Since recent events around the world, concerns over the potential use of nuclear weapons have grown. Imagine a nuclear strike occurs. Where would you and your family take refuge? Nuclear bunkers may be your best bet.

This comprehensive guide explores options for locating natural underground bunkers close to your homestead and fortifying them into reliable fallout shelters. When it comes to surviving a nuclear emergency, being prepared could mean the difference between life and death.

Understanding Nuclear Fallout Basics

Before we dive into finding bunker locations, it’s crucial to understand what nuclear fallout actually is and how it behaves.

Fallout refers to the radioactive particles and debris propelled into the upper atmosphere following a nuclear detonation, which then “fall out” and blanket the surrounding areas.

The extent and concentration of this radioactive contamination depends on:

  • Wind patterns the time, which disperse fallout over varying distances
  • Terrain and surface features, which can concentrate or divert fallout plumes
  • Weapon yield, with higher yields creating larger amounts of fallout

While fallout intensity reduces exponentially the further you are from ground zero, the three key protective factors are:

  1. Time– Allowing time for radioactive decay to occur
  2. Distance– Putting as much space as possible between you and the fallout
  3. Shielding– Interposing dense materials like concrete or earth to block radiation

This underscores the importance of a proper underground shelter to maximize all three of these radiation defenses.

Locating Natural Nuclear Bunkers Near YouWhat’s The Closest Natural Nuclear Bunker to Your Home?

So where can you find pre-existing natural bunkers around your homestead? Surprisingly, there may be suitable underground spaces much closer than you think:

Manmade Underground Sites

  • Disused mines, industrial tunnels, and storage facilities
  • Remnants of Cold War-era public and private fallout shelters
  • Abandoned military bunkers, missile silos, or NORAD installations

You can locate potential man-made sites by scouring online databases, topographic maps, and local town records for any listed underground facilities in your area.

Natural Underground Formations

  • Cave networks, caverns, and lava tubes
  • Subterranean rivers, tunnels and passages
  • Abandoned quarries and excavation pits

While harder to find, natural underground spaces like these can make phenomenal nuclear shelters if located and properly outfitted.

When assessing any potential bunker site, a few key criteria should be met:

  • Depth of at least 20-30 feet underground for adequate shielding
  • Multiple air intake/exhaust vents for ventilation
  • Accessible entries and exits (cave-ins are a big hazard)
  • Ample space to stock supplies and house your household long-term

