"The American people face no greater or more urgent danger than a terrorist attack with a nuclear weapon."

Learn What to Do

Security experts agree that the threat of nuclear terrorism is real and rising. An attack on a city would kill tens of thousands instantly. But by following two simple steps, prepared communities of citizens can save hundreds of thousands from fatal exposure to radioactive fallout.

  1. Get to the deepest and strongest shelter you can find.

    Speed is critical, so take shelter immediately, before the fallout arrives. Adequate shelter is any basement, or an interior room in brick/concrete buildings. Cars and wood-frame buildings are inadequate for extended shelter but are better than being outside.[1] Shelter-quality rooms in homes and buildings should be stocked with emergency supplies, including a hand-crank radio.

  2. Stay there until you know it's safe to evacuate.

    The better the shelter, the longer you should stay there. Even an hour or two in inadequate shelter, like a car or single-story home, can greatly reduce exposure. If forced to evacuate, move perpendicularly away from any visible fallout. If possible, it is generally best to wait for evacuation instructions, keeping in mind that no official response may be possible for 24-48 hours.[2]

Share With Others

In a crisis, our instinct is often to run — which can be exactly the wrong thing to do in a nuclear attack. But what parents could shelter in place, even to save their own lives, if they feared their child was at risk at school? For people to take life-saving shelter, they have to know their loved ones are safe and doing the same thing. That's why community preparation is critical.

Share this information with your family, friends, co-workers, and online networks, as well as school principals and teachers, congregational leaders, workplace supervisors, and local officials. And encourage them to do the same. With two simple steps, a community might save its city.

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Lead with Knowledge

If you are responsible for your home, a school, congregation, office, or institution, the following documents offer in-depth preparedness information and resources, as well as additional background about nuclear terrorism.