Sample message for the Federal public alert system:


Suggested for local or state spokesperson: Fire Chief, Mayor, Governor


We believe a nuclear explosion has occurred at [Location] here in [City].

If you live anywhere in the metropolitan area, get inside a stable building immediately.

You can greatly increase your chance of survival if you take the following steps.


Go deep inside

Find the nearest and strongest building you can and go inside to avoid
radioactive dust outside. ;

If better shelter, such as a multi-story building or basement can be reached
within a few minutes, go there immediately. If you are in a car, find a building for shelter immediately.

Cars do not provide adequate protection from radioactive material.

Go to the basement or the center of the middle floor of a multi-story building
(for example the center floors (e.g., 3 – 8) of a 10-story building).

These instructions may feel like they go against your natural instinct to
evacuate from a dangerous area; however, health risks from radiation exposure can be greatly reduced by:

Putting building walls, brick, concrete or soil between you and the radioactive material outside, and

Increasing the distance between you and the exterior walls, roofs, and ground, where radioactive material is settling.

Stay inside:

Do not come out until you are instructed to do so by authorities or emergency
responders.

All schools and daycare facilities are now in lockdown. Adults and children in
those facilities are taking the same protective actions you are taking and they will not be released to go outside for any reason until they are instructed to do so by emergency responders.

Stay tuned to television and radio broadcasts for important updates;

If your facility has a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) Weather Radio, this is a good source of information

If you have been instructed to stay inside, stay tuned because these
instructions will change.

Radiation levels are extremely dangerous after a nuclear detonation,
but the levels reduce rapidly in just hours to a few days.

During the time when radiation levels are the highest, it is safest to
stay inside, sheltered away from the material outside.

When evacuating is in your best interest, you will be instructed to do so. People in the path of the radioactive plume – downwind from the detonation -
may also be asked to take protective measures

-