What to do if an atomic bomb explodes. What to do in case of a nuclear explosion

The world is on the verge of a new world war. Political, economic and social conflicts that have sharply worsened in recent decades have pushed humanity to the brink of the abyss; in such conditions, a global armed conflict is inevitable, and, according to independent analysts, will claim the lives of more than a third of the world’s population. At least half of the survivors will suffer various injuries and diseases, and all the rest will face post-war famine and epidemics, even more terrible than all the trials before. And this will happen due to the massive use of nuclear, chemical and bacteriological weapons in a future war. No one will be able to avoid a terrible fate! However, as many people as possible must remain on the planet in order to restore the destroyed economy, and the first task facing a person concerned with this goal is to survive the atomic bombing.

Now, in the pre-war era, officials and the media argue that the use of nuclear weapons in the coming conflict is unlikely. The main argument in favor of this point of view is the fatal environmental consequences of such bombings, making their use suicidal. In fact, it is believed that the impact of nuclear explosions on the environment is greatly exaggerated. In particular, I would like to remind you that during the entire existence of this type of weapon on Earth, more than one thousand test explosions of varying power were carried out, but this did not lead to irreversible consequences, the “nuclear winter” did not occur, and the climate did not change. Of course, in a real war, the scale of the use of weapons (and, accordingly, the results) will be different, the bombing will affect rivers, fertile lands, cities, which will put humanity on the brink of extinction, but this will not stop the military!

Today, only two Russian cities are considered protected from a direct missile attack: Moscow and St. Petersburg. And according to intelligence data, the United States alone is now targeting about two thousand different objects on the territory of our Motherland. In the very first minutes of the war, Russian silo-based missiles capable of delivering a retaliatory strike against the aggressor, as well as radar stations and fleet bases, will be destroyed. The next target will be production facilities in the Urals and Volga region, and Siberia will undergo the least massive attacks in order to preserve natural resources: the Siberian taiga, Tyumen oil and Kuzbass coal. The atom is a blitzkrieg weapon, and the very first attack can decapitate the country, leaving behind telecommunications destroyed by neutron radiation, destroyed production and transport routes. Massive forest fires will begin, causing the air to be mixed with toxic smoke. The population will panic, and the majority of officials and deputies, accustomed to caring only about their well-being, will betray their homeland by fleeing to the southern hemisphere. Russia will plunge into chaos, but this will only be the beginning!

In the face of death, there is no one to rely on; you can only believe in your own strength. How can an ordinary person in any way resist the nuclear threat? Most of us only remember life safety lessons in schools: turn on the radio or receiver, wait for signals from the Civil Defense, then, following their instructions, take refuge in the nearest bomb shelter. As elsewhere in our country, this is only smooth on paper - the explosion of an atomic bomb in the city will instantly turn off radio points, television, and computer networks. It is not a fact that the civil defense and emergency headquarters itself will survive and be able to take control of the situation. Does everyone remember the earthquake that shook Kuzbass in the fall of 2003? Where was this headquarters then, why were the radio stations silent while people ran out of their high-rise buildings in panic? Yes, someone was punished for negligence, but who can guarantee that something has changed since then?

Since the middle of the last century, many of the houses under construction were equipped with bomb shelters that could save people from a nuclear disaster. The people lived calmly, but then someone decided that the threat had passed, giving way to much more pressing issues. The shelters were privatized, turning into warehouses, clubs and shops, some were simply abandoned and plundered by non-ferrous metals seekers. Now in all of Kemerovo there are only TWO “active” shelters capable of receiving people in the event of war. Both are located in the city center. It is clear that they will be intended for “those in power,” but someone has simply skimped on our safety! The death of one person is a tragedy, the death of millions is a statistic?

One of the places where a person can be saved from the consequences of an atomic bomb explosion is the basements of residential buildings. True, we can talk about salvation here very conditionally, such an improvised shelter provides only basic radiation protection, and in the event of the destruction of a building, it is easy to find yourself locked under the rubble (in specially equipped shelters there is an additional exit to an unfilled area, that is, at a distance from the nearest buildings, equal to their height + 3 meters). However, in the basement there is water that has not yet been contaminated by radiation, which cannot be said about its external sources. It is necessary to seal the room as thoroughly as possible using available means to reduce the penetration of radiation and harmful substances. Depending on the type of charge and proximity to the epicenter of the disaster, staying in the shelter should last from a day to a month; in the absence of any reliable information, you should stay in the shelter for the maximum possible time.

