Skip to main content
Checking access…

Emergency Readiness for Man-Made Hazards

Quick Summary​

This guide covers protection strategies for serious man-made hazards including nuclear fallout and biological contamination. While these scenarios are unlikely for most people, understanding basic protection principles can be life-saving during infrastructure emergencies or industrial accidents.

Why This Matters​

Man-made hazards present unique challenges that natural disasters don't. Unlike hurricanes or earthquakes, these situations involve invisible threats that require specific protection methods:

  • Nuclear incidents: Power plant accidents, transportation incidents, or dirty bomb scenarios
  • Biological contamination: Industrial accidents, research facility incidents, or intentional releases
  • Chemical spills: Industrial accidents affecting air or water supplies

The key difference is that you can't see, smell, or immediately feel these hazards, making detection and protection critical.

Nuclear Fallout Protection​

Understanding the Threat​

Nuclear incidents create two types of hazards:

Initial Effects (first minute):

  • Blast pressure and debris
  • Intense heat and light
  • High-energy radiation

Residual Effects (hours to years):

  • Radioactive fallout particles
  • Contaminated surfaces
  • Long-term radiation exposure

Protection Principles: Time, Distance, Shielding​

Time Management:

  • Radiation exposure is cumulative - less time means less damage
  • Radioactivity decreases rapidly: 90% reduction in 7 hours, 99% in 49 hours
  • Wait as long as possible before moving through contaminated areas

Distance Protection:

  • Radiation intensity decreases by the square of distance
  • Double the distance = 1/4 the radiation exposure
  • Even small increases in distance provide significant protection

Shielding Materials: Thickness needed to reduce radiation by 50%:

  • Steel: 2.5 cm (1 inch)
  • Concrete: 6 cm (2.4 inches)
  • Packed earth: 10 cm (4 inches)
  • Water: 15 cm (6 inches)
  • Wood: 20 cm (8 inches)

Emergency Shelter Construction​

Critical Timing

You have approximately 5 minutes to find or create basic shelter before radiation levels become dangerous. Speed is more important than perfection.

Immediate Actions:

  1. Seek existing shelter (basement, storm cellar, culvert)
  2. If none available, dig a trench or fighting position
  3. Work from inside the trench as soon as possible
  4. Pile excavated dirt around and over your position

Best Shelter Options (in order):

  • Caves or tunnels with 1+ meter (3+ feet) of earth cover
  • Storm cellars or basements
  • Culverts or drainage pipes
  • Abandoned stone or concrete buildings
  • DIY underground shelter with earth cover

Shelter Construction Tips:

  • Dig deep first, expand for comfort later
  • Use any available materials for roofing (poncho + dirt)
  • Clean the shelter area of surface contamination
  • Remove outer clothing if heavily contaminated
  • Keep all skin covered during construction

Safe Movement Timeline​

After fallout settles, follow this conservative exposure schedule:

  • Days 1-3: Complete isolation in shelter
  • Day 3: Brief water collection (max 30 minutes)
  • Day 7: One 30-minute exposure
  • Day 8: One 1-hour exposure
  • Days 9-12: 2-4 hours daily with shelter rest
  • Day 13+: Normal activity with protected shelter nights

Water Safety in Contaminated Areas​

Safest Water Sources​

Completely Safe:

  • Springs and deep wells (natural filtration)
  • Water in sealed containers from before incident
  • Snow from 15+ cm (6+ inches) below surface
  • Rainwater collected in clean containers after contamination settles

Relatively Safe (with treatment):

  • Streams and rivers (dilution effect after several days)
  • Groundwater from shallow wells

Use Only If Desperate:

  • Standing water (lakes, ponds) with heavy treatment
  • Surface water from contaminated areas

Water Purification Methods​

Settling Technique for standing water:

  1. Fill container 3/4 full with contaminated water
  2. Add clean dirt from 10+ cm (4+ inches) below surface
  3. Use 2.5 cm (1 inch) dirt per 10 cm (4 inches) water
  4. Stir thoroughly and let settle 6+ hours
  5. Carefully extract clear water from top
  6. Filter through improvised sand/gravel filter
  7. Boil or chemically treat for biological safety

Seepage Basin Method:

  1. Dig hole 1-2 meters from water source
  2. Allow water to seep through soil (natural filtration)
  3. Cover hole to prevent recontamination
  4. Can remove up to 99% of radioactive particles

Food Safety Guidelines​

Safe Food Sources​

Completely Safe:

  • Sealed packages and cans (wash exterior)
  • Food stored in protected areas before incident
  • Eggs (even if laid during fallout period)

Avoid Completely:

