by Robert M. Traxler

Let me start by saying the chances of a nuclear exchange are very remote. If you research the subject, please note the date of information used; before 1984 is obsolete data.  

The fact that two nuclear armed nations are at war, the Russian Federation, and the state of Israel (up to 6377 warheads), though not with each other. If their backs are to the wall they will turn to nuclear weapons, and that needs to concern us. Pakistan (170 warheads) has attacked terrorists in Iran; both nations, I believe, are nuclear capable. Iran has been standing in the doorway of the nuclear club for more than 15 years now; to think they have not crossed the threshold to become a nuclear power is, in my opinion, naive.

The” Islamic Bomb,” the nuclear arsenal in Pakistan (over 170), is controlled by the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI), a group in their government like the FBI/CIA/NRC and military intelligence rolled into one. The ISI draws many members from the most radical Islamic tribes in Pakistan. They should be a concern to the world. To see the ISI clandestinely provide radical Islamic groups with a nuclear device would not be out of the question.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, having more nuclear weapons than it needs as a deterrent (30 to 100), should also concern us; if the price is right, a few billion dollars, euros, marks or rubles, they may sell a nuke to whomever has the funds.

Most Americans have grown up in the shadow of a nuclear attack. The bomb has been a fact of life worldwide since 1945, some 79 years. We have learned to just ignore the facts and tell ourselves there is nothing we can do to protect ourselves from annihilation, so put it out of our minds.

This attitude was developed before the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties (SALT) and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) drastically reduced the nuclear arsenals of the United States and what is now the Russian Federation.The “through weight” of both nations has been reduced from around 480,000,000 tons of trinitrotoluene (TNT) to a small fraction of that, from 63,600 warheads of up to 100 megatons. The Tsar Bomba, claimed to be 100 megatons by the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics, to 12,500 warheads worldwide (6,100 are ours or our allies) with the largest being around 1.2 megatons, most are much smaller.

According to our current government, a nuclear exchange is survivable for some areas. Our major cities and economic centers along with military installations (especially Air Force and Space Force installations) will tragically be destroyed. However, most of our nation, including Dorr, Hopkins, Martin, Moline and Wayland, will survive if we take a few precautions.

Allow me to refer you to this site that has the best common-sense advice for preparing for a nuclear incident I have seen: ki4u.com/guide.pdf Only 14 pages long, it has a plethora of logical advice on survival in place using mostly household items we currently have. Printing a copy to keep on hand could not hurt.

To those who believe that they would not wish to live in a post-nuclear war world, you are of course free to disregard this and take your chances.

A total of 2,058 atomic bombs have been detonated in the world thus far and we are still here. So much for the one bomb radiating the world, folks. The Nevada desert test site saw 900 atomic bombs detonated in a small area, and today all but a few square miles of it are habitable. Ground zero at the Japanese cities nuked in WWII are completely livable, with an apartment complex and a museum at ground zero.

You may read the information contained in the ki4u.com/guide.pdf guide and do nothing, or take a few inexpensive steps towards keeping your loved ones safe, your choice. Three possible nuclear targets are within 25 miles of us with one, the Grand Rapids Airport, being some 15 miles; all three attacks are very survivable in our area with some early preparation.

After-the-fact preparations will be difficult, as we will see panic runs on supplies needed, like batteries. Most have a shelf life of 10 years, so keeping a few would not hurt.

Some nonperishable food can be stored for a decade or better. It will be impossible to find many items after the fact; remember shortages of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, disinfectant and face masks during Covid? Again, your choice, but it will not hurt to take a few minutes and read the article. My opinion.