If a nuclear explosion takes you by surprise, the task of survival becomes more difficult. Under no circumstances should you look at the flash and the accompanying phenomena - light radiation at almost any distance can not only instantly deprive a person of vision, but also cause severe burns, as well as ignite flammable surfaces. The next damaging factor is penetrating radiation, a flow of gamma rays and neutrons that destroys living tissues of the body and leads to radiation sickness. And finally, a powerful shock wave will appear, causing large-scale destruction similar to traditional bombs. How to escape from an explosion? First of all, you need to hide from the deadly effects of particles. Everything is decided by the speed of a person’s reaction. Between the radiation source and your own body you need to create an obstacle from any material, be it a concrete fence, a car or a trash can. It is better not to hide behind the walls of houses and tall objects - from the shock wave they can collapse, covering them with debris. Metal blocks radiation most effectively, although much depends on the thickness of the material. If there is nowhere to hide or there is no time for it, the easiest way is to fall to the ground, covering your head with your hands. This will help reduce the impact of the explosion. At home, it is best to take refuge in a bathtub; its thick cast iron will help the reinforced concrete walls to significantly reduce radiation exposure. In addition, if the house is destroyed, being in the bathtub will help you avoid being crushed under the slabs and will give you access to at least some water supplies under the rubble.

At the first safe opportunity, you should leave the space that has been subjected to nuclear contamination, moving in the direction opposite to the epicenter of the explosion (usually trees fallen by the shock wave are directed there). And before that, protect yourself as much as possible from radiation by wearing as much clothing made of dense material as possible. Our skin itself is a protection against some part of the residual radiation, so the penetration of deadly particles through the respiratory tract is most dangerous. You need to breathe only through a gas mask or respirator, and in the absence of one, through a dampened cloth. Eating food found in the contaminated area and water from open sources will also be fatal. The main goal is to meet other survivors along the way and team up with them. Some people can be aggressive, so contact should be made with caution. Do not touch corpses or dying people - it is dangerous. Perhaps the local authorities will even organize evacuation measures, but the number of operational vehicles will not be enough even for those few who will be saved in this hell!

What will happen next? Nobody knows about this. Probably, those who die will be considered lucky by the survivors, the catastrophe will be so global and terrible. The world will change, transformed beyond recognition, but we still hope that people will find the strength to unite and cope with the consequences of a devastating war. The most offensive thing is to realize that this is our future, which we don’t want to think about, but which is inevitable. After all, the world has accumulated not only too many weapons, but also even more people who do not realize their responsibility for the future of humanity.

So, let's say a low-yield nuclear bomb explodes in your city. How long will you have to hide and where to do it to avoid consequences in the form of radioactive fallout?

Michael Dillon, a scientist at Livermore National Laboratory, spoke about radioactive fallout and survival techniques. After numerous studies of radioactive fallout, analysis of many factors and possible developments, he developed a plan of action in the event of a disaster.

At the same time, Dillon’s plan is aimed at ordinary citizens who have no way of determining which way the wind will blow and what the magnitude of the explosion was.

Little bombs

Dillon's method for protecting against radioactive fallout has so far been developed only in theory. The fact is that it is designed for small nuclear bombs from 1 to 10 kilotons.

Dillon argues that nuclear bombs are now associated with the incredible power and destruction that would have occurred during the Cold War. However, such a threat seems less likely than terrorist attacks using small nuclear bombs, several times less than those that fell on Hiroshima, and simply incomparably less than those that could destroy everything if there was a global war between countries.

Dillon's plan is based on the assumption that the city survived a small nuclear bomb, and now its residents must flee the radioactive fallout.

The diagram below shows the difference between the radius of a bomb in the situation Dillon examines and the radius of a bomb from a Cold War arsenal. The most dangerous area is indicated in dark blue (psi is the pound/in2 standard used to measure the force of an explosion, 1 psi = 720 kg/m2).

People located a kilometer from this explosion zone risk receiving radiation doses and burns. The range of radiation hazards from a small nuclear bomb is much smaller than from Cold War thermonuclear weapons.

For example, a 10 kiloton warhead would create a radiation threat 1 kilometer from the epicenter, and radioactive fallout could travel another 10 to 20 miles. So it turns out that a nuclear attack today is not instant death for all living things. Maybe your city will even recover from it.

What to do if a bomb exploded

If you see a bright flash, don't go near the window - you could get hurt while you're looking around. As with thunder and lightning, the blast wave travels much slower than the explosion.

Now you will have to take care of protection from radioactive fallout, but in the event of a small explosion, you do not need to look for a special isolated shelter. For protection, you can take refuge in an ordinary building, you just need to know which one.

30 minutes after the explosion you should find a suitable shelter. In 30 minutes, all the initial radiation from the explosion will disappear, and the main danger will be radioactive particles the size of a grain of sand that will settle around you.

