The following is a summary of a fictional account of what may happen after a nuclear attack:

Almost right after the attack, people from all over crowded into the rural towns. They were escaping from the destroyed cities, looking for food, shelter, clothing, and medical attention. They had nothing except the clothes on their back. They had no where to go. After the first few days the hospitals closed their doors to new patients. Not only because of the high radioactivity outside, but they just did not have any room. The very sick were left to die. The others were left to fend for themselves.

Radio communications were nearly wiped out. The President came on the air once in a while. (Chances are no one would hear him: EMP) he would usually talk about the "cease-fire". He kept telling them about how the Soviets were hurt just as much as the U.S. He told them 100 million people were killed. He said the government was doing all they could. (Let's remember, the Pres. is a rather nice distance underground and most likely not seeing true reports on what is going on.)

Food became scarce. People raided the grocery stores and the houses of the people living in shelters. Some were stealing the farmers' cattle. A few went out into the woods to try to find the few remaining wild animals. About two weeks after the explosions, the food did all but run out. People looked to the government, or what was left of it.

The president said they were doing all they could.

In the spring, people changed their attitude. Crops were planted. Some even tried to rebuild the cities and factories. The government tried to stop the barter system and reinstate currency. People found the money worthless and kept trading. Some thought things were going to get better.

When winter came around, the food ran out. People started eating dogs, cats, and rats; animals by their habitat were protected from the fallout. (also cockroaches) The weak, the old, and young started to die. The first winter took its toll on the living. People were rebelling.

The government came together to figure out what to do. They could not come up with a decision that would agree with everyone. By then, no one knew what to do. The life they were used to: cars, computers, the office, golf, schools, the Superbowl, parties, all disappeared. What was left? Chaos.(17)

It is interesting how after our civilization becomes so technologically advanced and complex, we could destroy it all in a matter of moments. Our lifestyles would go back to the horse and buggy era. Most of our complexities, i.e. computers, would be forgotten. We would learn how to farm and care for animals. We probably would not be able to rebuild our previous civilization until after a few generations.

The survivors would concentrate on survival, not worrying about selling stock for IBM or even going to school. There would be no use for them. Our country would be set back a couple of hundred years. People might even deny our previous civilization, and turn back to a more simple life: one in which there would be no offices, no taxation, no hostility. We might even become friends with the Soviets.
 

Written in December 1986 by Fred Witsl for the benefit of people who have limited knowledge pertaining to nuclear weapons. Misinformation will get you and your family killed (or worse). F.W.