1) Understand Fallout
Fallout is radioactive dust that falls back to earth. Dose drops fast with time; avoid breathing or ingesting it.
- Hazards: external gamma exposure; internal if inhaled or ingested.
- Controls: time, distance, shielding. Thick walls beat drywall.
2) Pre-incident preparation
- Know your shelter spots: basements, interior rooms, central halls.
- Cache sealed water, shelf-stable food, radio, lamps, first aid.
- Keep N95/P2 masks, gloves, bags, plastic sheeting, tape, wipes, spare clothes.
- Paper copies of contacts, maps, medications, and key docs.
3) Immediate actions: shelter
- Get inside. Go deep and central, away from windows.
- Seal smart. Close intakes and unfiltered HVAC.
- Wait. Often 24–48h; let radiation decay before moving.
4) Decontamination basics
- Remove outer clothing before entering clean areas; bag it.
- Shower with soap and lukewarm water. No conditioner.
5) Food & water
- Use sealed bottles/cans; wipe before opening.
- Indoor covered sources beat outdoor anything. Boiling doesn’t remove radionuclides.
- Produce exposed during deposition: discard.
6) Ventilation & filtration
- Shut intake fans without filtration.
- Use one doorway as a dirty airlock to limit contamination.
7) Evacuation
- Move when authorities direct; dose rate falls quickly.
- In vehicles: windows up, air on recirculate; decon on arrival.
8) Communications
- Battery or hand-crank radio for official updates.
- Favor official channels; avoid rumors.
9) Minimal kit
- Water, canned food, opener, utensils, electrolytes.
- Radio, light, spare batteries, power bank.
- N95+, gloves, soap, wipes, bags, tape, sheeting, scissors.
- Clothes change, sturdy shoes, first aid, essential meds.
- IDs, contacts, maps, small cash.
10) Mental resilience
Keep routines. Assign roles. Schedule check-ins. Write steps down.
Reminder: This is information, not instructions. Follow authorities; we’ll handle the wardrobe.