Over the past week, the possibility of a nuclear exchange or a radiological threat has come to the forefront of our minds.  Russian Nuclear forces have been put on alert, rocket/artillery fire near Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant, loss of power to cooling systems and internet monitoring connectivity to Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and even a wildfire in South Korea which temporarily threatened a Nuclear Power Plant there, all have made many of us think about dusting off our radiological monitoring equipment — for those of us who have it.

Below are the resources that I had mentioned in Segment 3 of this week’s Radio Free Redoubt podcast, Episode 22-09.

(Segment 3 begins at 49:00)

 Radiological detection that JJS uses:

NukAlert portable radiation alarm
Civil Defense CD V-777 Radiation Detection and Monitoring Kit

 

There are numerous Civil Defense Radiation Detector equipment videos on Youtube 

 

REPORTING:

The AmRRON Nets

The AmRRON Signals Operating Instructions (SOI) has radiation detection reporting built in to the STATREP (Status Report), on Line 11.

The full, non-abbreviated STATREP portion of the SOI begins on Page 39 (Section 6.3.2a).  While there are no specific instructions on what measuring equipment to use, or standardized reporting procedure, we included a place for entering readings from your local area.  STATREPs should be distributed to your local network first, and then on to NCS on the HF bands for wider (regional and/or national) distribution, ESPECIALLY if elevated radiation levels are being detected in your area.

Radiation Network

Radiation Network is a web-based mapping site which aggregates and displays data reported by independent voluntary members (feeder sites) using their own radiation detection equipment and Radiation Network software.  This operates along the same concept as Flightaware or Weather Underground, in which a network of users (called ‘feeder sites’) upload local data to a national database and web-hosted mapping system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radiation Network is linked to an impressive selection of radiation detection meters at GeigerCounters.com, which are compatible with their Radiation Network software, including the source for purchasing the software.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE FROM JJS:  The Radiation Network project would be a great thing to see revived, and perhaps now that this subject is in the forefront again, we will see it grow.  Yes, it is an internet-based mapping network, but having the equipment to monitor your local area still benefits you, your community, and your local community leaders who have to make informed decisions about hazards and threats.  Just like internet-based ADSB/Flightaware receivers, or Weather Underground weather stations  acting as feeder sites, the equipment could be invaluable for for your (our our) situational awareness, even with no internet!

Nationwide, the more AmRRON operators with radiation detection that we have, the more complete a picture we can develop about national and regional trends, using the AmRRON network if/when there is no internet.

The following update added 10/07/22:

A nuclear attack is HIGHLY survivable for the overwhelming majority of Americans

“They must also be taught, sheltering-in-place is usually the better option, as the radioactive fallout loses 90% of its lethal intensity in the first seven hours and 99% of it in two days. For those requiring sheltering from fallout, the majority would only need two or three days of full-time hunkering down, not weeks on end, before safely joining an evacuation, if even still necessary then.

That’s more good news as an effective expedient fallout shelter can easily be improvised at home, school or work quickly, but, again, only IF the public had been trained beforehand in how to do so, as was begun in the 50’s, 60’s & 70’s with our national Civil Defense program.”

Read the full ‘Good News’ article at KI4U.com

 

Cover photo credit: The Prepper Stop