When The Clock Strikes Midnight

Okay we all get it. No one wants to talk about the fact that recent events in North Korea create anxiety. We have a lot to worry about then you hear Hawaii for 38 minutes thought InterContinental Ballistic Missiles were inbound. And on top of that the rise of international saber rattling has calls for increased nuclear production. So lets say that in twelve minutes you have to find a shelter you don't just let go and finish your last round of golf you are determined to be the few that make it through, what do you do?

Well here is a little guide to help you through in the case of a nuclear attack within Atlanta. Sounds fabulous right? These are times we find ourselves. So instead of failing to act lets get on with it.

Want to see the radius of a blast? Follow this link to determine how you would be affected.

A map showing possible fallout from nuclear attack. So

Okay so lets understand the dangers of a nuclear blast.

• Bright Flash - can cause blindness
• Blast Wave - can cause death and damage to structures
• Radiation - can cause damage to cells causing radiation sickness
• Fire and Heat - can cause death and burns
• EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) - can cause damage to electronic devices
• Fallout - radioactive dirt and visible debris raining down from the blast causing radiation sickness

A nuclear bomb explosion will happen as follows. A bomb will detonate a distance above the ground so that the blast radius is maximized. As the bomb explodes nuclear fusion will release energy from within the weapons grade plutonium causing a bright flash. Because light is faster than sound it creates a very bright light.

This light is quickly followed by a blast wave. The blast wave is created by the enormous pressure created during detonation and like a ripple in water travels outward from the blast. Most of the area near the center is vaporized which is why you see the mushroom cloud.

This is due to the rising hot air that then cools and falls back to Earth. Because of the sub atomic particles released during the blast the dirt and debris that was lifted up in what was seen as the mushroom cloud is radioactive. This debris that falls back to Earth is the "fallout". As the super heated air rises up heat also travels outward from the center.

This immense heat can cause burns miles away from the center. Because of the incredible amount of energy release during the blast an electro magnetic pulse is created and travels outward from the origin much like the blast wave. Because of the highly charge pulse wave electronics can receive extremely high voltages if unprotected it will burn internal components.

First thing to do is not to look at the bright flash. Once you realize there is an attack move quickly to a shelter. The below illustration shows how to determine if you have found adequate shelter.

Guide to the protection from fallout. The higher the number the greater the protection.

Inside the shelter you must stay there at the minimum for two days. This is due to the radioactive fallout within the debris that fell back to Earth. This debris looks like sand and dirt. For the next two days most of the fallout will lose much of its deadly radioactivity.

The best way to survive again is to plan ahead. Follow this link to find more information.