<p>A nuclear blast is an explosion with
intense light and heat, a damaging pressure wave, and widespread radioactive
material that can contaminate the air, water, and ground surfaces for
miles around. A nuclear device can range from a weapon carried by an
intercontinental missile launched by a hostile nation or terrorist organization,
to a small portable nuclear devise transported by an individual. All
nuclear devices cause deadly effects when exploded, including blinding
light, intense heat (thermal radiation), initial nuclear radiation,
blast, fires started by the heat pulse, and secondary fires caused by
the destruction.</p><p><strong>Hazards of Nuclear Devices</strong></p><p>The extent, nature, and arrival time
of these hazards are difficult to predict. The geographical dispersion
of hazard effects will be defined by the following:</p><ul><li>Size of the device. A more
powerful bomb will produce more distant effects.</li><li>Height above the ground the
device was detonated. This will determine the extent of blast effects.</li><li>Nature of the surface beneath
the explosion. Some materials are more likely to become radioactive
and airborne than others. Flat areas are more susceptible to blast effects.</li><li>Existing meteorological conditions.
Wind speed and direction will affect arrival time of fallout; precipitation
may wash fallout from the atmosphere. </li></ul><p><strong>Radioactive Fallout</strong></p><p>Even if individuals are not close enough
to the nuclear blast to be affected by the direct impacts, they may
be affected by radioactive fallout. Any nuclear blast results in some
fallout. Blasts that occur near the earth’s surface create much greater
amounts of fallout than blasts that occur at higher altitudes. This
is because the tremendous heat produced from a nuclear blast causes
an up-draft of air that forms the familiar mushroom cloud. When a blast
occurs near the earth’s surface, millions of vaporized dirt particles
also are drawn into the cloud. As the heat diminishes, radioactive materials
that have vaporized condense on the particles and fall back to Earth.
The phenomenon is called radioactive fallout. This fallout material
decays over a long period of time, and is the main source of residual
nuclear radiation.</p><p>Fallout from a nuclear explosion may
be carried by wind currents for hundreds of miles if the right conditions
exist. Effects from even a small portable device exploded at ground
level can be potentially deadly.</p><p>Nuclear radiation cannot be seen, smelled,
or otherwise detected by normal senses. Radiation can only be detected
by radiation monitoring devices. This makes radiological emergencies
different from other types of emergencies, such as floods or hurricanes.
Monitoring can project the fallout arrival times, which will be announced
through official warning channels. However, any increase in surface
build-up of gritty dust and dirt should be a warning for taking protective
measures.</p><p><strong>Electromagnetic Pulse</strong></p><p>In addition to other effects, a nuclear
weapon detonated in or above the earth’s atmosphere can create an
electromagnetic pulse (EMP), a high-density electrical field. An EMP
acts like a stroke of lightning but is stronger, faster, and shorter.
An EMP can seriously damage electronic devices connected to power sources
or antennas. This includes communication systems, computers, electrical
appliances, and automobile or aircraft ignition systems. The damage
could range from a minor interruption to actual burnout of components.
Most electronic equipment within 1,000 miles of a high-altitude nuclear
detonation could be affected. Battery-powered radios with short antennas
generally would not be affected. Although an EMP is unlikely to harm
most people, it could harm those with pacemakers or other implanted
electronic devices.</p><p><strong>Protection from a Nuclear Blast</strong></p><p>The danger of a massive strategic nuclear
attack on the United States is predicted by experts to be less likely
today. However, terrorism, by nature, is unpredictable.</p><p>If there were threat of an attack, people
living near potential targets could be advised to evacuate or they could
decide on their own to evacuate to an area not considered a likely target.
Protection from radioactive fallout would require taking shelter in
an underground area or in the middle of a large building.</p><p><strong><em>Potential Targets</em></strong></p><ul><li>Strategic missile sites and
military bases.</li><li>Centers of government such
as Washington, DC, and state capitals.</li><li>Important transportation and
communication centers.</li><li>Manufacturing, industrial,
technology, and financial centers.</li><li>Petroleum refineries, electrical
and nuclear power plants, and chemical plants.</li><li>Major ports and airfields. </li></ul><p><strong><em>Distance,
Shielding and Time</em></strong></p><ul><li><strong>Distance</strong> - the more
distance between you and the fallout particles, the better. An underground
area such as a home or office building basement offers more protection
than the first floor of a building. A floor near the middle of a high-rise
may be better, depending on what is nearby at that level on which significant
fallout particles would collect. Flat roofs collect fallout particles
so the top floor is not a good choice, nor is a floor adjacent to a
neighboring flat roof.</li><li><strong>Shielding</strong> - the heavier
and denser the materials - thick walls, concrete, bricks, books and
earth - between you and the fallout particles, the better.</li><li><strong>Time</strong> - fallout radiation
loses its intensity fairly rapidly. In time, you will be able to leave
the fallout shelter. Radioactive fallout poses the greatest threat to
people during the first two weeks, by which time it has declined to
about 1 percent of its initial radiation level. </li></ul><p>Remember that any protection, however
temporary, is better than none at all, and the more shielding, distance,
and time you can take advantage of, the better.</p><p><strong>Before a Nuclear Blast</strong></p><p><strong><em>Prepare For
a Nuclear Blast</em></strong></p><ul><li>Find out from officials if
any public buildings in your community have been designated as fallout
shelters. If none have been designated, make your own list of potential
shelters near your home, workplace, and school. These places would include
basements or the windowless center area of middle floors in high-rise
buildings, as well as subways and tunnels.</li><li>If you live in an apartment
building or high-rise, talk to the manager about the safest place in
the building for sheltering and about providing for building occupants
until it is safe to go out.</li><li>During periods of increased
threat increase your disaster supplies to be adequate for up to two
weeks. </li></ul><p>Taking shelter during a nuclear blast
is absolutely necessary. There are two kinds of shelters - blast and
fallout. The following describes the two kinds of shelters:</p><ul><li><strong>Blast shelters</strong> are
specifically constructed to offer some protection against blast pressure,
initial radiation, heat, and fire. But even a blast shelter cannot withstand
a direct hit from a nuclear explosion.</li><li><strong>Fallout shelters</strong> do
not need to be specially constructed for protecting against fallout.
