Prepare: What Happens After A Nuclear War?

I found this link in a forum which was discussing the very same topic. It is quite possibly the best and most thoughtful write up on the subject I have read. It is over five years old, but still very relevant in fact more so today.

I like to research things which may have an impact on me and mine. The problem with the effects of nuclear war is that most of what is written online follows these lines..

"Nuclear war will mean the death of THE WHOLE WORLD!"
"The result will be nuclear winter and the destruction of the ozone layer".
"A single bomb will destroy all of New York City, will spread fallout for hundreds of miles and will contaminate the soil, water and air for thousands of years".

Nearly all the above has been proven false. That is why finding that link and the write up was sobering and disheartening, but the truth was refreshing.


In business, we have "take aways"; what did you learn that you left the meeting with?

Here are my take aways from the above essay.

1) Have a good supply of food. This has been said over and over again in every scenario. Stored food for immediately afterwards (up to two years) and the ability (land, seed, fertilizer, livestock, skill) to produce more from then on.

2) Natural triage of the survivors will happen. Those who can save themselves or who can live without any assistance will the best off. Those waiting for and wanting outside help will not make it.

3) Who will go to the top of the "must save list" will surprise some, but not me. Child bearing women and healthy children are at the top of the list. Rebuilding the population will not be a fool's errand, but mandatory or all will be extinct in short order.

4) Skills which contribute to the survival of the group are the most valuable. Medical, technical, agricultural.

5) The 2nd Amendment as carried out by citizens will protect and preserve society. Spells it out very clearly.

6) Survival of the strongest does not necessarily mean "a big guy with a gun" but often the brightest and best organized. I call this the "survival of the adapter".

The downside of the post is what the author calls the inevitable fallback of civilization to the 18th and 17th century standards. He says this will be due to loss of technology (batteries, computers, fuel, vehicles even ammunition will run out), loss of resources (assets in the cities and on the ground will start to deteriorate the day after), and loss of knowledge (people scrambling to transcribe digital data into paper and ink written form).

Regardless, what will happen after a nuclear war has a dramatic impact on what you and I do today to plan for it.