Page | 1

How to Survive the Next Nuclear, Biochemical, or

Cybernetic Attack

Page | 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS The Myths of Nuclear Attacks .............................................................. 4 

The Best Things You Can Do to Survive a Nuclear Attack ................. 13 

Live in a Safer Location .................................................................. 13 

Build a Safe, Effective Shelter ......................................................... 15 

What to Expect When the Bomb Hits ................................................. 16 

Radioactive Fallout—A Real Danger .................................................. 19 

What is Fallout? .............................................................................. 20 

Fallout Protection ........................................................................... 22 

Protection Against Other Nuclear Weapon Effects ............................ 24 

Should I Stay or Should I go? .............................................................. 27 

How to Evacuate ............................................................................. 29 

Surviving a Chemical or Biological Attack ......................................... 31 

Chemical Warfare ........................................................................... 32 

Biological Warfare .......................................................................... 37 

Cybernetic Attack ............................................................................... 38 

How to Prepare for and Survive a Cyber Attack ............................. 42 

Basic Survival Tips for All Attacks ..................................................... 45 

Page | 3

Water Purification Methods ........................................................... 45 

Your Quick-Grab Bug Out Bag ............................................................ 52 

Tips for Life-Sustaining Shelter ......................................................... 56 

Prepare Psychologically ...................................................................... 62 

Page | 4

The Myths of Nuclear Attacks

It may be difficult to envision life after a nuclear attack. The

nuclear attack would be catastrophic beyond what you may be

able to imagine, but it would not be the end of the human race on

earth. Unfortunately, the danger of nuclear weapons has been

distorted and exaggerated by fear-mongering doomsday groups

and those who have an opportunity for financial gain from

spreading misinformation regarding nuclear war. Hollywood

action movies that portray blackened wasteland scenes with only

one or two survivors probably adds to the confusion and myths.

The fact is, if you are well-prepared, you can survive the next

nuclear attack.

Before reading on about how to survive an attack, let’s get clear

on what are harmful myths and what is true about nuclear war.

Knowing the truth will help you in your preparation and relieve

you of the stress of the myths.

Myth: The fallout radiation from a nuclear war would be the end

of human life because it would poison the air.

Page | 5

Fact: It is known that when a nuclear weapon explodes close

enough to the ground for the fireball to touch the ground, a

crater is formed in the earth. The thousands of tons of earth that

is impacted from the formation of the crater is pulverized into

trillions of minuscule particles. These particles are contaminated

by radioactive atoms that are produced by the nuclear explosion.

The particles rise up miles above the earth into the mushroom-

shaped cloud that is associated with a nuclear explosion. Then,

the radioactive particles fall out of the mushroom cloud or out of

the dispersing cloud of particles blown by the wind, thus

becoming fallout.

While in the cloud, descending, and landing on the earth, the

contaminated particles continuously give off invisible radiation

that is equal to that of an x-ray machine that is not very

powerful. The descending radioactive particles are carried by the

wind back to earth. As the particles descend, they may form a

cloud that looks similar to a dust cloud formed by blowing dust

particles. However, if the wind is blowing at a lower speed and in

different areas, there may not be a cloud before the particles hit

the earth. The heaviest fallout particles will reach the ground

Page | 6

first, and they will be near the explosion site, but the wind can

carry smaller particles over thousands of miles before they fall to

earth.

In areas where there is concentrated fallout from a single

explosion that creates a need for shelters, the deposition will be

completed within a few hours.

Keep in mind that the fallout particles that are small enough to

be inhaled into the lungs are invisible to the naked eye. These

particles are not a threat to humans unless there is an immediate

rain or snow downpour in various “hot spots” that washes the

particles to earth and then the particles are blown about by the

wind. And even then the post-attack danger would be relatively

minor. The air in well-designed fallout shelters would be free of

radioactive particles and safe to breathe even if there were no air

filters in the shelter, except in a few rare instances and in some

environments such as when there is extremely heavy fallout.

Extremely heavy fallout could possibly take place downwind from

specifically targeted locations such as large cities and missile

sites.

Page | 7

With normal fallout conditions, within two weeks of a nuclear

attack, the occupants of most shelters in most areas could vacate

the shelter or, at least, start spending an increased number of

hours working outside of the shelter each day. There would not

be a situation of people having to take up permanent residence in

a shelter or never knowing when it would be safe to come out of

the shelter. A reliable fallout meter that measures the changing

radiation levels can be used to determine when it is safe to exit a

shelter. It’s important to understand the fallout danger levels and

know that exposing the body to 450 R is a lethal level. Studies

have also shown that lower levels than 450 R can also be deadly

in some instances.

Myth: A heavy nuclear explosion would ignite practically

everything on earth and firestorms in cities would deplete all of

the oxygen in the air. People in shelters would be killed by the

intense heat from the fires.

Fact: On a sunny day, thermal pulses, which is heat radiation

that travels at the speed of light, from an airburst can set fire to

flammable items such as dry newspaper, dry grass, window

drapes, etc., over an area that is similar in size to the area that

Page | 8

would be damaged by a nuclear blast. This can cause second-

degree skin burns to people that are within a ten-mile radius

from a one-megaton (1 MT) explosion.

During times of very clear and dry weather, the fire damaged area

could be considerably larger. During cloudy weather or on a

smoggy day, the particles in the air would absorb and scatter

much of the heat radiation. This would mean the area

endangered by heat radiation from the fireball would be smaller

than the area hit with severe blast damage.

Myth: If there is a nuclear attack, all food and water will be

poisoned causing death and starvation even for those who are

prepared with abundant resources.

Fact: Food and water that is correctly stored in dust-tight

containers will not be contaminated by fallout radiation. If the

fallout particles do not mix with the food, the food is edible and

will not harm the body. Even if the food comes in contact with

fallout particles, there are simple remedies such as peeling fruit

and vegetables or removing several inches of the top layer of

stored grain that have been affected by the fallout particles.

Page | 9

For drinking water, there will be deep wells and covered

reservoirs, tanks, and containers with water that is not

contaminated. The good news is that even water that contains

dissolved radioactive elements and compounds can be filtered

and made drinkable.

Myth: The unborn children and grandchildren of those exposed

to radiation will be genetically damaged and this will cause future

generations to be malformed, collateral victims of nuclear war.

