Nuclear emergency

What a nuclear detonation means for you depends on distance, wind, and the first hour. Read these in order.

Sheets, in reading order

1 Nuclear targets near me How far you live from a selected list of publicly documented possible US nuclear targets, by ZIP code, with the sources behind every site.
2 What to do in a nuclear attack: the first 72 hours Get inside, stay inside, stay tuned. What federal guidance says to do in the first hour, the first day, and days 2 and 3 after a nuclear explosion.
3 How to shelter in place from nuclear fallout Where in a building to shelter from fallout, how long to stay, what to do about air and ventilation, and which supplies to keep there, per FEMA and CDC.
4 Should you evacuate or shelter after a nuclear blast? Federal guidance says shelter first after a nuclear detonation, then leave when officials say it is safe. Here are the exceptions, all sourced.
5 Evacuation route planning for a nuclear emergency Plan evacuation routes in any state: distance to listed targets, prevailing wind, fuel, and alternates. Official evacuation orders always come first.
6 How far does nuclear fallout travel? What fallout is, how far wind carries it, why it loses strength so fast (the 7-10 rule), and what that means for where and how long to shelter.
7 Potassium iodide (KI): what it does and FDA dosage What potassium iodide does and does not do, who it is for, when to take it, and the FDA dose table by age. From FDA and CDC only.
8 Emergency radio and alerts without power or cell service How Wireless Emergency Alerts, the Emergency Alert System, and NOAA Weather Radio reach you, what kind of radio to keep, and how to use it in a shelter.
9 Geiger counters and radiation detectors for home use What Geiger counters, survey meters, and dosimeters measure, how to read the units, and what a home device can and cannot tell you in a nuclear emergency.
10 What is an EMP? Electromagnetic pulse effects and prep What an electromagnetic pulse is, what FEMA, CISA, and GAO say it can affect, and how preparing for one overlaps with preparing for a long power outage.
11 How to make a family emergency communication plan Make a family emergency plan with Ready.gov's steps: an out-of-town contact, meeting places, kids at school, pets, and people with disabilities.