Popular Nuclear Bunkers in North America

Bunker Name

Location

Features

Notes

Raven Rock Mountain Complex

Blue Ridge Summit, PA

Underground Pentagon

Emergency ops centers for Army, Navy, Air Force

Mount Weather Bunker

Bluemont, VA

Extensive underground facility

Once a secret hideaway for high-ranking officials

Cheyenne Mountain Complex

El Paso County, CO

Deep inside a mountain

Designed to withstand nuclear blasts

Peters Mountain Site

Virginia Appalachians

Remote and discreet

Part of Continuity of Government (COG) plans

Greenbrier Bunker

White Sulphur Springs, WV

Luxurious Cold War hideout

Now a fascinating museum

Iron Mountain Data Center

Boyers, PA

Former limestone mine

Repurposed as a secure data storage facility

Titan Missile Museum

Sahuarita, AZ

Decommissioned missile silo

Offers guided tours

Weldon Spring Bunker

Weldon Spring, MO

Once stored chemical weapons

Now an eerie relic

Seneca Army Depot

Romulus, NY

Massive underground storage

Previously held nuclear warheads

Green Valley Lake Bunker

Green Valley Lake, CA

Hidden in the San Bernardino Mountains

Built during the Cold War

The Bunker at The Greenbrier

White Sulphur Springs, WV

Lavish accommodations

Now open for tours

Diefenbunker

Carp, Ontario, Canada

Not in the US, but worth mentioning

Once Canada’s top-secret nuclear shelter

The Survival Condo

Kansas

Luxury condos in a former missile silo

Available for purchase

Atlas E Missile Silo

Abilene, KS

Abandoned missile site

Explore the eerie underground chambers

The Ark Two Shelter

Ontario, Canada

Massive community shelter

Constructed by a dedicated prepper

The Vivos Group Bunkers

Various locations

Private underground communities

Membership-based survival shelters

 The 20th Century Castles

Various states

Decommissioned missile silos

Some available for purchase

The Kansas Underground Salt Museum

Hutchinson, KS

Salt mine turned museum

Not a traditional bunker, but fascinating

 The Survival Center

McKenna, WA

 Supplies and survival resources

Not a physical bunker, but a valuable resource

Your Own Backyard Bunker

Anywhere you choose

DIY survival project

Customize it to your needs

Assessing and Fortifying Natural BunkersWhat’s The Closest Natural Nuclear Bunker to Your Home?

Let’s say you’ve identified a promising underground site – before moving in survival supplies, you’ll want to thoroughly survey and reinforce the location:

Structural Assessment

  • Check for any cracks, fissures, or other instabilities that could cause collapse
  • Ensure adequate ceiling height to stand and move comfortably
  • Note any potential water seepage points to guard against flooding

Entry Hardening

  • Clear debris and rubble from entrances/exits
  • Consider installing reinforced blast doors or security gates
  • Build ramps, stairs, or ladders for safe ingress/egress

Ventilation Setup

  • Identify ceiling holes to install ventilation pipes
  • Setup filtered air intake and exhaust system
  • Consider backup power for running ventilation fans

Supply Stockpiling

  • Store at minimum 2 weeks of non-perishable food and water
  • Pack warm clothing, bedding, hygiene, and medical supplies
  • Tools, fuel, batteries, lights, and backup power sources
  • Entertainment like books, games, and radio to maintain morale

Thorough planning and outfitting of the bunker will be vital, as you may end up confined for weeks or months in the aftermath of a nuclear event.

Good with hands? Then:

Build an Affordable DIY BunkerWhat’s The Closest Natural Nuclear Bunker to Your Home?

Here’s how:

Step 1: Dig a Trench

Locate a level spot at least 50 feet from buildings or trees to dig your lifesaving trench. Dig a 3-foot wide, 5-foot deep trench with an extra 11 feet of length to accommodate 4 people. Add 3 more feet per additional person.

Step 2: Entrances and Ventilation

At one end, dig a 5-foot sloped entrance for easy access. On the opposite side, create a 2×3.5-foot ventilation crawlspace tunnel near the surface for airflow and an emergency exit path.

Step 3: Weather Protection

Once trenched, drape waterproof tarps over each end to shed rain and fallout debris. Secure them to form an overhead canopy sheltering the interior.

Step 4: Overhead Support

Position wooden logs or poles across the top, overhanging the edges by a foot to help bear the soil’s weight above. Around 20 logs should be enough for an average shelter.

Step 5: Seal Gaps

Seal any cracks between the logs with leaves, cloth, or other materials to block dirt filtration.

Step 6: Soil Insulation

Mound 18 inches of your excavated soil over the top of the log with plastic sheeting, then add another 18-inch soil layer for radiation shielding. For about $500 in basic supplies from any hardware store, you’ve constructed a legitimate, life-saving fallout bunker right in your own backyard.

A small price for the ultimate homestead insurance policy! Make sure to check local legislation before any construction.

Can’t Secure a Bunker?What’s The Closest Natural Nuclear Bunker to Your Home?

For those unable to construct or find shelter, seek out the most heavily shielded location like a basement or concrete structure’s interior. Underground basements provide decent protection, but a soil-covered shelter trumps them.

The heaviest radiation travels downward initially, which that dirt blanket is precisely designed to block. While similar to brick or concrete bunkers, soil insulation gives DIY shelters an edge.

So while not as impervious as a purpose-built military bunker, your own custom fallout shelter could be the difference between shielding your family to safety or leaving them frighteningly exposed.

Balancing Preparedness and Practical Concerns

There’s a balance to strike when it comes to nuclear prepping. On one extreme, you have the hardcore “doomsday preppers” devoting their lives to surviving an all-out apocalypse. On the other, the blissfully unaware majority put zero thought into emergency preparedness.

The wise homesteader charts a prudent middle path, rationally considering likely scenarios.

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