Dillon explains:

If, during a disaster, you are in a precarious shelter that cannot provide reasonable protection, and you know that there is no such building within 15 minutes, you will have to wait half an hour and then go look for it. Make sure you are clear of sand-sized radioactive substances before you enter the shelter.

But what buildings can become a normal shelter? Dillon says the following:

There should be as many obstacles and distance as possible between you and the consequences of the explosion. Buildings with thick concrete walls and roofs, a lot of earth, for example when you are sitting in a basement surrounded by earth on all sides. You can also go deep into large buildings in order to be as far as possible from the open air with the consequences of a disaster.

Think about where you can find such a building in your city, and how far it is from you.

Maybe it's the basement of your home, or a building with a lot of interior spaces and walls, a library with stacks of books and concrete walls, or something else. Just choose buildings that you can reach within half an hour, and don't rely on transport - many will flee the city and the roads will be completely clogged.

Let's say you got to your shelter, and now the question arises: how long to sit in it until the threat passes? The films show different developments of events, ranging from a few minutes in a shelter to several generations in a bunker. Dillon claims that they are all very far from the truth.

It is best to stay in the shelter until help arrives.

Given that we are talking about a small bomb with a blast radius of less than a mile, rescuers must react quickly and begin evacuation. In the event that no one comes to help, you need to spend at least a day in the shelter, but it’s still better to wait until the rescuers arrive - they will indicate the necessary evacuation route so that you do not jump out into places with high levels of radiation.

The principle of operation of radioactive fallout

It may seem strange that it would be safe enough to leave the shelter after 24 hours, but Dillon explains that the biggest danger after the explosion comes from the early radioactive fallout, and this is heavy enough to settle within a few hours after the explosion. Typically, they cover the area in the immediate vicinity of the explosion, depending on the wind direction.

These large particles are the most dangerous due to the high level of radiation, which will ensure the immediate onset of radiation sickness. This distinguishes them from lower doses of radiation many years after the incident.

Taking refuge in a shelter will not save you from the prospect of cancer in the future, but it will prevent you from dying quickly from radiation sickness.

It is also worth remembering that radioactive contamination is not a magical substance that flies everywhere and penetrates into every place. There will be a limited region with high levels of radiation, and after you leave the shelter, you will need to get out of it as soon as possible.

This is where you need rescuers who will tell you where the border of the danger zone is and how far you need to go. Of course, in addition to the most dangerous large particles, many lighter ones will remain in the air, but they are not capable of causing immediate radiation sickness - what you are trying to avoid after an explosion.

Dillon also noted that radioactive particles decay very quickly, so being outside the shelter 24 hours after the explosion is much safer than immediately after it.

Our pop culture continues to savor the theme of a nuclear apocalypse, when only a few survivors remain on the planet, sheltered in underground bunkers, but a nuclear attack may not be so destructive and large-scale.

So you should think about your city and figure out where to run if something happens. Maybe some ugly concrete building that you always thought was an architectural miscarriage will one day save your life.

Nuclear war is not a scenario that most people want to survive. In the sixties, the Cuban Missile Crisis pushed us to the dangerous edge, but humanity has yet to experience an event that would lead to its potential extinction.
Nuclear winter is itself a theoretical proposition; Scientists believe that in the event of a nuclear war, huge amounts of soot would be released into the stratosphere and spread by winds across the planet, blocking the sun and causing temperatures to plummet. The plants will wither and die, then the animals will follow. The collapse of the food chain will lead to the extinction of the human race.
A nuclear winter could last for years or even decades, and while it lasts, the people who survived the nuclear war will not be able to restore civilization. The only way to ensure the survival of the human race is to follow tips for surviving a nuclear winter.

10. Live in the countryside

This may sound like unhelpful advice, but the question of who survives the first nuclear explosions will be decided by little more than geography. Estimates made in the 1960s indicated that Russia was launching a devastating attack on the United States in which 100-150 million people would be killed in the initial blasts—more than two-thirds of the population at that time. Large cities will be completely inaccessible as a result of the explosion and the radiation that will accompany the explosions. In general, if you live in a city, you are almost certainly doomed, but if you live in a rural area, you have a moderate chance of survival.

9. Abandon religious beliefs

This advice (and image) may be somewhat controversial, but there are many good reasons why religious beliefs might hinder the efforts of survivors of a potential nuclear war. First of all, going to church on Sunday is not the number one priority after a nuclear disaster. But seriously: in order to survive, you may have to perform actions that are unthinkable for many religious (or simply highly moral) people (see No. 8). The survivors' mindset must be decidedly "Machiavellian": the whole world is open to us; questions of morality are secondary to the question of survival at any cost.
If your religion prohibits you from eating certain foods, you should give up such dietary obligations and eat what you can find. Perhaps the realization that God (or any other deity) could have prevented the collapse of civilization, if he/she really exists, will help you abandon your faith.

