How to Survive the Post Nuclear Apocalyptic Future

Shelter

• 1

  Find shelter. Surviving the nuclear explosions is the easy part, assuming you're lucky. Now all you have to do is brave the rapidly cooling climate that has resulted from nuclear fallout.

• 2

  Look for shelters that are both out of sight and easy to defend. Without the security of a government or police force, a visible campfire is almost as dangerous as not having a campfire at all.

• 3

  Establish camouflage. Even the most out of the way, well-hidden shelters can use more security. Use your surroundings to hide your home away from prying eyes and curious brigands.

• 4

  Determine an escape route. If your shelter is raided, make sure that you can flee if you need to. Trap doors are particularly useful for this.

• 5

  Remember that your shelter has to function as more than a fortress. Your shelter must be warm, ventilated and near a somewhat reliable source of food and water.

Scavenge

• 6

  Scavenge, scavenge, scavenge. The most important thing to remember after a nuclear apocalypse is that it is safe to assume that most industry in the world has been destroyed, and nothing new is being produced. As a result, it will be crucial that you learn how to make do with what you can find in order to survive.

• 7

  Improvise. Just because you found a pair of boots that don't fit you doesn't mean that you can't use them. Remember that you don't have to find the right tool for the job, you just have to find something that can be a tool for the job.

• 8

  Trade. Although you must be wary of everyone, not everyone you meet in the world of the future will be hostile. In fact, some people may be interested in amiable trade. While it is never advisable to be too much of a pack rat (especially when traveling), be sure to hold onto items that you can imagine having trade value. Alcohol, cigarettes and other niceties of the past will surely be worth someone to someone, and they won't weigh you down.

• 9

  Eat first, ask questions later. While cannibalism is always an option in times of trouble, it is a dangerous (and monstrous) way of feeding yourself. Instead, eat what you can find. Your best bet will be canned food that isn't too horribly irradiated since it will provide you with vitamins and minerals. You can trust pretty much anything you would encounter in a modern-day gas station. Confections such as Twinkies, Ho-Hos and Ding-****s can provide valuable food energy in a pinch, while beef jerky, pickled sausage and canned cheese are a great source of protein (although they should be avoided if you do not have very much water on hand).

Defense

• 10

  Arm yourself. Arguably one of the most important items to always carry with you is some sort of weapon. Ideally, your weapon should imply threat without having to be used. Guns are an excellent example of this. Even when a gun runs out of ammunition, it appears to be a credible threat.

• 11

  Carry a sidearm. Whether your gun is out of ammunition or you break your club on the tough skull of a brigand, having a sidearm is crucial for your survival. Choose something that can be multipurposed. Claw hammers, hunting knives and hatchets are fantastic examples of secondary weapons that can serve more than one purpose. For instance, knives are great for opening cans and whittling small tools out of wood, while claw hammers are fantastic for scavenging through loose debris or reinforcing your shelter.

• 12

  Evade and observe. Your best defense is always knowledge. Staying hidden while observing threats is the best way to determine a course of action. Tips for evasion include traveling at night and staying off the roads.