In the days of the cold war, nuclear war was on everyone's minds. Now, with ever-increasing world tensions, nuclear war is in the news and in public consciousness again. Perhaps, now, it is more likely than ever. This section of the website will cover nuclear war, the issues, the likelihood, and the things people can do to prepare and to survive global thermonuclear war.

This page gives an introduction to some of the issues about nuclear war. This will be important background information in forming a plan for preparing to survive a nuclear war, or other attack by nuclear weapons (such as from a terrorist organisation or rogue state).

Quick Facts About Nuclear War

• Nuclear war is much more survivable than you probably realise.
• Nuclear war is much more likely than you probably realise.
• Nuclear war can escalate much faster than you probably realise.
• As of 2024 there are around 4000 active (as in ready to be used) nuclear weapons in the world. There have already been about 2000 nuclear detonations on the planet, all but two of them being nuclear bomb tests. Around 3/4 of these tests, and all of the recent ones, have been underground. About 500 of the 2000 nuclear bomb tests have been atmospheric (i.e. not underground).
• There are three ways to "deliver" nuclear weapons to a target: Using a bomber (aeroplane) or a missile launched from either land (an ICBM) or from a submarine (an SLBM).
• An Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) or Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) can travel up to 1/3 of the way around the world, reaching an altitude of 1200 kilometres, at speeds of about 4-8 kilometers per second. It takes about 30 minutes for a missile launched in Russia or the USA to reach a target in the other country.
• To use simple language, an ICBM (or SLBM) is basically a "space rocket". Their speed, height, and range is limited mainly by the fact that going much higher or faster would put them into orbit like a satellite. Many of the same models of ICBM rockets used for nuclear bombs were also used as part of the space program. In 1957 the rocket that launched Sputnik, the world's first man-made satellite, was a modified ICBM. In at least one case the same type of rocket used for nuclear weapons deployment was used to put human astronauts into orbit. Much of the space program and "space race" of the cold war years was just an after-effect of the race for nuclear (and therefore world) supremacy. It was also a way to engage public interest and make the development of ICBM rockets appear to be a peaceful science-based initiative, rather than a military one.
• The phrase "nuclear submarine" refers to a submarine that's powered by its own built-in nuclear reactor. This means they never need to refuel. They can also use the electricity made by the reactor to convert seawater into oxygen, and into fresh water, etc, so that they only reason they ever need to surface is for food for the crew. I read that they usually carry about three months of food though presumably this could be increased if necessary. They can be built to carry nuclear missiles and launch them while underwater. These are called Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs). See here, here and here (on Wikipedia) for more.
• Assuming you aren't "too close" (this gives a rough idea of how close is too close) to the actual explosion(s), the main danger from nuclear bombs is fallout.
• The level of nuclear radiation from bomb fallout decays much faster than what most people think.
• Nuclear fallout comes from nuclear bomb explosions, and is completely different to nuclear waste from power plants and pollution from accidents such as Fukushima (which has a much slower rate of decay, i.e. it is dangerous for much longer).
• To survive high levels of nuclear fallout you will need some sort of physical protection, such as a fallout shelter.
• Fallout shelters do not have to be elaborate bunkers made from concrete nor cost many thousands of dollars for construction. They can be quite simple and (depending somewhat on your location) can be made within a few days or less using techniques available to millions of people (such as digging with a shovel).
• The key element of a fallout shelter is mass of material surrounding you on all sides (including above). Ideally you want the equivalent of 2-3 feet of earth, or anything that weighs as much as that.
• Typical times you will need to stay inside a shelter are something in the range of two weeks (and usually it will be possible to go outside for very short periods during this time).
• You can build your own device to measure the level of radiation from nuclear fallout using simple everyday items. This device is known as the Kearny Fallout Meter (KFM) and I will give much more info on this in the future — but a search on the internet will provide plenty of information on these. A radiation monitor such as the KFM will let you know when it is safe to leave your shelter. There are also commercially made devices (which you can search for on the internet and read about).
• The "Duck and Cover" videos from the cold war days, which are sometimes regarded as laughably inadequate, are actually a really good idea.
• Note that even if you live far away from any heat, blast, and fallout danger; in a nuclear war EMP can destroy electronics 2000 kilometres away from a detonation. See here for how to protect against EMP.
• A nuclear war will obviously cause massive disruption to the modern economy and our way of life, but this is guaranteed to happen anyway, sooner or later, irrespective of whether there is a nuclear war. This web page focuses on the problems specific to nuclear war.

Cover image by Alones.

Share This Page

Prepping is the art of preparing for the future. If you liked this page, please share it with others. The more prepared we are collectively, the easier the future will be for each of us individually.