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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder if the government have started any planning on what if a nuclear weapon hit britain

549 replies

Gotajobthrunepotism · 05/03/2022 22:14

Even in the current climate, I don’t actually believe that a nuclear bomb will be hitting the UK.

But I wondered if the government have prepared for the eventuality.

I heard that in the 70s/80s there were loads of leaflets and adverts of what we should do if we were attacked.

In other countries they have bomb shelters and sirens.

I wouldn’t have a clue what to do. The only thing I do know is that I would want to be with my family when it happened.

Anyone one else wonder about this?

OP posts:
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abricotine · 06/03/2022 20:58

If covid is anything to go by they will run a simulation, realise many things are wrong with our disaster planning, then fail to implement any of the recommendations Confusedwhatsoever

Strawberryjellyicecream · 06/03/2022 21:06

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

fungh · 06/03/2022 21:06

@notimagain I'm not disagreeing that could be a strategy I just don't think it would be Putins one.

fungh · 06/03/2022 21:09

To poke the bear, just as he's been doing for years. Push, see what you can get away with.

I don't think a small nuclear missile fired on a NATO country would be considered poking the bear. I think he would poke the bear using cyber attacks or a bio weapon.

starfro · 06/03/2022 21:09

I doubt the Russian nukes even work. They're so expensive to maintain and the plutonium needs to be replaced every ten years.

Even if they do, it's not a case of a big red button on Putin's desk. It requires several people, all of whom wouldn't care that both themselves and their families would be obliterated.

If somehow after all of this they were somehow launched and worked, we're all dead so nothing worth planning for.

AwkwardPaws27 · 06/03/2022 21:15

@Pedallleur

Everyone thinks nuclear but bio or chemical weapons can be equally devastating but after a few days/weeks they are no longer dangerous. Salisbury proved that a small amount of nerve agent can paralyse an area
It was no longer dangerous in Salisbury due to a mass decontamination programme - novichok was capable of surviving in the environment for a very long time.
Marmelace · 06/03/2022 21:16

@starfro

I doubt the Russian nukes even work. They're so expensive to maintain and the plutonium needs to be replaced every ten years.

Even if they do, it's not a case of a big red button on Putin's desk. It requires several people, all of whom wouldn't care that both themselves and their families would be obliterated.

If somehow after all of this they were somehow launched and worked, we're all dead so nothing worth planning for.

I need to hear more things like this
lightand · 06/03/2022 21:23

@FoxyFoxyLoxy

They will have been planning, and revising plans since about 1947.
Well they need to tell us mere mortals what they are now, in 2022!
Pedallleur · 06/03/2022 21:38

Why? Wouldn't do you any good. You aren't going in the bunker.

bellinisurge · 06/03/2022 22:45

"Don't say that to the preppers, they think their main concern is enough bottled water!" @fungh I'm a prepper and the conversations on the Prepper topic are a lot more sensible and realistic than I've seen on here. Very few voices saying it's survivable. A few voices of obviously very young people saying it might be. People my age saying nope, this isn't a thing you can survive

fungh · 06/03/2022 23:22

Well i was referring to the prepping threads that have popped up on AIBU the past week.

fungh · 06/03/2022 23:22

I wouldn't attempt to the understand the prep hierarchy!

Cattenberg · 07/03/2022 00:25

I stocked up gradually before Brexit, and I was glad of my stockpile when Covid hit.

I’ll probably prep for a possible cyber attack by buying a few extra items and drawing out enough cash to tide me over for a few days.

I don’t see the point in prepping for a possible nuclear strike. But I try not to worry about it either. There are many worse fates than instant oblivion.

WrongWayApricot · 07/03/2022 00:35

@Flapjacker48 I've heard them being tested near where I live, very eerie. I assumed they were all still tested every now and then.

Flapjacker48 · 07/03/2022 00:42

@WrongWayApricot If you have heard a siren then it would have been for a specific, local purpose, be for a flood warning, chemical plant, in the past broadmoor also used sirens for an escaped prisoner etc.

I absolutely guarantee there are no sirens in the UK that are operated to sound an alarm for an air attack of any kind (nuclear or otherwise). The apparatus to do this does not physically exist now.

AffIt · 07/03/2022 00:48

If war games begin, the vast majority of us will never know: can you imagine the panic?

I live in a major city 30 miles from Faslane, I'll be a shadow in the ground before I have time to blink.

UsernameInTheTown · 07/03/2022 06:15

Like the Government give a fuck what happens to us. I've made my own plans and have a mega stash of very strong prescription meds to see my family off. Wouldn't want to survive it, but would like to die quickly and with my family.

Millicent2022 · 07/03/2022 07:10

@fungh

To poke the bear, just as he's been doing for years. Push, see what you can get away with.

I don't think a small nuclear missile fired on a NATO country would be considered poking the bear. I think he would poke the bear using cyber attacks or a bio weapon.

You know the term ‘poking the bear’ refers to Russia as the bear in Cold War parlance not the West?
bellinisurge · 07/03/2022 07:20

"I wouldn't attempt to the understand the prep hierarchy!"
It's simple: most challenging things you can prepare for with a bit of thought and ingenuity. Annihilation of humanity through nuclear war isn't one of them.

fungh · 07/03/2022 07:31

You know the term ‘poking the bear’ refers to Russia as the bear in Cold War parlance not the West?

Why are you telling me this? Have you actually read my exchanges in the context they were posted in?

me: The deterrent is retaliation, why would Putin bother with a small precise attack?

poster: To poke the bear, just as he's been doing for years. Push, see what you can get away with

Who do you think that poster is referring too? 🤔

fungh · 07/03/2022 07:36

@bellinisurge Ive said as much but like I said there have been plenty of threads the last week. Wasn't someone on this thread talking about a 6 month iodine supply.

longwayoff · 07/03/2022 07:43

Advice? Government advice in the 80s amounted to 'get in the cupboard under the stairs and pray'. I wouldn't expect it to be any different now although Bozo could add it to his 6 point plan which also contains not one original thought.

Millicent2022 · 07/03/2022 07:45

That poster is referring to the west as the bear!
Why would Putin poke his own bear lol

Tigersonvaseline · 07/03/2022 07:45

I'm more concerned now about Europe's biggest Nuclear plants stability.

How can we stop emission from that if it's compromised?

bellinisurge · 07/03/2022 07:45

And plenty of people on the Prepper threads saying don't be silly. As with power cuts, snow shut downs, flooding, lockdown, Brexit problems: most preppers are calmly sorted out for dealing with stuff. And thinking about worst case scenarios and what you can and can't do about it.
It's people who've never thought about stuff or done any planning who think "Oh shit! Must do various things immediately "