A NEW YORKERS GUIDE TO CIVIL DEFENSE
they attack. What then?
Well, the ones who made it into good shelters, far enough away, will be the ones to come back and start again. Right?
Not so fast. Although we are miles away in our holes or shelters, there will be problems. For instance, who will risk climbing out of the shelter first? One study group suggested that those over forty crawl out first because they probably won’t live long enough to develop the cancers and leukemias that follow radiation exposure. That means the over forty group bears the responsibility for carrying garbage and human waste from the shelters, removing and burying corpses, scavenging for food, carrying water and exploring the outside world for signs of life and help.
Living in a dark hole with no air would make me crazy. As soon as I got the O.K., I’d be the first one out—as soon as it was safe, that is.
Deciding when to come out won’t be easy. And, once out, it may be dangerous to stay out for more than a few minutes. It may be as long as one year before you could come out for a full day.
Outside of the shelter will be the shattered remains of our civilization. Life will be turned upside-down: the living will squat in the dark earth while
