If World War 3 started, this is what the first 72 hours could look like.
The conflict in the Middle East is escalating, and with it, fears of a wider war are growing. Tensions spiked dramatically after joint attacks by the United States and Israel in Iran, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The operation was reportedly aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. In retaliation, Iran struck American and Israeli targets in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.
As the violence spreads, talk of a potential World War 3 is no longer just speculation. Some people are already thinking about worst-case scenarios, and how to prepare for them in the critical first hours.
Sean Gold, an emergency management specialist and founder of TruePrepper.com, outlined five essential steps for public consideration in an interview with the Express.
“A lighter, water filter, tarp, and other gear that meet your basic survival needs can help you survive worst-case situations,” he said. “Place your government-suggested supplies in a bag that you can carry. Preppers call it a ‘bug out bag,’ designed for fast evacuation with survival essentials.”
How to prepare for war
Governments around the world have long urged citizens to be ready for crises, and the current climate has renewed interest in these precautions. Last year, the European Commission recommended that households stockpile supplies to last at least 72 hours. Gold emphasizes having canned food at hand, following the prepping mantra: “store what you eat, eat what you store.”
“This not only means that you should store food that you and your family actually like, but also rotate through your food storage by eating it and replacing it at regular intervals,” he says. “Having a variety of cans to replicate a range of meals is best, since their macro nutrition can vary widely.”
A well-stocked survival kit should also include first aid supplies and reliable ways to communicate. Tools such as a survival knife, fire starters, warm clothing, and spare batteries are recommended in case of power outages. Important documents, cash, maps, and a compass should be on hand for rapid evacuation.
The terrifying potential of nuclear conflict
Experts warn that if World War 3 escalates into nuclear warfare, the consequences could be unimaginable. Even a single nuclear bomb can kill millions, and multiple detonations could disrupt the global climate, potentially causing famine on a massive scale.
Annie Jacobsen, bestselling author of “Nuclear War: A Scenario,” paints a grim picture, according to VT: “The first 72 minutes of a nuclear conflict could result in the deaths of up to five billion people.” She continues that the initial devastation could trigger a mini-ice age, with regions like Iowa and Ukraine buried in snow for up to a decade. Agriculture would collapse, radiation from the damaged ozone layer would make outdoor life deadly, and survivors might have no choice but to live underground.
While these scenarios represent extreme outcomes, they underscore the catastrophic potential of nuclear weapons and the fragile balance of global peace.
“The possibility of a nuclear exchange always lurks whenever there is talk of global war. Many people write it off as an apocalyptic situation, but while it’s massively deadly and disruptive, it could be survivable for most people,” Gold says.
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