8. Kill/Release pets

So, you survived the initial explosion, and now you are an atheist living in the village. What's next? Let's think about your pets. Pets need food, water and care - and don't love them too much during a nuclear winter. You won't live long if you share every morsel of food with Rex.
For those heartless people who may be thinking of killing and eating their pet(s), please note that food will be extremely scarce. Most people (I hope) find these thoughts disgusting and will simply release their beloved animal into the wild. But I say this in all seriousness: nuclear winter survivors, give up all hope of saving your goldfish. Small animals can simply be destroyed without even trying to eat them - this will at least save them from hunger in the future.

7. Take cover

Science Minute: In the event of multiple nuclear explosions in major cities, massive amounts of soot and thick smoke from the fires would rise into the stratosphere, blocking sunlight from reaching much of the Earth's surface for years or even decades.
The surface temperature will decrease sharply, and near-zero values ​​will remain indefinitely. In other words, the need for warm clothing cannot be ignored - so you can start packing your insulating clothes if you are not already doing so. Unfortunately, permanent freezing is not the end of your worries; scientists suggest that massive destruction of the ozone layer will occur, that is, a huge amount of ultraviolet radiation will leak onto the surface of the planet, which leads to death from skin cancer. You can reduce this impact by avoiding sleeping in open spaces, and always wear some kind of hat to protect your face from the cold and harmful UV rays.

6. Arm yourself

If you live in a country where guns are readily available and legal, it won't be too difficult for you to arm yourself against robbers or potential cannibals. Desperate conditions may cause many survivors to steal food from other survivors in order to stave off starvation. Looting a local store with a pistol is a perfectly viable option for those in America (or any other country without significant gun control) - but care must be taken to ensure the gun isn't pulled by the store owner. Otherwise, you may want to keep a knife for protection. For several months after the initial explosions, hunting will still be possible as the animals are not yet extinct. If possible, stock up on meat early on.

5. Learn to recognize cannibals

When all the big meaty animals go extinct after a nuclear war, it will become inevitable that humans will resort to cannibalism to survive. In fact, you might consider cannibalism for yourself at some point when you're starving and find a useful corpse in your area.
As for the other survivors: they will either try to help you or try to eat you, of course, it is important to distinguish between these two reasons. People who eat human flesh tend to suffer from Kuru symptoms; brain pollution, which leads to very noticeable consequences. For example, if a person is walking towards you swaying from side to side and struggling to walk in a straight line, then it is better to run away as he is either drunk or has symptoms of Kuru. Other symptoms include uncontrollable shaking and violent bursts of laughter in inappropriate situations. Kuru is an incurable disease and death usually occurs within a year of infection, so don't eat human flesh - nuclear winter or not!

4. Travel alone

Introverts will thrive in a post-apocalyptic environment, at least compared to those who instinctively reach for their cell phones when alone. Having a family - especially if it includes children - is not a smart move given the food shortages. Ignore the "outlaw" or "raider" gang clichés that Hollywood feeds us in films like "The Road" and "The Book of Eli." In reality, such groups will never be able to find enough food to support themselves in the long term. This doesn't mean you should abandon (or eat) your family. Simply finding a large group is not a good option for those who want to avoid starvation.

3. Eat insects

The sharp reduction in sunlight and precipitation during a nuclear winter will make growth impossible and kill off most plant life on Earth, many animals in turn quickly dying out from lack of food. For this reason, small insects such as ants, crickets, wasps, grasshoppers and beetles are some of the creatures that are likely to survive in the long term. They will also be a fantastic source of protein for maintaining muscle mass: grasshoppers have the highest percentage of protein: 20g for every 100g of weight. Crickets are rich in iron and zinc, and ants are excellent sources of calcium. Of course, insects are not as tasty as a bucket of fried chicken (though you don't know for sure), but at least they are preferable to starvation.

2. Clean up trash

This may not be the most pleasant activity in a post-apocalyptic time. Who wouldn't want to be able to roam around a mall, stealing any item they want, without facing legal retribution? Don't get too excited, though: robbing cash registers will become a pointless exercise once civilization collapses. Instead, it's better to focus on hacking food and drink vending machines. If you're hungry, try emptying trash cans for scraps or looking for canned goods that have an indefinite shelf life. It's also fairly easy to find clothing to keep you warm, and if your country doesn't have gun control, you can find guns to protect yourself.

