The storage issue is from the point of view that if its not out the way, at some point its going to end up getting out of the reactors. Im thinking along the lines of the concrete sarcophagus of Chenobyl and how thats starting to degrade. The nuclear reactor is only going to last so long, but the radioactive material inside are going to remain radioactive for far longer?

Not bothered about the loss of gas from gas pipes, Im thinking more if a gas leak ignited for whatever reason? And again, the gas cylinders will need servicing or emptying, as theyll eventually corrode through etc? Small fires and explosions are likely to not take out the survivors as chances are they wouldnt be nearby. Im just trying to think of situations that could result in a fire starting without human intervention in a city. By the time survivors found it I doubt theyd be able to put it out and it could/would spread uncontrollably?

So youre faced with a meteor hitting the earth and your concern is that in 100 years+ after the event a uranium rod might start to penetrate a concrete and lead lined box?

Even if the meteor hit and at the exact same moment every nuclear reactor vanished and the uranium rods were just left on the ground in the open I dont see the problem.  Its a problem if you get within a few hundred feet of them.  Otherwise whats the prob?

But yes fire = bad.  If you stand in one you will die.  Thats kind of the same now tho and if anything theres going to be less people around.  I honestly think gas cannister corrosion isnt going to be too high up the list of problems...

Lack of fire and medical supplies - sure.  The 400 or so nuclear plants on the surface of the planet (which are kind of easy to spot) and slowly leaking gas cannisters cant be that big a deal.  Then the chances of the gas cannister having a flammable gas in them, then the combination of them leaking near an ignition source...

TBH, I think that the only people who would properly survive would be old school farmers and people in the country - and not people that have just moved to the country so they can say they moved to the country

People who grew up in towns (And I am making a sweeping generalisation here) would be f**ked because I dont know anyone that lives in a city/town that knows how to look after livestock, or grow crops, or even knows what to do with them

if it doesnt come in a packet or a bottle theyre shafted

I will also make a sweeping generalisation and say this - people that live in cities and towns are less hardy and less capable of doing without and making do than people who dont.

I know any of my friends that grew up in the city would be more concerned with the fact that they cant get a starbucks or a mcdonalds, and would be worried about getting their jeans dirty etc

Meh, what can I say? Im thinking about the long term survival of the human race rather than my own pitiful existence. The gas canister thing just comes from the amount of "training" in diving qualifications which revolve around "Pressurised cylinder...treat with care". Locally a couple of years ago someone cut into one that was still full, and it only contained air I think. He died instantly and I think a couple of other people either died/were seriously injured. Then there was the damage to property... Obviously I doubt survivors are going to be processing pressurised gas canisters anytime soon for the metal. But combining the hazard with the accelerated rate of corrosion inside and it just really takes one to fall over, crack, knock a couple others, and before you know it the BOC storage facility has gone sky high. I forget which gas it was at Uni, but I was briefed when helping to move them into the storage building about something to do with a half mile safety radius :|

I know its like splitting hairs and all that, But Im guessing theres a load of hidden hazards that none of us have thought of. Most suggestions seem to be short term how to survive the first month, and then gloss over the rest with "Band together, start building up" without considering the hazards involved in the resource collection. Feral dogs etc

Im guessing biological facilities have protocols in place for when they have advance warning of prolonged power outages? Whats in place to stop various modified viruses etc from escaping? Unless theyre all incinerated or disposed of before the power goes out, Id imagine some viruses or whatever would be able to survive for a long period of time in their containers. All itd take is a scavenger to get into the facility and break or open a phial?

The rods melted and ended up in the bottom of the reactor. With an impact from a meteor there will be rather more pushed up into the atmosphere, the whole plant will be vaporised. Most of it will land locally but the remainder will be spread around the globe, it would cause a few deaths but nothing compared to the other effects.

Gas explosions would only be a problem locally, you would have far more problems from burning debris raining on your head.

Quote from: MarkTBH, I think that the only people who would properly survive would be old school farmers and people in the country - and not people that have just moved to the country so they can say they moved to the country

People who grew up in towns (And I am making a sweeping generalisation here) would be f**ked because I dont know anyone that lives in a city/town that knows how to look after livestock, or grow crops, or even knows what to do with them

if it doesnt come in a packet or a bottle theyre shafted

I will also make a sweeping generalisation and say this - people that live in cities and towns are less hardy and less capable of doing without and making do than people who dont.