  • Milk from any animals in affected areas
  • Sick or dead animals
  • Leafy vegetables that can't be peeled
  • Fish and aquatic animals (concentrate contamination)

Animal Preparation​

If you must use animals for food:

  1. Never eat animals that appear sick
  2. Skin carefully to prevent exterior contamination
  3. Avoid organs (heart, liver, kidneys)
  4. Avoid meat near bones and joints (90% of radioactivity)
  5. Leave 3mm (1/8 inch) of meat on bones when cutting
  6. Cook in pieces less than 13mm (1/2 inch) thick
  7. Cook until very well done

Plant Decontamination​

Priority Order (safest first):

  1. Underground vegetables: Potatoes, carrots, turnips - scrub and peel
  2. Peelable fruits: Bananas, apples, oranges - wash and peel thoroughly
  3. Smooth-skinned produce: Can remove 90% of contamination by washing
  4. Rough-skinned plants: Only 50% contamination removal - last resort

Never eat:

  • Leafy vegetables (lettuce, spinach, cabbage)
  • Dried fruits
  • Plants with extensive surface contamination

Biological Hazard Protection​

Recognizing Biological Threats​

Unlike radiation, biological agents are living organisms or toxins that cause disease. Key warning signs:

  • Unusual sick or dead animals
  • Suspicious spray clouds or powder residues
  • Unusual insect swarms (disease vectors)
  • Unexplained illness in groups of people
  • Suspicious delivery methods (crop dusters, unusual munitions)

Protection Strategies​

Physical Barriers:

  • Cover face with cloth (multiple layers better)
  • Button clothing completely
  • Tuck pants into boots
  • Wear gloves if available
  • Use any available protective overgarments

Hygiene Protocols:

  • Wash frequently with soap and hot water
  • Clean under fingernails
  • Clean mouth, teeth, and gums regularly
  • Wash clothing in hot, soapy water
  • If no washing possible, lay clothes in direct sunlight

Environmental Awareness:

  • Avoid low-lying areas where agents concentrate
  • Stay upwind of suspected contamination
  • Seek shelter during precipitation (washes agents from air)
  • Use natural wind patterns for protection

Shelter Considerations​

For biological hazards:

  • Use same shelter construction as nuclear fallout
  • Focus on air filtration (cloth face coverings)
  • Maintain strict hygiene standards
  • Dispose of waste carefully
  • Control rodents and insects

Medical Considerations​

Radiation Sickness Symptoms​

Early symptoms (within hours):

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Headaches

Later symptoms (days to weeks):

  • Hair loss
  • Skin burns (beta radiation)
  • Increased infection susceptibility
  • Bleeding problems
Medical Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only. Seek professional medical attention for any radiation exposure or suspected biological contamination. There is no first aid cure for radiation sickness.

Treatment Priorities​

For Radiation Exposure:

  • Cover all wounds to prevent contamination
  • Wash beta burns before treating as normal burns
  • Focus on preventing infection (body's defenses are weakened)
  • Rest, stay hydrated, maintain nutrition
  • Protect eyes from contaminated particles

For Biological Exposure:

  • Decontaminate as for chemical exposure
  • Seek immediate medical attention
  • Monitor for symptoms
  • Maintain strict isolation if symptoms appear

Modern Equipment Recommendations​

Basic Detection​

Radiation Detector - $150-300

  • Geiger counter or dosimeter
  • Good for: Confirming contamination levels
  • Limitation: Won't detect biological agents

Protection Gear​

N95/P100 Respirators - $2-15 each

  • Protects against particles and some biological agents
  • Good for: Dust, fallout particles, biological aerosols
  • Limitation: Not effective against gases

Tyvek Coveralls - $8-25

  • Disposable full-body protection
  • Good for: Preventing skin contamination
  • Use: One-time protection during evacuation

Decontamination Supplies​

Potassium Iodide Tablets - $15-30

  • Protects thyroid from radioactive iodine
  • Good for: Nuclear plant accidents
  • Must be taken before or shortly after exposure

Safety Considerations​

Immediate Danger

If you experience severe nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea within hours of potential exposure, seek immediate medical attention. These may indicate lethal radiation doses.

Legal Requirements

Some areas have mandatory evacuation orders during nuclear or biological emergencies. Follow official instructions when safe to do so.

When to Evacuate vs. Shelter:

  • Shelter: When outside exposure is higher than shelter exposure

  • Evacuate: When authorities provide safe evacuation routes

  • Stay put: When evacuation routes are more dangerous than sheltering

  • Before this: Emergency Communication Systems

  • After this: Long-term Off-Grid Living

  • Related: Water Purification Methods

  • Related: Emergency Shelter Construction

Source

Adapted from Field Manual FM-3-05.70

Last updated: January 18, 2026