Nuclear War is Closer Than Ever
Are You Prepared? Create a Nuclear War Survival Kit for Transitioning to Safety
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I never conceived that I would be thinking about creating a Nuclear War Survival Kit in my lifetime. Given I grew up in the era of globalization & the ideas of free-market capitalism, I had imagined we would be more civilized by now. To my dismay, all the hippies efforts back in the 60’s & 70’s prior to my arrival, have failed to bring about a peace movement. Unfortunately, peace does not equal big business. I’ve lived through Operation Desert Storm & the tying of yellow ribbons on trees, The War on Drugs (I was a D.A.R.E. kid & I fought it on the front lines as a Deputy Sheriff), & The War on Terror (which we all know the exit from Afghanistan was an incredible disaster). Currently, we have the Russia-Ukraine (NATO) War AKA WWIII which is already approaching one year in duration. None of the aforementioned wars have produced any measurable positive change. All war cost billions if not trillions of dollars, millions of lives, & decades of time & effort which could have been more productively spent. Who wins these wars? The U.S. defense contractors:
DEFENSE CONTRACTORS WITH THE HIGHEST REVENUE
The war in Ukraine has sparked foreign military sales and spending for defense contracting companies – but we focus on the top 10 U.S.-based companies that made the list . It looks quite similar to last year, but there are some big changes.
1. Lockheed Martin
Lockheed is not surprising, especially since their 2021 defense revenue was 64,458,000. Daily, they are generally awarded a defense contract valued at $7 million and above. Their work with the F-35 is notorious, and their stock recently rose a bit.
2. Raytheon
Raytheon has $42 million in defense revenue, with recent contract awards for SeaSparrow Missile Systems and a $18.5 million program with DARPA.
3. Boeing
Coming in at $35,093,000 in revenue is another household name – Boeing. Recently, they had a huge hiring spree in San Antonino and secured a $278 million deal to aid F/A 18 aircrafts.
4. Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman was recently awarded an Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare Contract and their IT hiring needs saw a boost, as well.
5. General Dynamics
At $30.8 million, General Dynamics saw a 3% increase in revenue from the 2020 numbers.
6. BAE Systems
With $25.8 million in defense revenue, BAE was recently awarded a contract for Amphibious Combat Vehicles.
7. L3 Harris
L3 saw almost $15 million in defense revenue which is about the same to the year prior. And 84% of their revenue comes from the defense sector.
8. Huntington Ingalls
HII has plenty of job opportunities that helped them to reach the top 10 defense contractors with the most revenue . They have a large presence with the US Navy, and many blue collared jobs working in ship yards.
9. Leidos
Leidos you always find at a ClearanceJobs Virtual Career Event, and they had $8 million in defense revenue, which was a 9% increase from the year before, and with 58% of their revenue from defense.
10. Amentum
An American government and commercial services contractor, at $5.9 million revenue in defense markets, the company was born out of AECOM in 2020. Source: News Clearance Jobs
Check out this Statista chart from 2019:
I know it’s slightly hard to read but wait…Pfizer?!? Oh yeah, we just found out Pfizer was a partner with the DOD/DARPA since at least 2013 to distribute the…I digress.
All funded with taxpayer money & ‘printed’ fiat currency. The dollar is devalued. Politician’s pockets are lined or given board of director positions. I am referring current Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin who was on the board at Raytheon & Secretary of State Anthony Blinken who is tied with Austin to Pine Island Capital Partners just to name a few.
“And both Austin and Antony Blinken — Biden’s nominee for secretary of state — have ties to Pine Island Capital Partners, a large investment firm that has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for acquisitions in defense companies this year, according to the New York Times.”
Well at least all the destruction is well…over there. What about when the destruction reaches our shores of the United States? The U.S. military recently shot down not one but two spy balloons floating over our country. One of which wasn’t detected for days. What happens when the next balloon, drone, satellite, cyber attack comes in the form of an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) &/or nuclear bomb? Are you & your family prepared to handle the fallout? Do you even know where to start?