1. Avoid the contaminated area

The photo above shows the ghost town of Pripyat, the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986. Due to massive radioactive contamination caused by an explosion at a nuclear power plant, the city was evacuated. The disaster caused 31 immediate deaths from radiation poisoning and several hundred more from various types of cancer afterwards. Today the city is uninhabitable. Radiation levels are too high to safely support life. After a nuclear disaster, radiation levels are likely to be significantly higher. Anyone inside large cities that will be bombed will quickly receive a dose of radioactive poisoning and will soon die.

For administrative use
INSTRUCTIONS

Moscow Civil Defense Headquarters
Departments of the Ministry of Emergency Situations
Manuals for fire, emergency, rescue and medical services

§1. Preliminary information.

1.1. The most likely time for a nuclear strike on Moscow is around 18:00 Moscow time. This is because:
a) 10 a.m. Washington time makes it possible to prepare and carry out a strike during the working morning of the relevant security forces, without prematurely attracting increased attention from our intelligence services to the activity of the departments of a possible enemy during non-working hours;
b) all types of urban and intercity communications are overloaded at the end of the working day, and the coordination of emergency defensive measures is difficult;
c) the attention of the duty services decreases at this time;
d) a significant part of the population is on the road between places of work and residence, which further complicates the coordination of measures and actions;
e) transport arteries are paralyzed by traffic jams, and the population located in them is primarily unprotected from damaging factors.
1.2. The most likely yield of a thermonuclear weapon is from 2 to 10 megatons. The super-power of the ammunition is limited by the capabilities of the delivery vehicles and is due to the large area of ​​the Moscow metropolis, the concentration of central intelligence and defense units and enterprises there, and along its perimeter - belts of missile and aviation cover systems, but first of all - the high security of the shelters of the presidential and government apparatuses and services departments of the Ministry of Defense, which are the main target.
1.3. The most probable time from the moment of the warning signal “Atomic alarm!” until the moment of striking:
a) about 14 minutes when launching ground-based launch vehicles from the territory of the American continent;
b) about 7 minutes when launching launch vehicles from sea-based submarine-launched missile carriers occupying positions in the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean.
This corresponds to the flight time of ballistic missiles moving in supra-atmospheric space along ballistic trajectories at a speed of the order of the first cosmic speed, i.e. 7.9 km/sec, or approx. 28,000 km/h. In practical terms, in combat conditions it is possible to foresee some failures and communication delays, which can actually reduce the warning time to several minutes.

§3. Persons provided with shelters by their official position immediately begin to act in accordance with the evacuation plan in the event of a nuclear alarm, under the leadership of civil defense officials, or building commandants, or team leaders, or independently. You should act without panic, in an organized manner, without the slightest delay. Any manifestations of panic must be immediately suppressed by any possible means, including the use of force and weapons.
No more than 6 minutes (or earlier by order of the shelter senior, who is convinced that the full strength of the assigned groups is present in the shelter) after the first warning signal, all entrances to the shelter must be blocked and blocked according to combat mode, regardless of cases of those who did not have time to take cover in them and the number remaining outside. Attempts to prevent the closure of entrances by any persons without exception must be immediately suppressed by any means, including the use of weapons.

§4. At the signal “Atomic alarm!” persons who are not provided with shelters act independently, depending on where they are currently located, without delay or panic, taking all necessary protective measures and sheltering from the factors of nuclear destruction. You should act calmly, competently, assessing the specific conditions of your location, using your voice and action to encourage others to follow your example and instilling confidence in them. First of all, it is necessary to take care of the safety of children and women, as well as the elderly.
4.1. If the house has a basement, you should take refuge in the basement. The cracks in the doors should be plugged with any cloth that can be wetted. It is useful to take a small supply of drinking water with you.
4.2. While in a building, it is better to take refuge in a closed room - an internal corridor, a bathroom, a storage room - which is separated from the external walls by an additional partition and has no windows. It is also useful to seal door cracks and stock up on water.
4.3. In a room with a window, lie on the floor with your feet facing the outer wall, covering your head with your hands. Choose a spot at the bottom or side of a window so that as little light falls on you as possible. It is better to hide from the light behind a heavy object - a closet, a sofa, a table.
4.4. Those on the streets should immediately take shelter in buildings, at least in their entrances, or use other natural shelters, which include:
a) the metro is the best of all possible shelters;
b) any basements, boiler rooms, underground garages;
c) sewer wells and tunnels of any underground routes;
d) foundations and lower premises of new buildings;
e) underground passages and road tunnels;
f) warehouses, underground toilets, etc.
4.5. If you are on public ground transport, you should immediately leave it and take cover (see above).
4.6. While in a car, you should immediately leave it and take cover (see above). If you find a car in a tunnel, you should stop there. If it is impossible to leave the car in a traffic jam or there is no shelter nearby, you should lie on the floor between the seats and cover your head with your hands, protecting yourself from outside radiation.
4.7. If it is impossible to hide in any room, lie down on the ground near the building under the wall opposite the city center, where the epicenter of the explosion will be located. Try to choose a well-like courtyard closed on all sides or a narrow passage between buildings.
4.8. If you are in a park area away from possible shelters, identify a thick tree, or a hill, or a ditch, or any uneven terrain, or a monument, and lie down with your feet towards it, facing away from the center of the city, where the epicenter of the explosion will be located. This will protect you from thermal radiation, which is the main damaging factor.
4.9. All entrances to the metro are closed immediately upon a warning signal. Any manifestations of panic among the population or attempts to resist the immediate closure of entrances are suppressed immediately by station police pickets by appropriate means, up to and including the use of lethal force. At the same time:
a) all escalators switch to descent; after
When all citizens arrive at the station platforms, all escalators stop;
b) station personnel switches the power supply of all equipment to emergency in economic mode;
c) trains do not depart from the stations; trains located in tunnels on stretches continue moving to the nearest station and remain there or within possible proximity;
d) trains that find themselves in open spaces must reach the entrances to the tunnels and, if possible, go deeper into them.

