A leftover fallout shelter sign is seen on a building in New York.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
- New York City released a video teaching residents how to survive a nuclear attack.
- The video provides step-by-step instructions on what to do after a nuclear warhead explodes.
- Mayor Eric Adams said it was a “proactive step” in light of the war in Ukraine.
New York City residents now have a YouTube video teaching them how to deal with a nuclear strike, which Mayor Eric Adams described as a “proactive step” in light of the war in Ukraine.
The city’s Department of Emergency Management launched the public service announcement video on Monday detailing step-by-step instructions on how to survive such an attack.
The video sparked some confusion on social media, especially concerning the timing of its release. However, Adams defended the PSA during a press conference on Tuesday, stating that he did not feel the video was “alarmist” and that he is a “big believer in better safe than sorry.”
He said the city’s Office of Emergency Management had taken a “very proactive step” in producing the video “right after the attacks the Ukraine,” adding that it was meant to convey the message: “Let’s be prepared.”
Adams also said that New York City is still a top target for terrorists. “There are no imminent threats to the city that we know about, but we always have to be prepared as New Yorkers,” he continued.
The instructional video outlines three steps that New Yorkers can follow to increase their chances of surviving a nuclear strike.
“So there’s been a nuclear attack,” a person in the video says. “Don’t ask me how or why, just know that the big one has hit.”
In the event of a nuclear strike, the Emergency Management Department advised New Yorkers to:
- Get inside a building fast and don’t stay in a car.
- Stay inside, shut all doors and windows, and head into the basement if you can. Clean yourself immediately and remove all outer clothing.
- Stay tuned to the media for updates. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for wireless emergency alerts sent by officials.
“While the likelihood of a nuclear weapon incident occurring in/near NYC is very low, it is important New Yorkers know the steps to stay safe,” the New York City government website said.
The guidelines are the same as those provided by Ready.Gov, a national public service campaign by the US government that aims to teach people how to respond to disasters and attacks.
However, Ready.Gov noted that cell service, text messaging, TV, and internet services could be disrupted by a nuclear blast and pointed to battery or hand-crank radios as devices one could use instead.
The New York City Office of Emergency Management did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.