The only information you will get from the government maybe a similar message to the one released by the NYC Emergency Management Administration -
Hey lady guess what? If an EMP is detonated, there won’t be a media. Is everyone supposed to wait around like a sitting duck? Mass communication may not be restored for decades depending on the damage.
What is an EMP?
It is a burst of electromagnetic radiation that can be caused by a nuclear explosion, a solar flare, or a high-altitude nuclear explosion. The pulse can potentially damage or disable electronic devices, including computers, communication systems, and power grids.
Photo Credit: Romolo Tavani
Aren’t we all Dead if a Nuclear Bomb Goes off?
No, hardly. It depends on several factors.
The likelihood of survival from a nuclear bomb depends on various factors such as the size of the bomb, the distance from the blast, and the level of preparedness and protection of the individual.
Some common terms used to describe the size of nuclear bombs based on their explosive yield:
Tactical nuclear weapon: less than 10 kilotons
Intermediate-yield nuclear weapon: between 10 and 100 kilotons
Strategic nuclear weapon: more than 100 kilotons
How are Strategic Nuclear Weapons Typically Delivered?
Strategic nuclear weapons are typically delivered by ballistic missiles, bombers, and submarines.
Ballistic missiles can be launched from fixed or mobile launchers on land, sea, or air, and are designed to travel at high speeds and with great accuracy over long distances to reach their targets. They can be either intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) or submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
Bombers, such as the US B-52 and B-2 bombers, can fly long distances carrying nuclear bombs or cruise missiles and deliver them to their targets.
Submarines, such as the US Ohio-class and Russian Borei-class submarines, are equipped with SLBMs and can operate covertly and remain hidden underwater for extended periods of time, providing a second-strike capability in case of a nuclear attack.
Photo Credit: USNI News
Do you remember which Russian intelligence ship was spotted near Hawaii on January 10 & 11, 2023?
“The U.S. Coast Guard monitored a Russian intelligence ship that sailed near the coast of Hawaii last week, the service announced Wednesday night.
The vessel was identified as Vishnya-class intelligence ship Kareliya (535), according to the Jan. 11 video released by the Coast Guard. Satellite photos from Jan. 10, reviewed by USNI News, show the Russian vessel coming as close to 40 kilometers, or approximately 25 miles, within the Hawaiian shore.” Source: USNI News
If you recall from my last Substack on the capabilities of high-altitude stratospheric balloons, China recently demonstrated a balloon with a 1.2 ton payload.
The weight of a strategic nuclear weapon can vary widely depending on the specific weapon and its delivery system.
For example, a typical warhead for a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) can weigh anywhere from a few hundred kilograms to over a ton, depending on the yield and design of the weapon. The weight of a warhead for a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) can be somewhat less due to the need to fit inside the missile's launch tube.
The weight of the missile or bomber carrying the nuclear weapon can also vary widely, depending on the type of platform and the size of the missile or bomb being carried. For example, a US B-52 bomber can carry a payload of up to 31 tons, while a submarine-launched ballistic missile can weigh up to 70 tons.
Although not the most viable option, these high-altitude stratospheric balloons are still very capable of causing major damage to our infrastructure.
So how do my fellow Warriors survive if they are out & about or do not have access to a nuclear fallout shelter? The guide below is mostly if you have to transition from a fallout zone to safety but certain items are great to have even if you own a nuclear bunker or would rather stay home.
What Type of Items Should I have in my Nuclear Survival Kit?
Photo Credit: Canadian Prepper
This is meant for those who live in a high-risk area that may need to evacuate to a safer place.
Nuclear War Survival Skills Updated & Expanded book by Cresson H. Kearny. One of the most comprehensive & easy-to-understand books out there.
Radioactive Fallout Protection
Get to shelter as soon as possible as fallout begins to drop in the first 24 hours & remain active for the first 2-4 weeks (typical half-life of majority of particles) depending on your location relative to the detonation. Some radioactive particles may remain that way for months to years. Ideally, you would be inside of a bunker if you are in an area of high risk such as:
Cities
Areas Near Military Bases
Areas Near Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Silos
Military Ready to Eat (MRE) Meals - the food items are sealed in multiple thick packages which should protect it from fallout. They are durable & do not require any additional preparation.