§5. In clear, cloudless weather during daylight hours, the approach of a descending warhead can be determined by a white contrail, similar to that of an aircraft at a higher altitude, arcing down from the upper atmosphere towards the center of Moscow at high speed. Remember: the sound of a warhead approaching and descending will not be heard due to its supersonic speed.

§6. With the accuracy of modern guidance systems, the epicenter of the explosion will be located within the Boulevard Ring, focusing on the Kremlin-Lubyanka-Arbat area.

§7. A ground explosion should be expected in Moscow. This somewhat reduces the radius of the overall damage compared to an above-ground explosion, but increases the strength of the seismic wave, which leads to ground movements such as tectonic disturbances of a nature similar to a high-power earthquake in the upper layers, leading to crushing and destruction of even significantly buried shelters of increased strength within the radius ten to fifteen kilometers.

§8. Thermal damaging factor.

8.1. At the epicenter of the explosion, a flash of light appears, the brightness of which is many times greater than the observed sunlight. Within 0.03-0.04 seconds. the flash forms into a dazzling luminous sphere 1.5-2 km in diameter, with a temperature of 10-20 million "C. It covers the city center within the radius of the Boulevard Ring - the Kremlin - Polyanka, and everything entering this space instantly ceases to exist, passing into a plasma state.
8.2. Within a radius of 3-4 km, all objects of organic origin immediately exposed to the direct thermal radiation of the explosion (unsheltered people, animals, plants, wooden parts of buildings facing the direction of the explosion) instantly evaporate and incinerate. Asphalt road surfaces, metal fences, roofs and parts of building structures, concrete and brick walls, including those with stone and ceramic cladding, both exposed to the direct thermal radiation of an explosion and hidden to a depth of several meters, melt, evaporate, and instantly burn out. . All substances, both organic sheltered and inorganic heat-resistant, within the radius of the Garden Ring, immediately following the moment of explosion, burn within a few seconds with a temperature of tens of thousands of degrees.
8.3. Within a radius of 20-25 km, all wooden, plastic, painted surfaces and plants facing the direction of the explosion and accessible to direct thermal radiation flare up, metal roofs burn through, concrete, brick, glass, metal, stone melt; Window frames burn, glass evaporates, wires melt, asphalt catches fire. The active fire zone instantly covers the city within the Moscow Ring Road. A ring forest fire breaks out outside the Moscow Ring Road. Fully built-up areas and forested areas catch fire. The reservoirs of the Moscow River and Yauza are evaporating, and the upper layer of the Khimki Reservoir is boiling.
Remember: direct radiation thermal effects last from fractions of a second to several seconds and even up to several tens of seconds depending on the power of the explosion and spread only in a straight line, i.e. any obstacle between you and the explosion, in the shadow of which you find yourself, can save you life in a situation of sufficient distance from the epicenter of the explosion.

§9. The damaging factor of the shock wave.

