worth considering

The world is probably closer to the use of nuclear arms in anaggressive manner today than it has been since the Cuban MissileCrisis. There's the possibility of a terrorist attack with nuclearweapons, the possibility that Iran has nuclear weapons, North Korea'sgrowing nuclear arsenal and the sorry state of security for oldSoviet Union weapons.So let's say the worst happens and you hear on the radio that anuclear device has exploded somewhere in the world. Here are CaptainDave's suggestions for what to do:Don't Panic. Those of us who grew up during the cold war have a gravefear of nuclear war and many are likely to assume that because one ormore nuclear warheads or device has exploded, the world as we know itwill end. This could result in all sorts of panic, especially sinceit will take some time for real facts and figures to be known. (We'llcover the effects of panic more extensively below.) So your firststep is to separate yourself from the masses by not panicking. Take adeep breath and remember that if you are not in the blast radius ordown wind from it, you are in no immediate danger form the blast. Socalm down and don't do anything foolish. Instead of acting out ofpanic, take a few minutes to make a plan or to activate an existingplan (which we can help you develop). Remember, just because thosearound you are losing their heads does not mean you need to do soalso.Keep Informed. Turn on the news and try to learn as much as you canabout the attack as well as local events. This will affect how yourplan. Later, you will need to monitor reports of fallout (see below.)The location, number and size of the detonations are important, asare the wind currents and weather patterns. How people around theworld and around your neighborhood react is also something you shouldmonitor, as it will effect your immediate well being more than theactual explosions will.Gather Your Family. During any period of unrest, it's best to haveyour immediate family around you. People who are traveling shouldreturn home on the first available flight or should rent cars anddrive home if flights are booked or grounded. Everyone will performbetter knowing that their loved ones are safe.If your kids are in school or day care, there is probably no reasonto get them immediately. They should return home safely throughregular means, such as the school bus or carpool. Remember Rule One(don't panic) and do nothing to panic your children. This will be astressful time for everyone, and getting young children panicky orupset will not help the situation. You will have to decided whetheror not to send them back to school the following days based on yourplan and what you have learned from Step 2. If your children are atan away camp or boarding school, you will have to determine if theyare possibly safer there than at your residence.Cancel extracurricular activities and plans outside the home untilyou can be sure (by monitoring the news) that the situation isstabilized and there is no danger or unrest locally.Lock Your Doors. Once you have all gathered at home, lock your doorsand secure your perimeter as best as possible. Then try to go aboutlife as you normally would. Have a good dinner and play a game withthe kids. Watch a video. Try to seek normalcy and be reassuring sothat the kids can sleep well. Don't bombard them or yourself withrepeated images of death and destruction on TV, as this is nothealthy. Don't do anything dangerous or risky as police, fire andambulance services may be responding to other emergencies. Butremember, unless civil unrest develops as a result of panic, anuclear detonation in the Middle East or Asia will cause no immediatedanger to people in North America. A detonation in the U.S. couldhave much more serious effects, but this really depends on the targetand your location. The closed you are to the blast radius, the moreimmediate the danger.Now, you may think it is foolish to watch TV and take it easy, but ifyou have planned and prepared and have ample supplies of food andsurvival gods, there is no reason to act otherwise. If you have notprepared, then going out to buy up supplies at the last minute willonly add to the panic and endanger you. So take advantage of what maybe your last day of calm and family togetherness.Understand What Panic May Do. If a large number of people learn ofthe nuclear exchange at the same time several things may be expectedto happen at once:Telephone lines will be clogged as people immediately call loved onesand decide what to do. The Internet will also grow much busier,especially news sites, as people at work look for breakinginformation.The stock market will crash until trading is suspended. And even whentrading resumes, prices will continue to fall. A nuclear exchangewill create tremendous economic disruption, and this will bereflected in the markets. Have some money available if the ATMs areempty and the credit card machines go down, and have some liquidwealth outside the market.Major roads will be jammed as people leave work and return home,creating a super rush hour. Other people will leave their homesfor "safer" locations, such as friends in the country, vacation homesor even campgrounds. Clogged highways will be especially bad incities and in areas with a limited numbers of bridges and tunnels,such as New York and Washington, D.C. This is a situation where civilviolence could break out.There may be lines or delays at gas stations as everyone decides tofill their tanks before it is "too late." Some stations could run outof gas. Others may rise prices or ask for cash only. This is anothersituation where civil violence could break out.People will shop for food and supplies, causing lines and shortagesof everything from bread and milk to bottled waterbatteries andtoilet paper. Most grocery stores rotate their stock so quickly theyhave only a two to three day supply of key items in stock. Thanks tojust-in-time production and distribution methods, if everyone panicsand shops at one time, we could well see empty shelves very quickly.There may be civil unrest as people panic, especially if there areshortages at the grocery store. If local police forces areoverwhelmed, this could escalate to riots and looting, especially indensely populated urban areas.Riots and civil unrest could cause general lawlessness, as lawenforcement is overwhelmed and unable to respond to calls. Dependingon where you live, you could be in danger form fires (arson), or youcould be targeted for home invasion robberies and other acts ofviolence. You could also get caught up in a riot or random acts ofviolence. Again, proper planning for this possibility will help yoube prepared. Remember that the Korean merchants in South Centraldemonstrated the value of firearm ownership in this type ofsituation.Having a plan can save you from getting caught up in the worst panic.Know where to go and what to do once you are there.Once all family members are at home and you know whether or not thereis local civil unrest, you can plan for the next few days or, betteryet, implement your existing plan. Your key concerns will beprotecting yourself and your loved ones from possible radiationdangers, making sure you are safe from local unrest and ensuring thatyou have enough supplies to live through the next few weeks or evenmonths.
stolen from HunkerDown06 : CODE RED: Economy in Collapse - and SurvivalCreed : Survival Creed