The FBI and the military are holding a week-long nuclear exercise in Houston “to learn how best to deal with a nuke dropped on a US city,” according to the British newspaper the Daily Mail. But what about you?
The article resembles the “bombing runs” that used to be featured periodically in American medical publications: U.S. target maps, casualty counts, and zones of destruction overlaid on city maps.
People are warned that they will see military aircraft and personnel in protective gear during the Houston exercise. Apparently, no public educational events are included.
The civilian preparedness situation in the U.S. is no better now than it was at the time of the false warning in Hawaii in 2018, and far worse than in the 1950s—although the threat level is much higher.
Nevertheless, most people will not be in the zone of complete destruction and will have an excellent chance of survival if they know what to do. Most important: drop and cover if you see a bright flash. Seek the best available shelter if there is warning or if you see fallout (it looks like sand or grit). Be aware of ways to construct expedient shelter and radiation monitoring instruments. You need distance or mass (e.g., earth, concrete, or water) between yourself and the radiation source.
The most important preparation is mental and spiritual. Your life is a precious gift from your Creator. People depend on you—your family, your community, your nation. Humanity has survived the direst catastrophes before—but only if they have not lost the will to live.
Additional information:
- Nuclearwarsurvivalskills.com.
- What to do if a nuclear disaster is imminent.
- Basement core shelter
- Doctors for Disaster Preparedness
Jane M. Orient, M.D., janeorientmd@gmail.com