Surviving a Nuclear Attack on Washington, D.C.

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

[bigj00]

Just like cockroaches, the swimmer would survive and probably declare himself king. He would be the senior balloon from the senate.

[Bear_Slayer]

Ammo, never can have enough of it...

While it is very important to over-stock ammo for your defensive weapons, do not forget about the bricks of .22 cal.

They can be purchased in great quanity cheap and under the radar.

While it is true that these are not real useful for trading one at a time, with your enemies, they are still great for small game, and even better, they can be traded in bricks, to trusting friends for other usable goodies.

[Modernman]

I think you forgot about the guide at the Smithsonian...the groundskeeper at the Vietnam Memorial...the elementary school field trip at the Lincoln Memorial...

The Freepers who work within sight of the White House (Ahem)

[Modernman]

After yesterday's Supreme Court ruling, ask me if I *care* whether Washington D.C. survives a nuclear attack?

There are 4 million or so people living in the DC Metro area who have nothing to do with that decision.

Jerk.

[backtothestreets]

The Oklahoma City bombing was a hideous crime, but it should not be used to snuff a proposal to relocate our capital to a more protective location.

A new city could be designed to limit ground attacks, like the Oklahoma City bombing, limits air strikes, and any possibility of an attack from sea. We've the best technology on the planet, and if applied with foresight, we can make a capital that can protect the nation from the turmoil that would ensue if the seat of our government were struck.

Make all transportation within the new city public transit, set airports at least 25 miles from the city with high speed rail connections into the city. Build government building with low profiles that would be less susceptible to nuclear attack. Forbid all air traffic over the city. These are just suggestions, but they would assure a much higher degree of protection then we can give our country now.

[Modernman]

This bomb taking out almost all emergency workers. It'll be the 2nd of 8 nukes that will be exploded in the following 6 days. The others will be in 3 other major cities, using the same MO. Kill, then kill those coming to help. And yeah, these folks have perfected the second bomb that kills the people helping.

The chance that terrorists get one nuke is pretty low. 8 is out of the bounds of reality.

[Modernman]

Have you heard of the urban legend about the alledgedly lost suitcase nukes supposed to be already secreted here on US Soil during the cold war era? If the Jihadis buy those from some retired KGB officer.....

My understanding is that, without constant maintenance, nukes "go bad." You can't just bury a nuke for a decade or more and expect it to work when you dig it up.

[ExSoldier]

I just read a review of this book on amazon and will buy it when I get back from our vacation to Texas in a few weeks. I would recommend another book along the same lines written in 1958 but it reads as though the threat is today. Alas Babylon by Pat Frank is awesome and moves quickly because it has some action...which according to amazon, WARDAY does not.

[Nowhere Man]

There is a book out there called "Life After Doomsday" (1980) by Dr. Bruce D. Clayton that has a lot of good tips for this too. Of course, at that time, it was geared more for the US/USSR nuclear war, I think it is still valid for this.

[cvq3842]

Thanks.

Hope we never need this information!

[GOPJ]

The Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute sees the most promise so far in a steroid called 5-Androstenediol, brand-named “Neumune” by the institute’s corporate development partner, Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals. Neumune requires no refrigeration, has no known side effects, and can be packaged in disposable needles like the nerve gas antidotes now issued to troops and first responders. Five injections over five days dramatically boost survival rates in animals. So far, unfortunately, that first injection has to be given within four hours of exposure, before the damage to cells outraces the capacity for regrowth. But it is probably impossible to distribute tens of thousands of stockpiled doses across a fallout zone within four hour...

OK, here's an easy, non-control freak solution -- put the stuff on the open market. Some will buy it, use it if necessary, and be healthy enough to help. Or healthy enough to stay out of the beds needed by those who didn't buy the stuff. Think generator sales in Florida. It's easier to put some of the burden/responsibility on citizens. And it'll help stop panic. When people feel they have some control over their fate, they're less likely to panic.

[cvq3842]

The law of diminishing returns is also possibly one reason we have not been attacked again. If you're going to die, you want the most destruction possible.

That, and the good job done by our military, police, etc.

[ExSoldier]

nukes "go bad." You can't just bury a nuke for a decade or more and expect it to work when you dig it up.

Well according to what I was taught at the US Army's school for Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare, this is true, but they can be brought back with some maintenance upgrades by a trained technician. The Jihadis have been recruiting folks like this from the Pakie nuke program. Also it might be worth it to purchase several of these suitcase nukes if only for the fissionable nuclear material they contain. That doesn't go bad.

[cvq3842]

I have read it - I remember it from a beach house one summer or something. They certainly covered a lot of different aspects.

Might make an interesting movie, but they would probably have to "dumb it down" too much.

[ExSoldier]

There is a book out there called "Life After Doomsday" (1980) by Dr. Bruce D. Clayton that has a lot of good tips for this too.

Yup, I've owned this book since shortly after it was published.

[wreckedangle]

Didn't we already read this back in 1985 regarding the rooskies?

[GOPJ]

In our Just In Time culture, the real "fallout" could be food rotting in warehouses, while millions starve to death. While reading this, my primary thought was that this whole piece describes a "best case" scenario for a nuke attack: Osmaa has one bomb - responders have training and equipment, citizens are informed, things come together quickly after the attack --- I keep thinking the real thing would be much worse.

[Centurion2000]

Surviving a Nuclear Attack on Washington, D.C.

The First Minutes: 15,000 Dead

The First 30 seconds : All legislation and supreme court decisions stop growing.

[texgal]

You will need at least 90 days of food supplies in storage for each person & don't forget your pets - it will take that long to restore the food distribution chain if it is interupted.

We have 25 - 55 gallon food grade containers that had dr pepper syrup in them for storing water. I bought them for $10 buck a piece from the company that bottles the stuff here. They have been cleaned inside & out with bleach water and allowed to air dry. You need to use a white hose purchased from an RV supply place and a syphon pump to get the water out.

You also need a 72-hour pack for each person & animal containing water & food a flashlight with batteries & clothing for warmth in your pantry and ready to go in case you need to get out quickly.

[shellshocked]

Who wants D.C. to survive? It is a dangerous cancer that a Chinese nuke would be doing us a favor.