Is there any point to prepping for a nuclear situation? There's a document online that goes into the kind of shelter you need, how long to stay there, and stuff like that. I'm talking to my parents about this stuff - and they are older - and is it even worth discussing given how upsetting it is? Like I was even talking about a rendevouz point in case we get separated and there's no communication. We don't live in the same house, but we are in the same city.
I know people say, you will be one of the lucky ones if you go quick. But the human will to live can be very strong, just instinctually, like we don't even know how we will act.
-- Was going to post in c/tactics - but it is read only. And this isn't in the spirit of c/doomer.
If a nuke hits one major US city and somehow the US doesn't retaliate then the panic will be what you should worry about. It's not like 9/11. People will flee the East Coast and there will be a lot of fear of radiation. The market will crash and there will be a run on food/money/gas/etc. This is something you could reasonably prepare for. You need to be far away from the nuked city. You need land on which to grow food so you don't rely on hoarding canned goods. You need fresh water source so you don't rely on infrastructure that can collapse. You need a community of people to help tend the land and defend itself. Expect rural areas to revert back to Pre-WWII days in terms of organization.
If we're talking total nuclear exchange. Don't bother. Spend as much time with your family as you can. Be prepared to do what's necessary to limit your suffering should you somehow survive the bombing. That is unless you move to the southern hemisphere right now and put up with higher cancer rates should there be a nuclear war. Even then it won't be pretty.