What happens if a mushroom cloud is bigger than your thumb?

If you see a mushroom cloud from an atomic bomb, you’re supposed to stick your arm out and hold your thumb over the cloud. If the cloud is bigger than your thumb, you’re in the radiation zone and should evacuate.

What should you do if you see a mushroom cloud?

If you see a mushroom cloud DO run (but only for 30 minutes):Why it’s better to run away from nuclear blast than seek shelter immediately.

Does the Fallout thumb trick work?

The rule is myth. There’s no proof of this being something that the U.S. government ever told citizens. How close you are to nuclear radiation depends on a number of factors, such as the size and type of the bomb, your surroundings, the direction and force of the wind, etc. And everyone’s thumb is a different size.

Does the nuke thumb trick work?

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration was more blunt, with an office spokesperson telling Inverse, “We have been unable to find any truth to the internet rumor.” In other words: don’t take your cues about how to respond to a nuclear explosion from Fallout.

Why is the fallout boy holding his thumb out?

The reason for this is to see how safe he is in the face of an atomic blast. It’s not something used very often today, but if someone sees a mushroom cloud from an atomic bomb, the government used to recommend the person stick their thumb out.

How long does it take for radioactive fallout to go away?

Fallout radiation decays relatively quickly with time. Most areas become fairly safe for travel and decontamination after three to five weeks. For yields of up to 10 kt, prompt radiation is the dominant producer of casualties on the battlefield.

How tall can a mushroom cloud get?

In general, the mushroom clouds can rise up to tens of thousands of feet in minutes. For reference, most passenger planes cruise at around 33,000 feet, or 10,000 meters. Looking back at a historical explosion, let’s take a look at what happened after the nuclear explosion in Hiroshima in 1945.

How long do mushroom clouds last?

“The Effects of Nuclear Weapons,” a federal guide, said the mushroom clouds typically reached their maximum heights in about 10 minutes and could linger “for about an hour or more before being dispersed by the winds.”

Why is the Fallout boy smiling?

Why does vault boy have his thumb up?