Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation

[Legendsmiths]

http://hps.org/hsc/documents/Planning_Guidance_for_Response_to_a_Nuclear_Detonation-2nd_Edition_FINAL.pdf

 

Official government document with awesome charts and diagrams.

[Stalin_McRally]

Re: Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation

 

does it include the "hide under the schooldesk" tip?

[Old Man]

Re: Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation

 

Not really, since the document is geared toward agencies that would be tasked with responding to a nuclear detonation. Duck and cover seems limited to this single paragraph:

 

2. It is anticipated that some injuries (e.g., eye injuries, blast injuries — particularly from flying debris and glass) can be prevented or reduced in severity if individuals that perceive an intense and unexpected flash of light seek immediate cover. The speed of light, perceived as the flash, will travel faster than the blast overpressure allowing a few seconds for some people to take limited protective measures.

[The Weapon]

Re: Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation

 

does it include the "hide under the schooldesk" tip?

 

Hey it's good advice. If you're within the ring of area between "You're OK the blast is too far away to worry about." on the outside and "Duck and cover, pray and dance, it doesn't matter you're well done steak." on the inside it can save you.

[BobGreenwade]

Re: Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation

 

Hey it's good advice. If you're within the ring of area between "You're OK the blast is too far away to worry about." on the outside and "Duck and cover' date=' pray and dance, it doesn't matter you're well done steak." on the inside it can save you.[/quote']So true. At the very least, if you see the light of a nuclear blast a few miles away, you're much better off having a desk between you and any glass windows when the shockwave hits and shatters said windows.

[Shadow Hawk]

Re: Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation

 

Hey it's good advice. If you're within the ring of area between "You're OK the blast is too far away to worry about." on the outside and "Duck and cover' date=' pray and dance, it doesn't matter you're well done steak." on the inside it can save you.[/quote']

 

I have tried to explain this to people many times.

1. If you are too close to the blast, you will die, even if you duck and cover.

2. If you are far enough away, you will live, even if you don't.

3. There is a broad zone between option one and two where it will help a great deal.

 

How to tell you're in zone 1? Generally, if you didn't have enough time between the flash and the shockwave to duck and cover, you were in zone 1.

 

Actually, I remember the military charts for blast survival as having # zones...

 

1. 99% lethality. Unless you're in a bank vault in the sub-basement, you're dead. And probably so fast you won't know what hit you.

2. 90% lethality. Probably not going to have enough time to duck and cover. You might have enough time to think "Aw, shit."

3. 50% lethality. Duck and cover will raise your chances of survival.

4. 10% lethality. Duck and cover is the difference between death/serious injury and minor/no injury.

5. 1% lethality. Look, don't watch the pretty fireball through the plate glass window and you'll be ok.

6. Safe zone.

 

This is only about the nuclear blast itself. Has nothing to do with surviving long term radiation, fallout, disruption of food supplies, looters, Soviet Invaders, and radioactive mutant zombies.