Surviving a Nuclear Attack on Washington, D.C.

National Journal ^ | June 24th 2005 | By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

[JockoManning]

SNIP:

“Simply removing the clothes and washing takes off up to 90 percent.”


Every major Washington-area hospital has some decontamination facilities, but 10,000 radiation patients in one day would swamp them. So mass decontamination falls to fire departments, with their mobile pumps and generators; their protective gear; their hazardous-materials experience; and, because both Maryland and Virginia have nuclear power reactors, their years of radiation training. Area firefighters can quickly set up special decontamination tents, and they have plans to take over buildings that have lots of showers — so high school gyms, for example, are a good place to head for. In the chaos of those first hours, said Michael Cline, state coordinator at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, “the real key is to make sure people go to those facilities.” It will take every firefighter available to man the decontamination sites, and every cop to control the crowds pouring in panic out of the city.

END OF SNIP

[Darnright]

bump to find later

[diamond6]

bttt

[JockoManning]

Here, B.H., is the thread that you may find to be of interest, in case you hadn't seen it before.

jm

[backhoe]

Thanks- it has useful information. The late Pat Frank used to say, "Panic can kill you as dead as a 20 megaton bomb, and so can a .22 calibre bullet..."

[ExSoldier]

The late Pat Frank...

"Alas Babylon!!!"

[backhoe]

I re-read that book just a few months ago, and still have his "How to survive the H-Bomb...and Why."

[ExSoldier]

Before my wife left the English dept at her school to teach reading that book was taught as part of her curriculum. At my suggestion, the kids were asked to make up survival check lists in case of a hurricane (we're in Miami) or terrorist attack. Something maybe will stick with those kids. The famed checklist compiled by our very own freeper appalachian_dweller was then passed out as a potential example....unfortunately the segment about firearms had to be redacted from the student copy in order to get by the school board rules. Still....

[ketelone]

ratatat ratatatat

[RockinRight]

Well considering that someone I love very much lives just over the Potomac in Alexandria, I certainly care.

[RockinRight]

Let's see...

-because of the 8 million people who live in the Baltimore-Washington area
-because most of our nation's historical artifacts and buildings are there

Many reasons. Don't be a d*ckhead.

[RockinRight]

Normally, I would agree. But a nuclear attack on ANY American soil is NOT a joking matter. Sorry.

[USCG SimTech]

Three to five days of non-perishable food is always stocked in the GRRRRR Shelter...the only thing I don't have is plenty of water stored...but we do have bathtubs to fill. Ammo, never can have enough of it...

...and ~30 GL in the hot water heater. With my own well and pump, another 30 GL in the holding tank.

I should get a generator.

Too late for Aug 22, out on vacation in PA.

[XenaLee]

In our age of technology and teleconferencing, they should be able to meet with anyone they choose to, without the need of being in the same city.

It makes more sense to divide the branches of government up into different locations, considering the distinct possibility that a nuke attack/explosion will occur in the US some day. It's logical and reasonable. That's why it will be ignored.

___
Everybody in DC knows this, but the politicians want to be able to walk over to speak to department heads or summon them on a moments notice.

[TN4Liberty]

the only thing I don't have is plenty of water stored...but we do have bathtubs to fill.

You also have a water heater full of clean water and the water in the tank of a toilet is clean as well. In my case, that makes 56 gallons of water, even if water pressure dropped to zero.

[BulletBobCo]

Bump

[Paul Ross]

Bump.

The failure to resuscitate Civil Defense after 9-11 has been criminal. The liberal MSM newspapers have been too busy pretending there is no war.

[ExSoldier]

The failure to resuscitate Civil Defense after 9-11 has been criminal. The liberal MSM newspapers have been too busy pretending there is no war.

I tried to interest the Miami Herald in a Human Interest story on all the old 1950's bomb shelters that might be cold war relics. They weren't interested. 'Cause there are none in this area.

But if we get hit....of course....it'll be BUSH's fault. Not sure they won't be correct, either.

[backhoe]

Before my wife left the English dept at her school to teach reading that book was taught as part of her curriculum. At my suggestion, the kids were asked to make up survival check lists in case of a hurricane (we're in Miami) or terrorist attack. Something maybe will stick with those kids. The famed checklist compiled by our very own freeper appalachian_dweller was then passed out as a potential example....unfortunately the segment about firearms had to be redacted from the student copy in order to get by the school board rules. Still....

I find that encouraging ( despite the PC redacting ) - kids need to think along "what if?" lines.

[aShepard]

...........The heartland is the demographic center of our nation and would be the easiest to protect...................

Yeah, then the fallout could spread for 1500 miles east, and wipe out the entire east coast!