Overview
- Ready.gov urges people to get inside quickly after a detonation, noting many will have about 10 minutes to find shelter, then stay sheltered for roughly 24 hours unless told otherwise by authorities.
- UK guidance advises closing windows and doors and sheltering toward the center of a sturdy building to reduce exposure to radioactive material on exterior surfaces.
- Decontamination steps include removing potentially contaminated clothing, showering or wiping exposed skin and hair, cleaning pets, and not relying on hand sanitizer, which does not protect against radioactive particles.
- Food already stored indoors is considered safe, sealed items can be used after being wiped clean, but outdoor produce such as garden fruits and vegetables should not be eaten; officials may restrict sales of affected crops, livestock, and dairy in defined areas after distant releases.
- Water extraction from rivers, lakes, or wells in impacted zones may be paused to protect treatment works, so households are advised to keep bottled reserves as utilities have contingency plans to provide safe supplies; families are also encouraged to maintain emergency kits, backup cooking options, and multiple ways to receive alerts.