I know any of my friends that grew up in the city would be more concerned with the fact that they cant get a starbucks or a mcdonalds, and would be worried about getting their jeans dirty etc

In most cases you would be right, but there are some who know the basics of farming, and most of it isnt too brain taxing. Grain, you plough the ground and scatter the seed, wait until it ripens and then gather the produce. Most others are similar, potatoes you dig a trench and put them in the bottom, cover up, wait until the tops poke through, ramp up the soil around the plants and wait again until it dies back, then you dig up your new spuds. Most shop bought seeds have instructions on the packet.

Animals are a bit more of a problem, but not many of them are going to survive anyway.

It not so much the explosions Id be worried about as as you say, itd be rather loca. Itd be the ensuing fires if they began in a city like london. With no one around to put them out, what would happen if half of London was on fire and you were downwind from it!

TBH Zpyder I really dont think a city would be a good place to stay, regardless of whether or not it catches fire.

Even if youre the only one who survives and therefore have free run of the local Sainsburys canned food section, youre going to have more raw materials available to you out in the countryside.

For the first generation or so after impact livestock farming will not be important. Obviously its important to preserve that knowledge if anyone in your party has it, and it will come in handy if you live long enough, but the more imediately important skills will be hunting, skinning and gutting prey animals such as Rabbits.

Even canned food eventually goes off, food which is running around on 4 legs doesnt

Just thought Id chime in; there have been some pretty good "A World Without Humans" type documentaries available on Nat. Geo. and the History channel in the USA recently (funnily enough) that answer/cover a lot of the things in this thread.

Quote from: zpyderIt not so much the explosions Id be worried about as as you say, itd be rather loca. Itd be the ensuing fires if they began in a city like london. With no one around to put them out, what would happen if half of London was on fire and you were downwind from it!

The effects will include firing boulders to all corners of the Earth, expect large parts of London to burn anyway, same with other cities. Thats why Steves get underground advice would be so important.

A proper bunker, or reinforced cellar with an air system wouldnt be missed either, people could store stuff like their freezer in it and have some electrical generation gear. There are also machines available for recycling water, if you dont mind drinking your own urine. TBH you have probably drank water that thousands of people have drank before you anyway. It might taste a bit odd but....

As for butchering animals, they have to survive. There wont be much grass so rabbits might have problems, even if they are relatively safe from the initial effects. Rats and similar are the most likely ones to survive, then there always will be worms to eat. Roaches anyone? Yum!

If its bad enough that the rabbits dont make it, the chances of your survival beyond a few weeks are close to zero anyway. They are a good food supply precisely because they are almost impossible to eradicate completely and their populations bounce back fast. If its clear beforehand that its going to be THAT bad, getting drunk and getting laid for the remaining 4 days is your best bet.

Quote from: MongooseTBH Zpyder I really dont think a city would be a good place to stay, regardless of whether or not it catches fire.

You wouldnt have to stay in the city to be effected. The tonnes of soot from the fires would cause localised effects smothering vegetation and exposing animals to all manner of toxins. With the size of the cities in question you could be many many miles away in the countryside and still be effected. The combined soot and ash from the global fires could blanket out the atmosphere making the whole planet inhospitable?

Some info in new scientist last week suggests that 100 hiroshima sized nuclear bombs would cause the depletion of 40-70% of the ozone layer, tripling skin conditions and cancer. Im guessing a big-ass asteroid impact would be responsible for a bit more damage to such things, and youd probably want to be underground for longer than a couple of years in this case?

This thread is making me think of a book called "Children of the dust"

crikey.... youve been arguing now for 4 days. suppose your all dead  

Quote from: Eggtasticocrikey.... youve been arguing now for 4 days. suppose your all dead  

Damn! I KNEW we should have got the beer in when we had the chance!

Try to get to SteveF all the problems that will arise seem to get solved without much of a problem what with the nuclear power plants shuting down by themselfs and that working out okay and water from the sea, and 800 tins of baked beans lying around, all sounds like something Homer simpson would spurt out.....  

As a different idea...would anyone consider suicide?