Fact: Because of the thirty-year study by the National Academy

of Sciences on the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,

published in 1977, it is known that the incidence of abnormalities

is no higher among children of parents that were exposed to

radiation than that of children born to parents who were not

exposed to radiation. Though there is no absolute certainty that

there would be zero genetic consequences in the event of nuclear

war and radioactive exposure at high levels, the study mentioned

above and the lack of scientific evidence to support the myth of

future generations becoming collateral of nuclear war is

comforting.

Page | 10

Myth: Nuclear explosions would destroy so much of the

protective ozone layer that ultraviolet light would reach the

earth’s surface and blind humans and animals alike. Those who

survived the nuclear war would not be able to be outdoors

without dark glasses and protective hats and clothing for several

years after an attack. A significant increase in cancer would kill

millions of nuclear war survivors.

Additionally, existing plants would be damaged by the ultraviolet

rays and there would be no hope of future crops, fruit trees, and

food plant life. The inability to grow food would create severe

famine and hunger for the survivors.

Fact: Scientists and researchers H.M. Foley and M.A. Ruderman

calculated that the Soviet and U.S. atmospheric nuclear test

explosions of large weapons during 1952 to 1962 would reveal a

reduction of more than 10 percent in the total ozone. But the

actual results of the observations they cited showed no reduction

in total ozone. Data was interpreted and recorded by other

researchers to indicate either no reduction or much smaller

reduction than they had calculated.

Page | 11

Furthermore, the warheads used today are smaller than those

used in the tests mentioned above. Most of these smaller

warheads would emit fewer gasses that would potentially destroy

the ozone.

It is a fact that large nuclear explosions send out huge amounts

of nitrogen oxides into the stratosphere. Nitrogen oxides are

gasses that destroy the ozone. However, the percentage of the

stratospheric ozone that would be destroyed by a given amount

of nitrogen oxide has been greatly overestimated in almost all of

the theoretical calculations and models to date. This

exaggeration has fueled the myth that the ozone will be greatly

destroyed when a nuclear attack happens.

To put the situation in perspective, consider this: the estimate of

the increased ultraviolet light dangers to American survivors of a

significant nuclear explosion would equate to a person moving

from foggy, dark San Francisco to sea level at the equator where

skin cancer incidence is the highest at about ten times higher

than in San Francisco. The difference for the person who moved

would be minimal, and so would it be in the event of a nuclear

attack.

Page | 12

It may be safe to say that the only way that nuclear war is going

to significantly increase skin cancer in Americans is if it suddenly

becomes fashionable to go without hats and sunscreen after an

attack!

So now you know the facts instead of the myths and you can relax

knowing that all life will not be suddenly lost during a nuclear

attack.

Page | 13

The Best Things You Can Do to Survive a

Nuclear Attack

Live in a Safer Location

Because you know that the Nagasaki bomb was similar to the type

that might be used today in a nuclear war, you know you could

survive a nuclear blast even if your location is just a mile from

ground zero. That said, your chances of survival are greater the

further you are from ground zero.

Places that could be likely targets for nuclear attack include large

cities with financial and political clout such as Washington, D.C.

and New York City on the East Coast and Seattle or Las Angeles

on the West Coast. Harbors, military bases, and other strategic

facilities are also potential targets. Prestigious institutions that

house and facilitate large numbers of people such as major

universities may also be attacked with nuclear weapons. For these

reasons, to lower the risk of being at ground zero during a nuclear

attack, consider where you call home.

Page | 14

Scarcely-populated agricultural regions that do not boast

political power, financial power, historical significance, or

industrial significance can be safer than large cities when it

comes to nuclear attack sites. Aside from not being at ground

zero, the people in these isolated areas are more likely to be

adequately prepared for surviving a nuclear attack as the very

nature of their life is more natural and self-sufficient.

Page | 15

Build a Safe, Effective Shelter

When a nuclear attack happens, you will need a safe shelter that

protects you and your family from nuclear fallout. The shelter

could be the difference between surviving and not. The time to

build your shelter is now!

Determine the optimal underground location for the shelter. The

best location is the one that provides the most protection for you

and your family, but consider the terrain, water levels, distance

from sewer lines and electrical lines. You should consider the

mass between your bomb shelter and a location of the likely

attack. No matter where the shelter is, the roof of the shelter

should be no less than 36 inches below the ground.

Consider your location, budget, the number of people you need to

shelter, and what your end goal is for the bomb shelter. Do your

research and draw your own plans for the shelter or purchase

plans online for a nominal price.

Don’t forget to consider structures that you already have

available that are far better than no shelter at all. Consider

Page | 16

turning your concrete storm cellar, root cellar, or basement into a

bomb shelter. It can be beneficial to have the shelter in your

home so you don’t have to leave to get to the shelter after a

nuclear attack.

What to Expect When the Bomb Hits

When a nuclear bomb hits, there will be an intense light. It’s

human nature to look toward the flash, but it’s important that

you know not to look at the flash as the intense light will cause

you to experience temporary “snow blindness.” This means if you

are driving, operating machinery, or doing any other dangerous

activity that requires you to be able to see, you should stop

immediately. If you must continue to move to get to your safe

location or help family members, move with only one eye open

while keeping the other eye closed tightly.

There may be one flash or multiple flashes. After the last flash,

you should get down on the floor behind a large piece of sturdy

furniture or an appliance, and wait for two minutes. If the blast

Page | 17

wave is going to be dangerous, it will pass in two minutes. The

blast wave poses multiple threats from which you must try to

protect yourself. If you are indoors, the blast could shatter glass

that flies through the air with force. If you are close to ground

zero, you could be hit by flying debris such as chunks of wood or

metal.

If you are outside in the open when the flash happens, dive into a

ditch or other depression in the earth. If there is no ditch or hole,

lie down on the ground and cover your head with your arms. Do

your best to protect your head. If you happen to have a backpack

on or anything else that you can use for padding around your

head, use it.

You will need to take immediate cover in your shelter after the

two minutes after the last flash passes, as you’ll be faced with the

pulse of radiation after the bright light and the blast wave

traveling behind it.