Personal Protection from Alpha & Beta Particles
Alpha Particles - basic protection of your skin & orifices with no fancy clothing necessary. A Level 4 Disposable PPE Suit would do.
Beta Particles (fast electrons) - requires a level B HAZMAT suit. Prevents particles from accumulating on your clothing. Be sure to have proper decontamination procedures in place as you would not want to bring this suit inside your shelter after a trek.
MIRA II Safety HAZ Suit (around $140) which protects against chemical & biological contaminants.
Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) Suit - military protective gear used for toxic environments. Benefits over the HAZ suit is that it’s breathable. The HAZ suit can get very hot & uncomfortable around the 30-60 minute mark of wear. The MOPP suit can be washed up to 10 times to decontaminate it. The MOPP suit is flame retardant, compatible with a variety of respirators & gas masks. The cost is around $990.
Chem Tape or Vinyl Duct Tape to seal around gloves & overboots
Thick Chemical Resistant Rubber Gloves and
Thick Rubber PVC Overboots
Gas Mask - standard CBRN gas mask connected via a hose to a PAPR to make it easier to move around with your gear.
Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR)- a battery operated fan pack which does the breathing for you. “Filters increase breathing resistance, and any negative pressure gas mask will cause you to tire faster than you would without one. It can be distracting, but worse still—not everyone has the lung power to use a negative pressure gas mask.” - Canadian Prepper
NATO Spec 40MM Gas Mask Filters to attach to the PAPR
Trenching Tool or Foldable Shovel - a shovel in which you can trench yourself to protect from ambient radiation
Information Gathering Method - Shortwave FM/AM/Police/Weather Radio which is solar &/or hand-crank powered, Handheld Scanner.
Means to Communicate with others in your Group - Two-Way radios, GMRS, or a pack of Baofeng Amateur Two-Way Radios. Especially important tool as there will be an information blackout as phones & internet signals may not work.
Radiation Detection Equipment - a Geiger Counter to determine how radioactive your surroundings are.
Potassium Iodide Tablets - to protect your thyroid from absorbing dangerous amounts of radiation. Adding pure iodine to your thyroid will prevent it from absorbing radioactive iodine from the atmosphere. It is recommended that adults take two per day for 2-4 weeks after a nuclear incident. Have 2-3 boxes/bottles on hand per person in your family just to be prepared.
Personal Firearms Protection - depending on your training & experience, have an AR rifle such as a Henry U.S. Survival AR-7 Rifle (a repeating 22 caliber rifle) which folds into its plastic butt stock. It is lightweight & very portable. Good for hunting & minor self-defense. An alternative may be a Cross Bow if you aren’t looking to draw attention to yourself but this may be cumbersome to carry.
Fishing or Snaring Kit - be careful not to eat the skin or bones from an animal that may be contaminated by radiation. Do not eat bottom-feeding type fish as they may consume radioactive isotopes.
Perimeter Trip Alarm - an alarm to use an early warning signal for intruders & wildlife. This uses primers which release a very loud bang to alert you & hopefully scare off any intruders that may attempt to breach your site.
Thermal Monocular - allows you to see any heat signals regardless of the condition, unlike night vision which may be useless if an object is camouflaged. You cannot hide from thermal imaging. Acquire one with a high resolution, ideally a 640 AMOLED Display /384X288 Microbolometer resolution which should provide a visual distance of several hundred meters.
Portable & Rollable/Foldable Lightweight Solar Panels - initially made for the U.S. military, high-quality panels are rollable/foldable, nearly indestructible, & are able to charge devices in low-light conditions.
Emergency Phone Charger - such as a disposable Charge Tab Emergency Phone Charger which is USB-C compatible, & provides 1500 mAh to gain up to 4 hours of talk & text (if your phone was protected in a Faraday bag when the EMP went off of course).
Survival Knife/Machete - find a portable survival knife which combines the functions of a hatchet & a personal knife.
Multitool - such as SOG, Gerber Dime, or Leatherman Rebar
Foldable Saw - such as a Silky BigBoy 2000 Outback to cut through downed trees or to assist with collecting firewood.
