BBC Transcript to be used in the wake of Nuclear Attack.

I just thought I'd post this, I found it interesting. The script, written in the 1970s and released by the National Archives link (inc link to the PDF)

BBC TRANSCRIPT TO BE USED IN WAKE OF NUCLEAR ATTACK
This is the Wartime Broadcasting Service. This country has been attacked with
nuclear weapons. Communications have been severely disrupted, and the number of
casualties and the extent of the damage are not yet known. We shall bring you
further information as soon as possible. Meanwhile, stay tuned to this
wavelength, stay calm and stay in your own homes.
Remember there is nothing to be gained by trying to get away. By leaving your
homes you could be exposing yourselves to greater danger.
If you leave, you may find yourself without food, without water, without accommodation and
without protection. Radioactive fall-out, which follows a nuclear explosion, is many
times more dangerous if you are directly exposed to it in the open. Roofs and
walls offer substantial protection. The safest place is indoors.
Make sure gas and other fuel supplies are turned off and that all fires are
extinguished. If mains water is available, this can be used for fire-fighting.
You should also refill all your containers for drinking water after the fires
have been put out, because the mains water supply may not be available for very
long.
Water must not be used for flushing lavatories: until you are told that
lavatories may be used again, other toilet arrangements must be made. Use your
water only for essential drinking and cooking purposes. Water means life. Don't
waste it.
Make your food stocks last: ration your supply, because it may have to last for
14 days or more. If you have fresh food in the house, use this first to avoid
wasting it: food in tins will keep.
If you live in an area where a fall-out warning has been given, stay in your
fall-out room until you are told it is safe to come out. When the immediate
danger has passed the sirens will sound a steady note. The "all clear" message
will also be given on this wavelength. If you leave the fall-out room to go to
the lavatory or replenish food or water supplies, do not remain outside the room
for a minute longer than is necessary.
Do not, in any circumstances, go outside the house. Radioactive fall-out can kill. You cannot
see it or feel it, but it is there. If you go outside, you will bring danger to your family and you
may die. Stay in your fall-out room until you are told it is safe to come out or you
hear the "all clear" on the sirens.
Here are the main points again:
Stay in your own homes, and if you live in an area where a fall-out warning has
been given stay in your fall-out room, until you are told it is safe to come
out. The message that the immediate danger has passed will be given by the
sirens and repeated on this wavelength. Make sure that the gas and all fuel
supplies are turned off and that all fires are extinguished.
Water must be rationed, and used only for essential drinking and cooking
purposes. It must not be used for flushing lavatories. Ration your food supply:
it may have to last for 14 days or more.
We shall repeat this broadcast in two hours' time. Stay tuned to this
wavelength, but switch your radios off now to save your batteries until we come
on the air again. That is the end of this broadcast.

Just who are they going to get to read this after an attack?

Creepy, I wonder what America's is like. I'm sure they all have some pre-scripted or even video recorded message.


Ever hear of the underground life sized image of the white house that the president could give a speech in front of if DC was nuked? I don't know what the purpose would be because the white house would be gone unless its just to temporarily calm people.

reply to post by alttracks


It was meant to be read by one of the popular and trusted newsreaders of the time... I suppose they would of had a few versions on tape but they really wanted it read live every couple of hours and they would also try to include some local reports in-between...

They didn't want the public to think they were just listening to a repeating tape - cos well after a few hours what would you think? The rest of the country was gone and your street was the only survivors! - Back in the 70's there were probably quite a few more misconceptions about nukes among the public than there are now.

The article also says that they had stockpiles of entertainment - the main thing was keeping people indoors for 14 days it seems... It just reminded me of these 'Remain Indoors' sketches from That Mitchell and Webb look

Creepy. Wonder if they have it recorded to play to...well...maybe nobody on a loop. Disaster preparedness is big stuff and big business....

Very odd, but somewhat understandable.
The one thing that interests me is the warning to stay indoors.
In the short term I guess that is ok, but houses will actually keep radiation concentrated indoors. This is why in Chernobyl you can see the area but it is strongly recommended to not go into dwellings as the radiation is at much higher levels.

Wow, that is chilling. S & F !

Shouldn't you be plastic wrapping and duct taping those windows & doors?

What happened to "stop, drop, cover"

Originally posted by alttracks
Just who are they going to get to read this after an attack?

Voice-recorded probably.

Originally posted by shadow watcher
Very odd, but somewhat understandable.
The one thing that interests me is the warning to stay indoors.
In the short term I guess that is ok, but houses will actually keep radiation concentrated indoors. This is why in Chernobyl you can see the area but it is strongly recommended to not go into dwellings as the radiation is at much higher levels.

It's a matter of short-term vs long-term exposure, I'd imagine, combined with other hazards that have nothing to do with the actual nuclear initiations. For the first couple of weeks, the biggest cause of secondary exposure will be fallout. Staying indoors while the worst of the local fallout settles would vastly increase your chances of survival. It would also give the remnants of emergency services people a small window to try to deal with the initial wave of fires, and to reestablish some form of civil order.

Truly chilling. Living through those times must have been genuinely concerning at times.

You have to wonder what sort of plans we have in place today, now we have more information and what the "modern" script would entail.