You will only have a few seconds to get to safety so every step

you take should be one that is effective for moving you and your

family to safety. (This is one reason that drills for getting to your

Page | 18

shelter are so important!) After that, the dangerous thermal,

gamma, and neutron radiation reach peak levels and start

traveling away from the blast.

Every second counts as you move to your shelter. Your well-

practiced, quick reaction can effectively minimize radiation

exposure. If you do not have a prepared fall-out shelter or cannot

get to it, try to take cover in another building, but stay away from

glass windows. If there is radio available, try to listen in to see

what is going on.

You will hear thunderous booms of the initial explosion in just

about every area of the United States. It is said that people who

are one hundred miles away from a nuclear explosion will hear

the boom 7.5 minutes afterward and that should be their

warning.

You will probably experience a complete blackout with no

electricity and no radio or TV broadcasts, but if you have a

battery-powered or hand-cranked radio, keep trying to get

something for news. At that time, you will realize the huge

benefit of having prepared ahead of time for a nuclear attack!

Page | 19

Radioactive Fallout—A Real Danger

If a nuclear weapon is detonated close to the ground, the fallout

is imminent. In the case of fallout, it’s best to hunker down in

your shelter and wait until the levels of radiation have dropped.

This is particularly true if you are well prepared and have a good

stock of food and supplies in your shelter so you can survive

comfortably. Think about this ahead of time, as there will likely

be official evacuation orders given by local, state, and the federal

government. If you feel better about staying in your shelter and

going it alone, you may be able to protect your property and

supplies instead of deserting it and allow it to be ransacked by

looters.

Page | 20

What is Fallout?

Radioactive fallout happens when the suction wave of the blast

carries matter upward in the vacuum created by the nuclear

fireball as it rises. If the explosion is close to the ground, matter

such from the surface of the earth enters the fireball and is

incinerated by the intense heat. You would recognize the dust as

the stem part of the classic mushroom shape.)

As the debris is pulled up into the nuclear explosion, it is exposed

to the radiation produced by the chain reaction. This exposure

induces radioactivity in the debris. As the radioactive debris

moves upward, it cools off and solidifies into very small particles

that fall back to earth. The particles are radioactive fallout.

The particles travel upward for a long way, and it takes a while for

it to fall back to the earth’s surface. Even at a location near

ground zero, it can take, at least, 15 minutes for large pieces of

fallout ranging in size from sand-sized to pea-sized to reach the

earth. The smaller pieces will take even longer. Some of the

smallest fallout will be airborne for days, months, or possibly

years.

Page | 21

You should take advantage of the lag time that it takes for the

fallout to arrive on the ground. If you are in an area that is down

range, you may have from around 20 or 30 minutes up to a few

hours following a nuclear blast before there is any fallout in your

area. That is a huge advantage! It gives you time to make last-

minute preparations, gather your family members if needed, and

get to your safe shelter.

You will know when fallout starts to arrive because the larger

particles will arrive first and you’ll be able to see them. The

exception is if you are downwind and only small particles arrive

several hours or even days later. When you see the particles, it is

your signal to speed up getting to your safe shelter.

Be aware that fallout can come in various forms and colors due to

the composition and the material at ground zero. It may be white,

gray, black and be of various textures, but you’ll recognize it.

That’s when you must take shelter and be prepared to remain in

your safe shelter until the radiation levels are down.

Page | 22

Fallout Protection

If you are not able to get to your shelter when fallout hits, take

every precaution you can to stay safe. Remember, any time that

you spend out in the fallout will lessen your chances of surviving

the nuclear attack. Here are some tips to help keep you safer if

you are caught outdoors when fallout happens:

Keep radioactive fallout off your skin the best you can. If

you have a jacket or anything else available, use it as a

covering. If you have a handkerchief, bandana or another

strip of fabric, wet it and cover your face with it to keep from

inhaling the dust.

Stay focused and use your time wisely during the time after

the flash but before the fallout arrives. Do the most

important tasks first and do not be distracted by the chaos

that will be all around you. Keep your wits about you and

stop and think about how you can survive and help your

family survive.

Take care of yourself and your family only. This is not the

time to become everyone else’s protector and keeper. You

Page | 23

simply must face the fact that you cannot save everyone,

and if you do not save yourself, you will not be able to help

anyone! If you truly care about people and want them to be

safe during a nuclear disaster time, tell them that they need

to prepare now and help them now. There will be no time to

help others once the attack happens.

As chaos roars all around you, listen to what you know to be

true. Many will be shouting their ideas, but you must adhere

to the ideas and guidelines you have already set for yourself

for survival. Even those who are officially in authority may

not be educated on survival and may not know what they are

doing. School officials, police officers, National Guard

troops, your boss, and others may shout orders that could

lead to your death. If something goes against what you know

to be true and safe, do not listen.

If you are away from your family shelter and cannot get back

to it, don’t seek shelter in a packed public fallout shelter.

Public shelters can be potential death traps

If you travel frequently for pleasure or for work, or if you

commute several miles to work each day, always keep a bug-

Page | 24

out bag in your travel vehicle. If you commute to work by

mass transportation, take your small bug-out pack and keep

it in your work locker or under your desk. You do not know

where you will be when an attack may hit and having a bug-

out bag can save your life!

Protection Against Other Nuclear

Weapon Effects

Flashburns—Flash burns can be caused by the intense rays

of the heat emitted from the fireball within the first minute

following an explosion. The thermal radiation travels at the

speed of light and can burn everything in its path before the

arrival of the blast wave. The thermal radiation may be

reduced, but not eliminated if it passes through dense

clouds, thick smoke, or rain. A 20-megaton explosion that is

25 miles away can cause flash burns to exposed skin.

If you are in an area in which thermal radiation is a hazard,

the damage from flash burns to the skin may be minimized

Page | 25

or possibly eliminated by a covering of clothing, preferably

white clothing, that reflects light. But keep in mind that if

you’re in an area that is close to ground zero and there is

severe blast damage, the clothing could be set on fire and

the body could be burned.

Flash blindness—The intense light from an explosion that

is even miles away can cause flash blindness when the

weather is clear. The blindness may be caused by scattered

light, even if you do not look at the fireball. Flash blindness

is not permanent and usually lasts, at most, a few minutes.