9.1. The action of the shock air wave begins immediately at the moment of the explosion and follows the thermal radiation, but lags behind its instantaneous effect as it moves away from the epicenter of the explosion, the further, the longer the period of time. In the second affected area, the speed of the air shock wave reaches 1-5 thousand m/sec, i.e. everything in this zone, which has already been subjected to thermal effects, is blown away by a powerful explosion in the direction from the epicenter to the periphery, turning into a leveled surface of crushed debris burning at high temperatures (the so-called “landscape blowing away”). Crushed burning fragments of substances located between the radii of the Boulevard and Garden Rings are ejected by a shock wave along an expanding concentric circle into zone three.
9.2. In the third zone, i.e. within Moscow inside the Moscow Ring Road, the speed of the shock wave decreases slightly, especially at the surface itself, but continues to remain above supersonic, i.e. up to 300-500 m/sec at the border of the Moscow Ring Road, which causes instantaneous destruction all ground-based buildings, both high-rise and low-rise. The hot and burning parts of the surfaces facing the epicenter, mixing with other materials during demolition, give the so-called. “carpet of fire” with a temperature that ensures the combustion of metals and melting of ceramics. During the passage of the shock wave, individual parts and components move in the air at speeds on the order of artillery shells, aggravating the process of destruction of everything that rises above the surface. All plantings are torn out, water is “squeezed out” from all reservoirs.
9.3. The forests, settlements and airports closest to the Moscow Ring Road are also subject to complete or primary destruction, partial or complete destruction and burning.
9.4. Inside the entire affected area, an area of ​​sharply reduced atmospheric pressure arises due to both the burnout of oxygen in the air and the concentric “spreading apart” of air masses. As a result, soon after the passage of the shock wave, a “reverse shock wave” appears, directed towards the epicenter. It is characterized by a significantly lower speed, commensurate with the speed of an ordinary hurricane, but it brings masses of fresh oxygen to the entire fire area, which creates the effect of “bellows”, creating the so-called. “fire storm” over the entire affected area. The zone within the Moscow Ring Road is likened to the leveled surface of hot coals in a furnace.

§10. The seismic impact of a ground explosion causes an “earthquake effect” with compaction and displacement of surface layers. All underground metro structures within the Circle Line and the stations closest to it are destroyed and completely collapsed. All bomb shelters within the Garden Ring are completely destroyed. All basements within the Moscow Ring Road are completely destroyed. All sewer and ventilation underground structures in the space “Prospekt Mira”, “Zoo”, “Serpukhovskaya”, “Ilyich Square” are crushed, destroyed and collapsed. All entrances and exits from the metro, ventilation shafts, emergency and service exits collapse, or are crushed, or are completely blocked by a layer of hot mass on the surface.

§eleven. The external picture of the explosion looks normal and is characteristic of a high-power thermonuclear explosion. The white plasma sphere, which, like a two-kilometer cap, covers the center of Moscow and is four times higher in height than the Ostankino body, after a few seconds begins to dim, begins to fade into a crimson smoky veil and separates from the surface, “floating” upward. The burning city “lays down” in all directions, like a circle of dominoes, is covered with billowing smoke, and streams of smoke and fire rush from the periphery of the MKAD circle to the rising sphere, forming a characteristic “mushroom stem”, which expands at the bottom to the limits of the affected area, narrowing at the top to the sphere , which is enveloped in a cloud of “mushroom cap”. The billowing smoke at the base of the mushroom reaches a kilometer in height, the diameter of the “leg” narrows to eight hundred to thousand meters under the “cap”. The "Mushroom" continues to rise, and although the rise looks slow due to its gigantic size, after three to five minutes the height
it reaches 25-35 km. With a high-power explosion, this picture can last up to several hours.

§12. The fire itself, which makes it impossible to begin any rescue work, can continue, taking into account the affected area of ​​the Moscow metropolis, for up to several days.

§13. The high radiation background will not allow any rescue work to begin in the metropolis earlier than in 15-20 days, with the exception of special operations of special importance. Conducting any rescue operations should be considered appropriate in an area no closer than 5-10 km beyond the Moscow Ring Road line.

§14. The crater at the epicenter of the explosion is a crater with a diameter of about 2 km and a depth in the center of up to 200-300 m. Its surface is a glassy mass up to 10-12 m thick.
The second affected area is a relatively flat surface, covered with a layer of glassy sintered mass 0.3-0.9 m thick.

The third affected area is a lumpy surface, largely covered with a glassy sintered mass ranging in thickness from several millimeters to several centimeters.
Tests of such ammunition, carried out by both the USSR, the USA and France, have reliably shown that attempts to carry out any rescue operations within the specified radii have no real basis. The defeat of open and hidden manpower, equipment and buildings reaches 100%. Rescue efforts should focus on relocating and providing assistance to people who find themselves outside the immediate affected area, beyond the 100-kilometer zone.

In recent days, everyone has been discussing whether the third world war will begin between the USA and Russia or not. In the media and social networks you constantly come across materials about the coming “nuclear apocalypse”, which in turn provokes attacks of fear and hysteria in many. Over the past years, we have already forgotten the warning signals, and the younger generation knows about the threat only from computer games. Life tells what to do if a nuclear mushroom appears on the horizon.

