Nuclear Strike Survival Guide: The First 10 Minutes Could Save Your Life

As fears of nuclear conflict grow, experts are stressing the importance of knowing what to do in the first ten minutes after an attack. Tensions have escalated following U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, and public anxiety is rising.

Senator JD Vance recalled a moment during Donald Trump’s presidency when he thought the nuclear button had been pressed. Trump had muted a call with a foreign leader, then hit a red button—only for it to summon a Diet Coke, not launch missiles. Though humorous, such moments highlight the real and present concern over nuclear threats.

Experts, including the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), emphasize that preparation is key. “A nuclear detonation… may result in mass casualties,” the ICRP warns. “The best way to protect yourself is to get inside the center of a building or a basement.”

History offers a powerful example. Eizo Nomura, just 170 meters from Hiroshima’s ground zero in 1945, survived because he was in a basement. Most others that close did not.

The ICRP advises people have about ten minutes after a detonation to find shelter before radioactive fallout arrives. Ideal shelters include basements, brick or concrete buildings, underground garages, and subways.

Fallout, the radioactive dust from an explosion, can cause radiation sickness, cancer, and death. Avoiding it is crucial.

In a nuclear event, immediate action—finding solid shelter—is vital. It could be the difference between life and death.