Flashlights - such as a HybridLightJourney 1000 Lumen, solar-powered, floating, waterproof flashlight which also contains a Micro USB power bank. I suggest having both a battery powered flashlight & a rechargeable flashlight especially if you’re trekking during the winter in limited daylight hours.
Backroad Map Book - of your area. Find a map or atlas which contains detailed topographical data. Most people (myself included) have a difficult time without the use of a GPS. If your electronics are fried, you’re going to need an old school map.
Tritium Lensatic Compass - for accurate land navigation. You aren’t going to want to rely on a cheesy compass someone wove into your tactical bracelet. Especially when it comes to trekking in potentially hazardous radiological conditions. Every foot in the right direction counts.
Survival Cord - 1,000 lb. Military Style Survival Paracord such as SurvivorCordXT. The inside of this cord includes Mil-Style 550 Paracord, 30 AWG Snare Wire, 25 lb. Fishing Line, & Waterproof Tinder. You can take this apart & use the aforementioned threads for various purposes. I haven’t seen anything like it.
Israeli Medical Bandage & Tourniquet - to stop the bleeding in case of serious injury in combination with antibiotic ointment. Make sure you get a high quality tourniquet as I’ve heard of cheap ones snapping in the field. I’ve personally used CAT Tourniquets in the field & I can vouch for their effectiveness when it comes to gunshot wounds.
Antibiotic Ointment - such as Polysporin Heal Fast Formula Complete 3 Antibiotics & Pain Relief Ointment. I’m personally allergic to bacitracin so I use petroleum jelly or honey which is a natural antibiotic. Honey packets can also serve as an energy source in case you run out of food.
Shelter - many different types are available, it just depends how much room you want to take up in your pack. Some suggestions include a wool blanket, ultra-light sleeping bag, Tact Bivvy systems, emergency survival blankets, plastic sheathing, or a tarp.
Shemagh Tactical Scarf Wrap - can be used for a variety of things such as clothing, a bandage, a sling, a mask to protect your face, a cloth to protect your neck from sun & bug bites, just to name a few.
Water Purification - a LifeStraw to filter water &/or water filtration tablets such as Aquatabs. If you use a LifeStraw you will need a means of transporting/storing the water such as stainless steel container/bottle.
Single-Walled Stainless Steel Container - Normally, I’m a 100% pure Yeti fan but I can’t put the Yeti tumblers I have over a fire (nor would I want to). In this instance you will need a single-walled stainless steel container because you can put the container right on a fire & boil water without fear that plastic will melt or gasses explode.
A Compressed Bath Towel/Cloth - compressed into a hockey puck-like tablet, a durable cloth made of pure cellulose material once activated with a little bit of water may be used as a towel, bandage, fire starter (keep dry), wash cloth, etc.
USB Stick &/or Copies of Personal Documents - have photographs of your most important documents such as your passport, driver license, home deed, living will, etc. stored on a USB thumb drive. Make sure you shield your USB stick in your backpack in case of EMP using a mini faraday bag. You may want to carry physical copies but they may get cumbersome. You may want to include a hard copy/physical photograph of your family members in case you get separated & others want to help you search for them.
Backpack - a 45L Tactical Backpack should do the job. Any large bag will do but you want to make sure it has a chest & waist strap to help distribute the weight you are carrying, especially on long treks. You also want to test the backpack once it is full with all your gear. You want to make sure you will actually be able to carry it as long & as comfortably as possible or else you will be dumping valuable items before you even get anywhere.
The above list was a compilation of the items discussed & reviewed by Canadian Prepper on his YouTube channel on January 29, 2023. I added my research & analysis, personal experience, & some practicality to it. Some of the aforementioned items are nice-to-have but are a little pricey. You & your families lives are worth protecting so spend the money on high-quality filters, food, self-defense, & PPE at least.
I hoped I would never had to search for such information but now that the threat is before us Warriors, I at least wanted to do my part to share valuable information that may save you or someone you love some day. Warriors must take care of each other because heaven knows, the government will not save us.
Stay informed, stay vigilant, & until next time Ever Forward!
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