But because those few minutes can be critical for you to get

to safety, it’s best to try to avoid flash blindness by covering

your eyes and making sure you do not look at the fireball.

Retinal Burns—Retinal burns are a permanent injury that

can occur if the eyes are focused on the fireball. No matter

how curious, you must make sure you do not look directly at

the fireball.

Popcorn Effect—When exposed grains of sand and other

particles are heated very rapidly by intense thermal

radiation, they “pop” like popcorn. In severe blasts, while

Page | 26

the dust is airborne, the thermal radiation heats it to several

thousand degrees Fahrenheit. Then the shock wave and

blast winds can carry the extremely hot air and dust into

open shelter areas. The popcorn effect has been seen in

nuclear air-burst testing in Nevada, where animals were

scarred and seriously burned. The popcorn effect was also

seen in Nagasaki where Japanese people working inside an

open shelter within about 100 yards of ground zero fell

victim to burns on the part of their skin that was exposed to

the entering blast wind, even though they were further into

the shelter. They would have certainly been burned more

severely had they been outside and subjected to the thermal

pulse and the initial nuclear radiation from the fireball.

Experiments have been conducted during nuclear test

explosions to figure out the amount of thermal radiation

required to be delivered to exposed earth to create the

popcorn effect. It has been established that large airbursts of

hot dust and heated air produced at overpressure ranges of

as low as 3 or 4 psi can burn the skin. It should be noted,

though, that calculations show that it would take a higher

Page | 27

pressure to affect humans in small open shelters. This

means that most will be safe from the popcorn effect if they

can take shelter and close all doors/windows before the

arrival of the blast, which will not happen until several

seconds after the bright light of the explosion.

 

Should I Stay or Should I go?

When there is a nuclear attack, you may easily become confused

and not be sure about what your next action should be. You may

wonder if you should stay at your home site or evacuate. Here are

some tips to help you make a good decision:

Evacuate if you are in the following circumstances:

You live in a high-risk area.

You can travel—you have transportation, such as a car and

plenty of gasoline, and the roads are open and not risky.

You are in fairly good health or have a trusted person to

help take care of you.

Page | 28

You have the tools and supplies to build a fall-out shelter

and are prepared with food, water, and supplies to live

elsewhere.

Your community does not depend on you for services such

as fireman, police officer, security, etc.

Your family for which you are responsible can travel with

you.

Stay if you are in the following circumstances:

You do not live near ground zero and live in a lower risk area

and can build or create a shelter from an existing room or

structure.

You are sick, immobile or unable to travel or survive if

things become more difficult.

You have no transportation or do not have ample fuel for

your vehicle.

The roads in your area will be blocked by the time you would

be able to leave.

Your community depends on you to do your community

service job.

Page | 29

Your immediate family cannot travel with you due to illness

or other reasons.

You do not have the tools and supplies to successfully

evacuate your home site.

How to Evacuate

If you decide that you should evacuate, have an evacuation plan

in your head so that you do not waste any time trying to figure

out the best procedure. Before a nuclear attack, think about

evacuation scenarios from various places that you spend time

such as work, daycare and school drop off, college, friends’

homes, and so forth. These tips will help your evacuation go

smoother and more quickly.

Loading Procedure—You may not be able to take everything

that you have stored for survival in your bug-out vehicle so load

whatever vehicle is available with the most important items from

each category of your survival supplies. Don’t forget to leave

room for all of the passengers that you must transport. If you

Page | 30

have bug-out bags packed and ready to go (and you should!), it

will make the loading procedure very simple and quick.

Food and Water—No matter what your situation is and

transitions into, you will need food and water to survive. You

should not count on outside sources for food and water any more

than you absolutely have to. Grab your immediate, instant food

supply and as much water as you can feasibly transport. If you do

not already have water stored and purifying supplies ready to go,

fill containers as quickly as possible and grab water purifying

tablets, chlorine bleach, and a teaspoon to measure it, and a

pillowcase and plastic bags for filtering/storing water.

Take Survival Information—Take your important survival

information with you. This should already be all together in

water-proof plastic and in a notebook or small file box. If it is not

together, gather it as quickly as you can so you have information

regarding your shelter building, nuclear, biochemical, and

cybernetic survival instructions, and contact information.

Tools and Equipment—Take all of your small battery-powered

or hand-cranked radios and extra batteries, a fallout meter, and

Page | 31

writing pen and paper. Take a shovel, pick, bow saw, ax, or

hatchet, file, knife, pliers, and other hand tools for building a

shelter. All of this should be pre-arranged in containers so you

can just grab the container and go!

Sleeping Bags/Blankets—If you can, even if it’s summer time,

grab a sleeping bag or blanket for each person. You do not know

where you will end up and may need a “bed” that a simple

blanket or sleeping bag can provide for you. (Again, this should

be in or with your bug-out bag and ready to go!)

Surviving a Chemical or Biological

Attack

There are ways other than nuclear attacks that our country can be

attacked. Even though nuclear attack seems imminent, you

should also be aware of and prepared for other types of attack

such as chemical/biochemical attack and cybernetic attack. Some

of the preparation techniques are exactly the same but specific

Page | 32

preparation is also needed for each kind of attack. Knowing your

“enemy” can help you outsmart it!

Chemical Warfare

Chemical weapons are incapacitating agents that are categorized

as nerve, blood, or blister. They are not gasses but are usually

vapors or airborne particles and must be delivered in a quantity

that kills or severely injures humans in order to do their intended

damage. They are considered “area denial” and terror weapons—

meaning that if you leave the area where the agents are, you

leave the risk.

Chemical warfare is a threat to the United States, but probably

less of a threat than is publicized. There are facts about chemical

warfare that may help you rest easier. Most of the chemicals will

not work in certain conditions. They don’t last very long when

the weather is hot and will not work when there is freezing

weather. If the wind is blowing, it will spread the chemicals

quickly, but in doing so, the chemicals will be weakened. The

Page | 33

chemical agents will not work if the concentration is not high

enough.

Having said that, a chemical weapons attack is not an easy one to

launch for even well-informed military groups, and it would be

harder yet for terrorists to do so. Does this mean you should not

prepare? No! It simply means that you should not live in constant

fear or worry of a chemical attack.