This is, of course, not the Cuban Missile Crisis, but the degree of paranoia in the air has increased sharply. And although no one promises to turn other countries into “nuclear ashes,” there are still enough reasons. The latest of these is the US threat to launch a missile strike on Syria.

The atomic threat has already been largely erased from people's memory. Hardly anyone will now say what one long beep and two short beeps mean, or will quickly answer where the nearest bomb shelter is located. The nuclear mushroom on the horizon has become something like a zombie apocalypse - pure fantasy from books about stalkers and the third world war. We imagined how a reader of such literature would survive after a real nuclear strike.

First day

The threat of nuclear war was a tempting prospect for me. “Battles with marauders”, “survival in radioactive forests”, “clashes with mutants” - this sounded even cooler than a “zombie apocalypse”. I went online, found out that if something happened, Washington would start bombing cities at six o’clock in the evening, and read what products to take. I went to the dacha and took my grandfather’s cartridges - in the event of an apocalypse, they will become the most valuable resource. In addition, I purchased a pistol through an anonymous browser. In addition, I bought a used car so that after the explosion I could go into the forest.

Valuable tips:

• The need to take weapons and ammunition with you is one of the most common myths about the nuclear apocalypse. Marauders and even more so mutants are nothing more than a figment of the imagination of writers. If you take weapons and ammunition with you, you will have to part with them at the first checkpoint.
• Instead of filling your backpack with pasta, take as many medications as possible. You will need antibiotics, insulin, and a variety of wound care products. Please note: you will not be able to obtain truly effective anti-radiation agents in advance. Drinking iodine, as most guides advise, is also not worth it, except for self-soothing.

Second day

A huge nuclear mushroom appeared on the horizon. I admired it from the window of my house, then quickly grabbed my backpack and went down to the garage. He turned on the car and drove into the forests to survive.

Valuable tips:

• You will hardly need transport. And in the forest you definitely won’t be able to hide from the explosion (and subsequent radioactive fallout). If after the explosion you find yourself far from the affected area, then the car, of course, will help. However, a pre-prepared car in the garage of your home is not the most useful thing. In the first hours after the explosion, it is better to sit at home. If the glass has survived, then simply post a signal for help and wait. You need to wait about three days - during this time the radioactive background will significantly decrease.
• The walls of the house do a good job of weakening radiation contamination. Prepare clothing that is as closed as possible and try to assess the situation. Don't panic. Turn on the TV and try to understand what happened - an explosion at a nuclear power plant, a terrorist attack, or the third world war began. After that, wait for rescuers or the military. Only they really know what needs to be done. It is better not to believe memos that have been floating around the Internet for decades and guides from stalker forums. Only the military has valid manuals, and they are not suitable for civilians.
• It’s better not to look at the “mushroom” - you can get a burn to the retina.
• Don’t count too much on mobile communications - if the third world war breaks out, you most likely won’t have access to it.

Valuable tips:

• Not all metro stations are suitable. You need deep stations that have retractable doors and a good ventilation system. Among the deep stations we can note "Admiralteyskaya" in St. Petersburg and the "Park Pobedy" station in Moscow. The metro may indeed be more useful than a bomb shelter, since it is regularly inspected. But staying in the subway for a long time is also not recommended. When the background subsides, try to leave the affected area. In this case, it is better to move underground - reduce your stay on the surface to a minimum.
• Once again: there is no need to go or run anywhere. Try to figure out which explosion zone you are in.

Valuable tips:

• Don't expect your life in a bomb shelter to be filled with dramatic events. Kitchen, toilet, bedroom - this is your route for the next couple of weeks.
• The main entertainment is, of course, information from outside. Bomb shelters are equipped (if you're lucky) with communication points.
• Despite the nervous situation, it is better not to run around the bomb shelter, so as not to increase the production of carbon dioxide.

Day ten

We rose to the surface for the first time. Now the adventures should definitely begin: searching for food, hunting, fights with marauders.

• If you still have to look for food, then do it as far as possible from the affected area. We are talking about 100 kilometers from the epicenter of a nuclear explosion. Forget about hunting cats and dogs - the simpler the food, the less nuclides it contains. Therefore, it is better to get by with plant foods. But in general, of course, it is wiser not to get food, but to eat exclusively canned food.
• It's best to stay with the military as long as possible. The military will assemble buses for emergency evacuation of people. After transferring to the tent camp, you will need to change clothes and undergo disinfection. If the dose of radiation received is too high, you will be sent to hospital. In addition, you need to obtain anti-radiation medications.
• If the third world war begins, they will come for you from the military registration and enlistment office. The rest will wait to be transferred to the rear.
• In the event of a single explosion, you will be transferred to children's camps and rest homes for temporary accommodation.