What to do if a nuclear bomb hits?
Samuel Coleman
Updated on April 29, 2026
STAY INSIDE. Stay inside for 24 hours unless local authorities provide other instructions. Continue to practice social distancing by wearing a mask and by keeping a distance of at least six feet between yourself and people who not part of your household. Family should stay where they are inside.
Can you survive a nuclear bomb?
You'll need to shield yourself from the thermal and nuclear radiation, as you could die if exposed. However, you must find somewhere safe – you don't want to be crushed in a building destroyed by the blast wave. Get indoors, and preferably into a reinforced bunker or basement.What do you do in a nuclear attack?
People should ideally look for shelter in the opposite direction of fallen buildings. "You'd want to go in the direction away from the wind," Redlener said, adding: "Get as far away as you can in the next 10 to 15 minutes, and then immediately seek shelter before the radiation cloud descends."How do you survive the aftermath of a nuclear bomb?
Go inside a strong building, move toward its center, and shelter away from windows, doors, and exterior walls to best protect yourself. Avoid radioactive fallout that arrives minutes later by staying indoors, ideally belowground in a basement.How far away from a nuclear blast can you survive?
Heat is the prime concern for those closer to a nuclear blast, with people up to 6.8 miles away suffering first-degree burns and third-degree burns hitting anyone up to 5 miles away.WHAT TO DO IF THERE IS A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION?!
Can you survive a nuclear bomb in a fridge?
“The odds of surviving that refrigerator — from a lot of scientists — are about 50-50,” Lucas said.What US cities are most likely to be nuked?
Redlener identified six cities that have the greatest likelihood of being attacked: New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Houston. Only New York, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles' emergency management websites give ways to respond to a radioactive disaster.What states are safe from nuclear war?
The safest place in the U.S. for nuclear war is considered to be the state of Maine. Maine is deemed to be safe due to its lack of nuclear plants and urban areas. Other potentially safe areas include Oregon, Northern California, and Western Texas.Where do you hide from a nuclear bomb?
Go to the basement or middle of the building.Stay away from the outer walls and roof. Try to maintain a distance of at least six feet between yourself and people who are not part of your household. If possible, wear a mask if you're sheltering with people who are not a part of your household.