Something to remember about chemical warfare is that the most

predictable time for it is in the morning or the evening hours

about an hour before or after sunrise and an hour before or after

sunset. This is because there is an inversion layer in the morning

and evening where whatever is suspended in the air gets pushed

down toward the earth’s surface. During this time, the vapors and

airborne particles that are heavier than air will settle in ditches

and underground places. So that is not where you want to be

during a chemical attack!

Page | 34

Nerve Agents

If you have a can of bug spray such as Raid™ in your garage, you

are already familiar with nerve agents. Nerve agents are

cholinesterase inhibitors that interfere with the signals the

nervous system uses to make the body function properly. This

type of agent is harmful if it gets on the skin but is even more

harmful if you inhale it. In a nutshell, if you inhale it and do not

die within a minute or so, you can leave the area and have a good

chance of surviving the attack. In the military, atropine and

pralidoxime chloride are used to combat nerve agent inhalation.

These antidotes allow the body to keep moving for about five

minutes so you may be able to get to fresh air.

Here are the symptoms of nerve agent poisoning:

Sudden headache

Runny nose

Drooling

Stomach cramps and nausea

Difficulty breathing

Tightness in chest

Page | 35

Dimness of vision

Skin will twitch where liquid landed on you

If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself or others,

immediately survey your surrounding area. Try to determine if

you just heard a loud pop or if anyone sprayed something into a

crowd or poured liquid on people.

If there is a chemical attack, you may smell something that you

would think is freshly mowed grass. Or the smell could remind

you of camphor or a fruity smell.

You may see blobs of liquid that look like syrup on you. If you feel

or see anything on you, use something (not the clothes you are

wearing unless you take them off) to blot or scrape it off your

body.

If you realize that chemical warfare is happening and you are in a

building, stay calm, try to cover your mouth and nose with a filter

(such as a bandana), and get outside immediately. Leave the area

and go upwind.

Page | 36

Blood Agents

Blood agents are cyanide or arsine and they affect the blood’s

ability to provide oxygen to the tissue in the body. You may

recognize the smell of blood agents as garlic or bitter almonds. If

you suspect blood agents, look for someone that is splashing or

spraying and people suddenly looking woozy and falling to the

ground.

The symptoms of blood agents are the following:

Blue lips

Rapid breathing

Blue under the fingernails

The military antidote for blood agents is amyl nitride, which

keeps the body going stronger for five minutes until the toxins

are used up. The best thing you can do is to get out in fresh air as

quickly as possible.

Blister Agents

Contrary to horror movies, blister agent attacks are not as likely

to happen because blister agents are very difficult to use. They

are volatile and may have a delayed effect of up to 12 hours,

Page | 37

making them unpredictable and risky for the one spreading the

agent.

As their name signifies, blister agents will cause painful blisters

on the skin. If this happens, don’t pop the blisters, and if any are

accidentally popped, immediately clean the area with soap and

water so the liquid from the blister is not spread to other areas of

the body.

Biological Warfare

Biological warfare requires you to be observant and alert. Since

biological contaminants will likely be delivered via drinks and

food, make sure you know where your food is coming from and

what it is. Do not take drinks and food from strangers and always

be aware of any suspicious food. Don’t take chances.

Biological contaminants can also be spread by mosquitoes, other

insects, and rodents so it’s important to protect your home and

property from mosquito swarms. Follow strict guidelines to avoid

standing water on the property and use natural remedies such as

Page | 38

citronella candles and plants to keep mosquitoes away from the

home entry.

Keep a tight-fitting lid on your garbage can to avoid attracting

critters. If you compost, compost in a covered container. Keep the

space around your home free of debris and junk that animals can

use for making homes.  

Cybernetic Attack

Cybernetic attacks, also known as cyber-attacks or information

warfare, is another type of threat for the American people. The

dictionary gives the following definition for the word cybernetics:

the scientific study of how people, animals, and machines control

and communicate information. Cybernetics involves two parts:

the system or machine that is studied and the way the system or

machine affects animals and humans. For the purpose of this

guide, the focus is on the system and machines that are depended

on for everyday life to continue as usual. In these times, the focus

is on technology that Americans have become dependent on in

Page | 39

most areas of life such as finance, communication, business,

transportation, operating machinery, media, education, and even

operating simple appliances in the home. The common term used

to describe any deliberate threat to these computer systems and

technology enterprises and networks are cyberattack. One form of

cyber attack is data breaches. In 2014 there were several major

data breaches that involved large companies, including Yahoo!,

Target, AT&T, eBay, Home Depot, UPS, Google, Apple, J.P.

Morgan Chase, and several others.

The impact of a cyber attack can be fairly mild to devastatingly

major. According to most related websites, minor cyberattacks

are fairly common occurrences on a daily basis. However, as

mentioned above, Americans are very dependent on technology

for almost everything. You may not think a cyberattack would

directly affect you, but it definitely would unless you already live

off the grid and are completely self-sufficient. The very reason for

a cyberattack is to “disable” Americans and make them

vulnerable to hardship and death. Here is a list of some of the

many things a cyber attack could affect if one is not well-

prepared for it:

Page | 40

Electronic bank transactions could not be done. ATMs would

not function. You could find yourself suddenly without the

ability to get any cash from your bank accounts.

Your electricity would probably be shut down, at least

temporarily.

Water would probably be shut off as the water treatment

facilities are automated.

Gasoline for cars would not be available as most of the

pumps are now digital

Public transportation systems such as subways, trains, and

airplanes would cease to function.

Traffic management systems such as traffic light, air traffic

control, etc., would shut down.

Most grocery stores and outlets would shut down

eliminating or limiting your ability to get food and bottled

water.

Most businesses would shut down, eliminating or limiting

your ability to get needed supplies.

Educational systems would shut down.

Page | 41

Your personal data regarding medical records, finances,

academic records, and physical location would suddenly be

vulnerable without the systems to protect them.

SMART appliances, security systems, and utilities would not

function.

Many government operations would be shut down—

eliminating processing of government checks, government

safety, etc.

Telecommunications would be down disabling the ability to

communicate with the outside world via cell phone, VOIP,

or Internet messengers, etc.

Identity theft, fraud, intellectual property theft, and

extortion would be rampant.

There would be a breach of access to your online accounts.