They can be any protected space, provided that the walls and roof are
thick and dense enough to absorb the radiation given off by fallout
particles. </li></ul><p><strong>During a Nuclear Blast</strong></p><p><strong><em>If an attack warning is issued</em></strong></p><ul><li>Take cover as quickly as you
can, below ground if possible, and stay there until instructed to do
otherwise.</li><li>Listen for official information
and follow instructions. </li></ul><p><strong><em>If you are caught outside and unable
to get inside immediately</em></strong></p><ul><li>Do not look at the flash or
fireball - it can blind you.</li><li>Take cover behind anything
that might offer protection.</li><li>Lie flat on the ground and
cover your head. If the explosion is some distance away, it could take
30 seconds or more for the blast wave to hit.</li><li>Take shelter as soon as you
can, even if you are many miles from ground zero where the attack occurred
- radioactive fallout can be carried by the winds for hundreds of miles.
Remember the three protective factors: Distance, shielding, and time. </li></ul><p><strong>After a Nuclear Blast</strong></p><p>Decay rates of the radioactive fallout
are the same for any size nuclear device. However, the amount of fallout
will vary based on the size of the device and its proximity to the ground.
Therefore, it might be necessary for those in the areas with highest
radiation levels to shelter for up to a month.</p><p>The heaviest fallout would be limited
to the area at or downwind from the explosion, and 80 percent of the
fallout would occur during the first 24 hours.</p><p>People in most of the areas that would
be affected could be allowed to come out of shelter within a few days
and, if necessary, evacuate to unaffected areas.</p><p><strong><em>Returning Home</em></strong></p><ul><li>Keep listening to the radio
and television for news about what to do, where to go, and places to
avoid.</li><li>Stay away from damaged areas.
Stay away from areas marked “radiation hazard” or “HAZMAT.”
Remember that radiation cannot be seen, smelled, or otherwise detected
by human senses.</li></ul><p><strong>Recovering from Disaster</strong></p><p>Recovering from a disaster is usually
a gradual process. Safety is a primary issue, as are mental and physical
well-being. If assistance is available, knowing how to access it makes
the process faster and less stressful. This section offers some general
advice on steps to take after disaster strikes in order to begin getting
your home, your community, and your life back to normal.</p><h1><strong><em>Ensure your safety</em></strong></h1><p>Your first concern after a disaster is
your family’s health and safety. You need to consider possible safety
issues and monitor family health and well-being.</p><h2><strong><em>Aiding the Injured</em></strong></h2>
 <br /><p>Check for injuries. Do not attempt to
move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of
death or further injury. If you must move an unconscious person, first
stabilize the neck and back, then call for help immediately. </p><ul><li>If the victim is not breathing,
carefully position the victim for artificial respiration, clear the
airway, and commence mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. </li></ul>
<br /><ul><li>Maintain body temperature
with blankets. Be sure the victim does not become overheated. </li></ul>
<br /><ul><li>Never try to feed liquids
to an unconscious person. </li></ul><h2><strong><em>Health</em></strong></h2>
<br /><ul><li>Be aware of exhaustion. Don’t
try to do too much at once. Set priorities and pace yourself. Get enough
rest. </li></ul>
<br /><ul><li>Drink plenty of clean water.
Eat well. Wear sturdy work boots and gloves. </li></ul>
<br /><ul><li>Wash your hands thoroughly
with soap and clean water often when working in debris. </li></ul><h2><strong><em>Safety Issues</em></strong></h2>
<br /><ul><li>Be aware of new safety issues
created by the disaster. Watch for washed out roads, contaminated buildings,
contaminated water, gas leaks, broken glass, damaged electrical wiring,
and slippery floors. </li></ul>
<br /><ul><li>Inform local authorities about
health and safety issues, including chemical spills, downed power lines,
washed out roads, smoldering insulation, and dead animals. </li></ul>
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