Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Triggering, but would we get warning if there was a Nuclear attack?

219 replies

shineanight · 09/03/2023 07:19

Or would we not?

I thought there was about 5-6 minutes I'm sure I read somewhere, from when officials know it'll happen to when it hits

Would we be warned via breaking news? Or would everyone just lose control, including news reporters, and make a run for it in blind panic?

Always wondered. Completely hypothetical obviously as almost 0 change of ever happening

OP posts:
QueefQueen80s · 09/03/2023 09:25

I don't want to be warned, how horrific! Ignorance is bliss. I want it to be instant.

DogInATent · 09/03/2023 09:28

shineanight · 09/03/2023 07:19

Or would we not?

I thought there was about 5-6 minutes I'm sure I read somewhere, from when officials know it'll happen to when it hits

Would we be warned via breaking news? Or would everyone just lose control, including news reporters, and make a run for it in blind panic?

Always wondered. Completely hypothetical obviously as almost 0 change of ever happening

It depends on the circumstances.

You can go to somewhere like Kelvedon Hatch and see the arrangements that were in place in the '70s and '80s for the scenarios and circumstances that were envisioned then. But things have changed a lot since then, and you have to consider what type of nuclear attack, attacked by whom, etc. Intercontinental missiles can be detected at launch and take time to arrive (and allow time for retaliation). But a dirty bomb detonated by a terrorist organisation from a shipping container will come without warning.

The UK has a modern emergency alert system in place (see here). The Government has powers to take control the broadcast content in times of National Emergency - but this could take time, and the text/mobile alert system would alert more people and more quickly than radio/TV broadcasts.

Most rooftop sirens (the traditional air raid and flood alert type) have been decommissioned or are unmaintained. If they sounded they'd cause more WTF? confusion than anything else.

As PP have mentioned, there's very little the public could do given a warning. It would take me longer than 4 minutes to get to the nearest Cold War era shelter even without a panic on the streets - and that was decommissioned a long time ago so has no water, food, power, or furniture.

MrsWojadobakowsky · 09/03/2023 09:29

stbrandonsboat · 09/03/2023 07:42

People are no longer religious though 😉

Show quote history

I would want to spend the last few minutes with my cat, I have no-one in my life that matters more or cares about me much.

NotDavidTennant · 09/03/2023 09:31

Why is everyone talking as if we are all going to have nukes raining down on us?

They would hit strategic targets like Whitehall, GCHQ, military bases, major cities, etc. If you live in Kettering or Rhyl or wherever you're not going to have four minutes to live. It's the aftermath you have to worry about.

Tummytroubles22 · 09/03/2023 09:33

We have a nuclear bunker within a one minute drive. It was built for the important council people during the Cold War. It’s a stinking hole now and I wouldn’t want to live out a nuclear winter. Also by the time my DC got their shoes on and my DH decided he needed 20 mins to sit on the toilet and watch tik tok we would be dead anyway.

NotQuiteUsual · 09/03/2023 09:37

I have spent a bit of time thinking about it. I'd close the blinds in the classroom. Get the biscuits and juice out. Let the kids mix the playdough up and let them use the messy stuff in the home corner for once. Indulge the kids that still like hugs and being carried. Just have a few lovely and joyful minutes with them. I think that's most school staffs plan. I hope my kids teachers would do the same!

Magentax · 09/03/2023 09:40

NotQuiteUsual · 09/03/2023 09:37

I have spent a bit of time thinking about it. I'd close the blinds in the classroom. Get the biscuits and juice out. Let the kids mix the playdough up and let them use the messy stuff in the home corner for once. Indulge the kids that still like hugs and being carried. Just have a few lovely and joyful minutes with them. I think that's most school staffs plan. I hope my kids teachers would do the same!

This really got me, I've gone a bit tearful! Enough internet for me I think!

Surplus2requirements · 09/03/2023 09:43

I'd take my dog for a walk and let him stop to investigate every interesting smell.

In 4 mins we'd get about 10yrds 😂

Murraydeservedit · 09/03/2023 09:46

NotQuiteUsual · 09/03/2023 09:37

I have spent a bit of time thinking about it. I'd close the blinds in the classroom. Get the biscuits and juice out. Let the kids mix the playdough up and let them use the messy stuff in the home corner for once. Indulge the kids that still like hugs and being carried. Just have a few lovely and joyful minutes with them. I think that's most school staffs plan. I hope my kids teachers would do the same!

That’s actually made me have a lump in my throat.

Greenfairydust · 09/03/2023 09:46

With this government? not a chance.

They will be too busy getting themselves and a couple of VIPs to the nearest hidden bunker.

There is nothing you could do anyway.

The only people who survive are those in locations far enough from the blast when it hits and who are not contaminated afterwards by the radioactive fallout carried by the wind.

That's it really...

Namechangedforthisonetoday · 09/03/2023 09:54

bussteward · 09/03/2023 08:12

I don’t want a warning. Imagine how many batshit MN threads could erupt in the space of six minutes. I want to die as I have lived: arguing about loo brushes and MILs on the internet.

And frantically assessing diagrams of neighbours parking disputes. We mustn’t forget the parking disputes, even in times of nuclear war.