Page | 42

How to Prepare for and Survive a Cyber Attack

In addition to your preparation for the survival of any kind of

attack where you need the essentials of life, you should know

what to do in the event of a major cyberattack in the United

States. One of the main things to remember when preparing for a

cyber attack is that you will not have access to your online data or

access to cash that is in savings and checking accounts, and your

debit or credit cards will not work. This means you need to keep

cash in small denominations in a safe in your home. If you have

cash on hand, it may allow you to get food and water and make

transactions when you could not if you had to depend on your

debit or credit card. If possible, always keep enough cash on hand

to meet your monthly bills and living expenses for a minimum of

three months.

Here are other ways that you can prepare for and survive a cyber

attack:

As a means of surviving any attack, store at least two weeks’

worth of food and water so you can survive without having

to purchase any food or water.

Page | 43

Be prepared for a power outage and shut down of other

utilities such as city water and natural gas.

Have backup power sources such as solar chargers and

generators.

If you live in a gated community or apartment with security

gates or elevators etc., make sure you know alternatives

because the electronically-controlled gates, elevators, etc.

may not work.

Understand that your garage door opener may not work and

your SMART home appliances will probably not work.

Prepare for that.

Make sure you have paper copies of all important documents

and photos. Do not count on your documents being

available online even after the cyber attack is over.

If your paycheck is received by direct deposit, consider

receiving it as a paper check. The banks will be closed, but if

you have a paper check, you may be able to get the paper

check processed faster than getting your account back to

receive the direct deposit.

Page | 44

Have a paper contact list instead of relying on your phone

for phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses.

Start now to use cash only and avoid using credit cards and

debit cards. If you use cash, you are not constantly putting

your data out there.

If your TV is connected to the Internet, be aware that the TV

could be collecting data about you.

Prepare with an alternate means of communication such as

ham radio that is not connected to the Internet.

Since you won’t be able to use cell phones or email to

communicate, keep a book or two of stamps on hand, as well

as paper and envelopes.

You will not be able to pay bills online so have mailing

addresses and account numbers for all utility bills, loans,

mortgage payments, etc.

As with any other type of attack, you do not know when it might

hit. That is why you must prepare now and then ride out the

attack the best you can when the time comes.

 

 

Page | 45

Basic Survival Tips for All Attacks

Water Purification Methods

Terrorists that attack want to make sure that their efforts are

targeted on disrupting and destroying the necessities of life so

that survival is more difficult. Since clean drinking water is an

absolute necessity, there is always a chance that your water

supply will be affected if an attack happens. This means it is

crucial that you know water purification methods. The survival of

you and your family could literally depend on knowing how to

purify water for drinking.

Filtering

In the event of a nuclear attack, filtering water through earth can

remove essentially all of the fallout particles and is more

effective in removal of the radioactive material than boiling the

water. Boiling does not eliminate the dangerous radioactive

iodine from water.

Page | 46

Earth filters work better for removing radioactive iodine than

ion-exchange water softeners or charcoal filters. In areas of

heavy fallout, approximately 99% of the radioactivity in water is

removed by filtering the water through the earth.

You can make a simple earth filter by following these

instructions:

Find a five-gallon can, a five-gallon bucket, a water-tight

trash can, or other similar five-gallon size container that

will hold water.

Drill or punch about 12 holes in the bottom of the container,

working from the outside of the container and drilling

inward and within about two inches from the center of the

container.

Put a one-inch layer of clean small stones or gravel in the

bottom of the container. If you do not have any stones or

gravel available, you can use small twigs or other material

for the water to run through. Stones are best.

Cover the stones with a terrycloth towel, burlap cloth, or

similar porous fabric. Cut the cloth in the shape of the

container bottom, about three inches larger than the

Page | 47

measurement of the container. Spread the cloth in the

bottom of the container over the stones. Do not tuck in the

extra fabric, but press it firm against the sides of the

container and put a few larger rocks around the edge of the

fabric to hold the fabric in place.

Dig down at least four inches into the ground and take some

soil from that depth. (Most fallout particles remain on or

near the surface, so digging down at least four inches is

safe.) Try to dig up soil that contains some sand but is not

all sand and has some clay but is not pure clay as clay is not

porous enough and all sand is too porous.

Put a layer of soil about seven to eight inches deep in the

container (over the top of the cloth).

Put two or three dowel rods, tree branches, or scrap wood

over the top of the container that will catch the water so you

can steady the filter on top of it. A clean dishpan works well

for catching the clean water as it drips out of the filter. You

want to make sure the container that catches the water is

larger in diameter than the filter container so you do not

lose any precious clean water.

Page | 48

If the filtering soil is sandy clay loam, the filter will initially

produce about six quarts of clear water per hour, but after a

few hours, the rate may slow to about two quarts per hour.

When you have filtered about 50 quarts of water, it is time to

replace the soil with fresh soil.

Settling

Settling is another method for making water drinkable, and

perhaps it is the easiest method for removing fallout particles

from water. The settling method can also be used prior to the

filtering method in order to start with cleaner water and extend

the life of the filter. Here is how to purify water using the settling

method:

Fill a bucket or other container to about three-fourths full

with contaminated water.

Dig pulverized clay or soil that contains a lot of clay from a

depth of four or more inches below the ground’s surface.

Mix the soil into the bucket of water. Use a one-inch depth

of dry clay or claysoil for every four-inch depth of water. Stir

until the clay particles are afloat.

Page | 49

Let the clay settle for a minimum of six hours. The settled

clay particles will carry most of the suspended fallout

particles to the bottom of the bucket and cover them

Carefully dip out the clear water and disinfect it.

Disinfecting Water

Waterborne diseases would probably be a bigger threat to

survivalists of a nuclear attack than fallout contaminated water

would be. As a survivalist, you must memorize how to disinfect

water in the event that after an attack you find the only water

available is contaminated. And, of course, you must disinfect

water before storing it in preparation for a disaster, as you do not

know how long the water will be stored and it’s best not to take

any chances of the container having contained bacteria that

could contaminate the water. Properly disinfected water can be

stored for long periods of time.

Regular household bleach that is sodium hypochlorite with no

added colorings and ingredients can be used to disinfect water.

