"The conclusion that nuclear war is not winnable is often transformed into the proposition that nuclear war is not survivable. This inaccurate perception may give comfort to some that such a war will not occur. But it also can discourage many others from taking those modest 'commonsensical' steps that would improve greatly their own chances of survival, should a nuclear war in fact occur.
"Survival Odds— Many people, perhaps a majority of U.S. citizens, are likely to survive even an 'all-out' attack by the Soviet Union, which presently has the greatest capability to threaten us.
"Assuming some warning but otherwise merely a 'duck and cover' civil defense, the chances of injury or death in an NAPB-90 attack are about:
— 1 in 3 of being killed outright by blast or thermal effects;
— 1 in 25 of being killed by fallout radiation;
— 1 in 6 of being injured or ill but not fatally;
— Almost 1 in 2 of being uninjured.
It can be seen that the majority are expected to survive, even with rudimentary civil defense.
"What Would the Survivors Face? Survivors of the blast, fire, and early fallout radiation effects still would face an uncertain future. Serious additional hazards and obstacles would have to be overcome before the society to which they now belonged returned to a semblance of its pre-attack status. Some of the hazards would have to be faced immediately, while others would not become so important until months or even years later."
"Survival Odds— Many people, perhaps a majority of U.S. citizens, are likely to survive even an 'all-out' attack by the Soviet Union, which presently has the greatest capability to threaten us.
"Assuming some warning but otherwise merely a 'duck and cover' civil defense, the chances of injury or death in an NAPB-90 attack are about:
— 1 in 3 of being killed outright by blast or thermal effects;
— 1 in 25 of being killed by fallout radiation;
— 1 in 6 of being injured or ill but not fatally;
— Almost 1 in 2 of being uninjured.
It can be seen that the majority are expected to survive, even with rudimentary civil defense.
"What Would the Survivors Face? Survivors of the blast, fire, and early fallout radiation effects still would face an uncertain future. Serious additional hazards and obstacles would have to be overcome before the society to which they now belonged returned to a semblance of its pre-attack status. Some of the hazards would have to be faced immediately, while others would not become so important until months or even years later."
