping up plastic will also provide some limited protection from fallout after a nuclear blast.
4
Turn off your home's AC unit as soon as a nuclear strike occurs. Air conditioning units and other forms of home ventilation bring air into the home from the outside. If a nuclear strike has occurred within 1–2 miles (1.6–3.2 km) of your home, the outside air will be irradiated. To keep this air from being pulled into your home, turn off all forms of air ventilation.^{[15]
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- You can also tape a plastic bag over indoor air vents to prevent outside air from leaking in.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Planning for Your Family's Safety

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1
Plan how your family will find one another and communicate. Chances are that all of the members of your family won't be in 1 location when a nuclear strike occurs or a nuclear war breaks out. This will be especially true if you have kids. So, plan a communication strategy and family meet-up location well in advance. This will allow everyone to reunite as soon as possible.^{[16]
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- For example, you could all agree to meet at a large public building like a courthouse or library.
- Cell phones may be unreliable after a nuclear blast. Instead, you could give each member of your family a battery-powered walkie-talkie to use for communicating.
2
Stock up on essential medications in preparation for a nuclear war. If a nuclear war were to break out tomorrow, it would become difficult or impossible to refill medical prescriptions. If you or a family member need any prescription medications to live life on a day-to-day basis, stock up so you have plenty on hand. If war seems imminent, visit a doctor and ask for as large of a prescription as they'll give you.^{[17]
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- Necessary prescription meds could include any for mental illness (e.g., depression or bipolar disorder) or meds for chronic pain or diabetes.
3
Store important family documents in a safe box. In a secure lockbox, keep important personal and family documents including: birth certificates, copies of health insurance policies, copies of driver's licenses and passports, other ID papers, diplomas, and bank account records. Then, when you're evacuating your home, remember to bring this box with you.^{[18]
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- Make sure that the lockbox you use is waterproof.
- If you happen to forget and leave the box in your house, a sturdy lockbox should survive the war and be accessible when you return home.

Community Q&A

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Question

Why do you need packages frozen meat as part of your supplies?

Community Answer

It isn't necessary, but helpful if you eat meat. If you don't, you should still include something with lots of protein, life tofu jerky or dried beans.

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What if a radioactive person comes to my door with a gun?

Tinty67

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As radiation kills fairly quickly when exposed directly, it is unlikely that they would come asking for food.

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If there is a nuclear exchange, even if limited, will there be a "nuclear winter"?

Shamus68

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It would take a very large nuclear exchange to cause a nuclear winter. It's possible the resulting fallout could kill most people before there was a significant drop in global temperatures.

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Tips

Even for nuclear weapons, the majority of the destruction and fallout is limited to a radius of about 1 mile (1.6 km). While it's impossible to predict exactly where a bomb will fall, many people take comfort in knowing that, even if they're 2–3 miles (3.2–4.8 km) from the blast location, they'll most likely be fine.^{[19]
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Warnings

Never try to drive away from a nuclear blast. Being in your car is extremely unsafe at this time, and will leave you completely vulnerable to radiation from the bomb.^{[20]
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