Make sure that the bleach is not the concentrated type. Bleach is

inexpensive and reliable for disinfecting water and surfaces

Page | 50

during times of disaster. Check the label on the bleach for the

sodium hypochlorite strength. For household bleach, it is usually

5.25%. In that case, use one teaspoon of bleach to ten gallons of

clear water for disinfecting the water. If the water is not clear but

is murky or colored, use two teaspoons of bleach per ten gallons

of water. After adding the bleach, wait for no less than 30

minutes for the bleach to do its job and kill the microorganisms

in the water.

If you need to disinfect small containers of water, put two drops

of bleach that have 5.25% sodium hypochlorite in a quart of clear

water. Double the drops to four drops if the water is murky,

muddy, or colored. If you do not have a dropper to use, you can

use a spoon and a square-ended strip of paper on thin cloth about

one-fourth-inch wide by two inches long to put the drops of

bleach in the water. Simply put the strip in the spoon with an end

hanging about two inches beyond the end of the spoon. Carefully

put bleach in the spoon and gently tip the spoon so that the

bleach goes down the strip. The drops that drip from the strip are

the same “measurement” as the drops from a dropper.

Page | 51

Iodine can also be used to disinfect water. The iodine should be

2% tincture of iodine, and five drops should be used per quart of

clear water, and ten drops of iodine used per quart of murky,

muddy, or colored water. After adding the iodine, let the water

stand for 30 minutes before drinking.

You can purchase various types of commercial water purification

tablets. Carefully read the package instructions before using and

use according to the instructions. Make sure you understand

what tablets you have and how to use them before it is necessary

to use them.

If you find yourself in a crisis situation where you have no way to

disinfect water or purify water, use the best water available to

avoid dehydration, even if the water is questionable. Try to filter

the water the best you can and boil it for more than ten minutes

to kill infective organisms. Remember that some plants are

succulent, meaning they contain water. If you know your plants,

you may be able to forage for plants that can provide some water

in a crisis.

Page | 52

Your Quick-Grab Bug Out Bag

To truly be prepared to survive a crisis, you should have a bag

ready to go that contains all the immediate essentials for getting

by for no less than three days. Each family member should have a

bag. Even though young children cannot carry much weight, they

should, at least, have a light bag with a change of clothes, cereal

bars, and ready-to-eat food, and water bottles, and contact

information in it. If children have asthma puffers and other

medicine, their bag should contain their medicine in the event

that parents and children are separated.

Adult bags should contain the following items:

Change of weather-appropriate clothing, including hats, gloves,

etc. for winter weather or rain gear if you live in an area where it

frequently rains or if in rainy season, cool cotton clothing if in

hot, tropical area

Change of sturdy shoes that you can hike in

Blanket or compact sleeping bag that is adequate for

climate/season you are in

Page | 53

Flashlights and batteries

Candles and matches in waterproof container

Instant and almost instant food such as foilpack tuna,

instant soup, meat jerky, protein bars, MRI type meals,

peanut butter, etc. that can fill caloric need for no less than

three days (Think protein, energy fuel, and quality calories

rather than empty calories.)

Water bottles for three days

Portable rocket-style cooking stove and fuel for it

Tin cup that can be used for drinking or eating and light-

weight eating utensils

Necessary medication and pain reliever

First-aid kit

Emergency communication devices such as walkie-talkies

Water disinfectant tablets

Emergency contact papers, vital documents, etc.

Emergency survival guide for reference if you get into life-

threatening situations

Keep your bug out bag in a place that is easily accessible at a

moment’s notice but where it is safe. Explain the bug out bag to

Page | 54

children and help them understand they must never play with or

unpack the bag without permission and must be able to quickly

grab it when told to do so in an emergency.

Besides your bug out bags, you will need to have additional food

supplies stocked. Here is a list of the recommended minimal

stock for sustaining yourself and your family for a two-week

period.

Immediate instant foods: granola/energy/protein bars, snacks, 

raisins, cheese, nuts, dried fruit, meat jerky, etc. 

Some perishable foods that do not require refrigeration for 

immediate use, such as bread and fruits. 

Canned goods such as chili, sardines, salmon, tuna, soups, 

vegetables, fruit, meats, beans, peanut butter, etc.  

Staple pantry foods: Large bags of rice, beans, flour, potatoes, 

pasta, quick oats, and other grains 

Multiple big boxes of dried milk  

Multiple big boxes of pancake and biscuit mix and syrup 

Large bag of sugar and jar of honey 

Large 2 gallons or more of cooking oil 

Baking powder, baking soda, yeast,salt, pepper, and spice 

Page | 55

assortment 

Bottled water (especially if home supplies not secured yet) 

Paper goods: Paper or plastic plates/bowls/cups/utensils and 

paper towels 

Quality manual can opener, 2 if you don't already have one at 

home 

Kitchen matches and disposable lighters 

New metal garbage cans and liner bags (water storage & waste 

storage) 

5‐gallon bucket and smaller garbage bags sized for it (toilet) 

Toilet seat for the bucket  

Toilet paper and, if needed, sanitary napkins, diapers, etc. 

Baby wipes (saves water for personal hygiene use) 

Flashlights (ideally LED) and more than one portable radio 

Plenty of batteries, at least three sets, for each of the above 

Bleach (5.25%, without fragrance or soap additives) 

Alcohol and Hydrogen Peroxide and hand sanitizers 

Prescription drugs filled, and as much extra as possible 

First aid kits 

Fire extinguishers 

Water filters and all other camping type supplies, such as portable 

Page | 56

camp toilet, cook stove and fuel, ammo, etc., and rolls of plastic 

sheeting, duct tape, staple guns, staples, etc.  

Tips for Life-Sustaining Shelter

If you are fortunate, you will have a well-stocked fallout shelter

to go to in the event of nuclear fallout after a nuclear bomb blast.

But this is not feasible for everyone for various reasons. In the

event that you do not have a fallout shelter and cannot get to a

safe shelter, it may be best to stay in your home. There are many

reasons that staying home can be best in some circumstances.

When a nuclear attack happens, there will be nationwide chaos.