AreMyDucksinarow · 09/03/2023 09:55

I don’t think I’d want to know, I hate the thought I couldn’t get to my kids (they’d be in the initial blast as well)

I live in an area where I’d be hit by initial blast (lots of air bases and military facilities near by) I’d see a big light then nothing!! I’ve checked this the maps…

Suppose I could look at building a bunker at the bottom of the garden but again I’m not sure I would want to live without the kids unless they conveniently dropped one on a weekend

<potters off to google to look at building a nuclear shelter>

Namechangedforthisonetoday · 09/03/2023 09:56

NotQuiteUsual · 09/03/2023 09:37

I have spent a bit of time thinking about it. I'd close the blinds in the classroom. Get the biscuits and juice out. Let the kids mix the playdough up and let them use the messy stuff in the home corner for once. Indulge the kids that still like hugs and being carried. Just have a few lovely and joyful minutes with them. I think that's most school staffs plan. I hope my kids teachers would do the same!

God love you. I think I’ve got dust in my eye. You are a good soul 💗 I think we’d all hope for our children to be taught by someone so lovely x

Namechangedforthisonetoday · 09/03/2023 09:58

MrsWojadobakowsky · 09/03/2023 09:29

I would want to spend the last few minutes with my cat, I have no-one in my life that matters more or cares about me much.

Show quote history

Well God forbid it does happen, but if it does, I hope you have a few lovely final peaceful minutes with your cat x

CombatBarbie · 09/03/2023 09:58

I had a similar conversation about a zombie apocalypse infection evacuation or a russian/Chinese nuclear warning where we had 8hrs, with DH the other night when watching the Last of Us.

We are rural in Scotland so would be happy to stay here in such event and our windows have the old shutters which I refuse to let him seal shut "just in case" but my eldest teen is 2hrs away in a boarding school..... His first thought was not even to go get her.....

My argument was everyone would be going South so of course we'd try get to her. But then we'd need to come back south to get home. However, I'd prob head to North North Scotland and hope for the best as long as we were all together!

I spend far too much time thinking of these scenarios!!! 😂

JunkinDonuts · 09/03/2023 09:59

Nuclear bomb hits.....
Followed by someone posting on FB to ask if the supermarket is open a week later.
Along with several mnetters arguing the toss over loo brushes or similar.

bellswithwhistles · 09/03/2023 09:59

Appalonia · 09/03/2023 08:02

In the early eighties, I had recently moved out of my parents house and was renting with friends in a terraced house in the Midlands. One morning at 6am I was woken up by the sound of the air raid siren! Both my flatmates were away so I was on my own. I had no idea what to do and this was well before the days of mobile phones or Twitter. I was terrified.

Eventually it stopped and thankfully no bombs were dropped but it was a very surreal experience. Many years later I found out it had been set off by accident, someone must have had egg on their face that day!

Without outing where I live (!) the air sirens go off weekly here. Was a bit surreal when I first moved here - felt very scary but now it's just a 'normal' sound.

Namechangedforthisonetoday · 09/03/2023 10:00

YukoandHiro · 09/03/2023 09:00

"Triggering"? How? Who here can possibly have PTSD from a nuclear attack

🙄

Don’t be so unkind. There are people on MN who have anxiety and other disorders that mean they catastrophise (is that a word?) situations. For them, this could be triggering.

Namechangedforthisonetoday · 09/03/2023 10:01

JunkinDonuts · 09/03/2023 09:59

Nuclear bomb hits.....
Followed by someone posting on FB to ask if the supermarket is open a week later.
Along with several mnetters arguing the toss over loo brushes or similar.

Meanwhile The Daily Express is over the moon that it can once again report on record breaking weird weather, the wildest it’s ever reported before.

FourTeaFallOut · 09/03/2023 10:03

In The Road, the guy uses the minutes worth of warning to run a bath full of fresh water. I'm not sure The Road makes a great case for survival though. Right now I would probably use a five minutes warning to turn off the iron and make a stiff cup of tea but I'd rather not know.

Murraydeservedit · 09/03/2023 10:04

JunkinDonuts · 09/03/2023 09:59

Nuclear bomb hits.....
Followed by someone posting on FB to ask if the supermarket is open a week later.
Along with several mnetters arguing the toss over loo brushes or similar.

“Stay the fuck at home!” would be furiously copied and pasted again on every thread on mumsnet.

JunkinDonuts · 09/03/2023 10:04

Namechangedforthisonetoday · 09/03/2023 10:01

Meanwhile The Daily Express is over the moon that it can once again report on record breaking weird weather, the wildest it’s ever reported before.

Show quote history

Today will be strong winds which will bring a heatwave.

WandaWonder · 09/03/2023 10:05

Namechangedforthisonetoday · 09/03/2023 10:00

Don’t be so unkind. There are people on MN who have anxiety and other disorders that mean they catastrophise (is that a word?) situations. For them, this could be triggering.

Show quote history

So using the word triggering lessens it?

FourTeaFallOut · 09/03/2023 10:05

JunkinDonuts · 09/03/2023 10:04

Today will be strong winds which will bring a heatwave.

Show quote history

Hotter than Jamaica today!!

WiIson · 09/03/2023 10:05

What difference would a 4 minute warning make anyway.