There are a lot of people out there who will do anything to get

what they need to protect and sustain themselves. You do not

want to be subject to those people! It could be easier to protect

yourself and your family within the confines of your home than

on the streets. There are exceptions. If you happen to live near a

wilderness area where there is a make-do fallout shelter where

you can survive with your bug-out bag, you may be safer if you

leave your home. However, keep in mind that if you leave your

Page | 57

home, it may be looted and destroyed while you are gone or

someone else may take it over, including your long-term supplies

and equipment for survival.

Ideally, you can turn your home into a protective fallout shelter

of sorts by making some modifications. If you already have a

basement in your home or a storm/root cellar on your property,

you are way ahead of the game. It is fairly easy to convert a

basement or cellar into a fall-out shelter.

Your goal is to reduce radiation and protect yourself and your

family from the radiation. The best way to do this is to put

distance and mass between you and the radiation source. The

thicker the mass between you and the radiation source, the better

for you. To cut radiation down to one-tenth of its initial intensity

requires over three inches of steel, 11 inches of concrete, 16

inches of earth, 24 inches of water, or 38 inches of wood.

Almost anything can be used to maximize the mass and absorb

the radiation between you and the fallout outside, including

heavy furniture, bookcases full of books, large planters full of

soil, cord wood, sandbags, bricks, cement blocks, landscaping

Page | 58

stones stacked on a thick table, interior doors taken off their

hinges, refrigerator or freezer, and other large appliances. You

can use whatever you have to create a “wall” that can absorb

radiation.

If you do not have a basement or cellar on your property, but a

trusted neighbor or nearby family member does, talk with them

about the possibility of sharing the modification costs in

exchange for use of the fallout shelter. Work out all of the details

about the work that will be one and how the shelter would be

stocked, as well as what the responsibilities and privileges of each

party would be.

Nearby public shelters may be available for you. Some

communities provide this type of shelter for their citizens. If you

have such a shelter in your community or city, make sure you

know exactly where the shelter is located, the fastest route there,

and the details for entering and staying at the shelter. Keep in

mind that roads to the shelter may be blocked and most likely

people will be frantic to get there, making your passage to the

shelter difficult at best. Just be prepared!

Page | 59

Other places to consider for fallout shelter are underground

parking garages or office buildings, particularly ones that are

close to your home. If you work in an office with underground

parking or a basement area, speak to the person in charge and see

if you can arrange to use the facilities in the event of nuclear

fallout. You may be able to be instrumental in getting the staff to

form a committee and store supplies, food, and water in the safe

area.

If a fallout shelter is not a possibility for you, there are a few

things you can do to add layers of protection to your home space:

Plant a barrier of trees or shrubs around your home. The

trees should be of a type that does not easily catch fire or

burn quickly in the event of a fire, but would provide a

barrier for wind and debris that flies through the air during

an attacking.

Keep your lawn green and keep debris picked up around your

property so you do not have “fuel” for fire during a nuclear

attack.

Page | 60

Use cloth tape to form an “x” across window panes to help

them stay in tack instead of shattering and being launched

throughout the house and cutting people in the house.

Use white or light-colored drapes and shades on the

windows to reflect light from a nuclear thermal pulse.

Seal windows and doors with large strips of plastic and duct

tape to minimize or keep out fallout dust.

Shutters or sheets of plywood can be nailed over windows to

create mass and keep out looters. The covered windows will

also prevent shattered windows and the dangers the glass

can impose.

If you are not able to get to a shelter when fallout is imminent

but hasn’t yet arrived, a government website suggests that you

begin using their N95 particulate respirator masks and hooded

rain ponchos. It is also suggested that you should start taking

Potassium Iodide (KI) or Potassium Iodate (KIO3) tablets to

protect your thyroid against cancer-causing radioactive iodine. If

you do not have KI or KIO3 tablets, you can apply a 2 percent

tincture of iodine solution to your skin, but you should never

Page | 61

ingest iodine. The iodine should be applied about two hours

before possible exposure in the following dosages:

Adults at 150 pounds or more, apply 8 ml of 2 percent

tincture of iodine on the abdomen or forearm each day

Children three years to eighteen but under 150 pounds,

apply 4 ml each day

For children under three years but older than a month, apply

2 ml

For infants and children under one month, apply 1 ml

If you do not have a dropper that measures in milliliters, you

should know that one measuring teaspoon is about 5 ml. Another

word of caution—some people are allergic to iodine solutions on

their skin. Check with your doctor now and determine if you or

family members are allergic to the iodine. If so, do not use.

Page | 62

Prepare Psychologically

You will have a much better chance of surviving nuclear,

biochemistry, or cyber wars if you are mentally and emotionally

prepared. As difficult as it may be to prepare your mind and heart

for these types of warfare, they are a real threat and you must

prepare. If you do not prepare and know that you are prepared,

you may go into shock when the event happens. If you go into

shock or panic, you will be of no good to yourself or your family

and loved ones that you need to protect and care for.

Here are some tips for mental and emotional preparation:

Yes, nuclear warfare, biochemistry warfare, biological

warfare, and cyber warfare are real and they will happen in

the United States. That said—if you are prepared, you can

survive all of these types of warfare! None of these events

indicate the end of the world. There will be adjustments and

you must be well-prepared and keep calm, but you can

survive!

Create scenarios of these types of warfare in your mind and

determine how you would react and act in each scenario.

Page | 63

This will help you become familiar with various

circumstances and help you navigate the situations on “auto

pilot” if you ever need to do so.

Let fear drive you toward production not paralyze you. Face

your fears of what could happen by preparing for the worst

case scenarios.

Prepare yourself to work hard to do whatever you need to

do. Get your mind into tip-top condition and also condition

your body with physical exercise that builds up endurance

and strength for hard work. This will boost your confidence

tremendously.

Forming a support group of like-mind preppers can be

extremely beneficial in preparing your mind for darker days.

Knowing that you have support and can offer support to

others will keep you from feeling alone. Do whatever you

can to be involved in a prepper support group.

Educate yourself on how to live off the grid, do things

without electricity, live frugally and without modern

conveniences. Train your mind to think like a survivor.

Page | 64

Start preparing today for the warfare that could become a reality

at any time. Use the days without this warfare as precious days

with no time to waste. Do not procrastinate thinking that there is

always tomorrow. When the time comes to take advantage of

your preparation, you will be so thankful that you prepared.