Not too long ago, in the 1990s, all schools taught students how to behave in the event of a nuclear war.
If no bomb shelter was available, students were instructed to go as high as possible, tightly close all windows, wrap themselves in a white sheet, and avoid looking at the explosion by hiding under a desk. If they survived the blast and the building was well insulated, they were to remain inside for at least three days. During this time, nuclear fallout would partially settle, and the upper floors of buildings would become relatively safe. Similar instructions were given to students worldwide, reflecting just how seriously people took the threat of nuclear war. Over the next two decades, the topic of World War III was primarily discussed in movies, books, and games. However, it now seems to be resurfacing in public discourse. More politicians are talking about nuclear war, and private bunkers are gaining popularity once again.
1. Switzerland Has Enough Bunkers for Everyone
Despite not possessing nuclear weapons, Switzerland is better prepared for nuclear war than most countries. It’s the only country in the world with a shelter system that can accommodate its entire population. Some of these bunkers are reportedly available for rent to foreigners. This impressive feat was achieved due to a 1963 law requiring every home in Switzerland to have a fallout shelter. Although not all modern private homes follow this outdated rule, every apartment building, large business, hospital, school, and government institution has bunkers on site. Authorities claim there are over 300,000 bunkers in Switzerland, though many may only exist on paper. Nonetheless, more than 5,000 public shelters undergo regular inspections and are maintained in a state of readiness. They are typically located so that, after an alert, a person can reach a shelter on foot in 10-15 minutes, whether they’re at work, shopping, or stuck in traffic.
2. A Bunker for Money
Raven Rock is a multifunctional underground complex built into a mountain near Washington, D.C. The bunker can house up to 5,000 people, but the spaces are reserved for the country’s intellectual, political, and military elite. Ordinary citizens won’t be allowed in. The complex was last used in 2001, when Vice President Dick Cheney and other top officials were evacuated there after the 9/11 attacks. The bunker also contains two billion dollars in cash, stored in small denominations. This money is intended to keep the U.S. government running for 18 months until the printing presses can be restarted. Even the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) plans to collect taxes after the apocalypse, as a measure to prevent the economy from collapsing entirely. So, while there may be no room in the bunker for regular people, there is space for their money. The primary goal in any post-apocalyptic scenario will be to maintain government institutions, even if in a scaled-down form.
3. WWE’s Nuclear Bunker
WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), the world’s most popular wrestling promotion, has a nearly century-long history. Over time, the company accumulated an enormous collection of recordings, stored on VHS tapes and even old film reels. Although the goal is to eventually digitize these materials, for now, the focus is on secure storage. A nuclear bunker seems like a perfect fit, especially since bunker rentals are relatively affordable — at least until World War III starts. To give an idea of the scale of stored materials, WWE archives contain recordings from other wrestling promotions they’ve absorbed, such as ECW, known for its extreme and dangerous stunts. The archive includes tapes from dozens of smaller federations whose names even Wikipedia might not remember. This treasure trove is kept in perfect conditions with climate control and dozens of sensors. Access is strictly limited, but insiders claim the collection includes over 110,000 video tapes and an unknown number of films on other media.
4. The Ark Two Shelter
“Ark Two” is a private nuclear bunker built by Bruce Beach using 42 school buses, buried 5 meters underground, covered in concrete, and buried in dirt. Each bus has at least two exits, and the complex is a sophisticated and well-thought-out system capable of supporting 500 people for three months. Inside, there’s a laundry, kitchen, hospital, daycare, chapel, decontamination room, storage for diesel fuel and food, a well, and a communications hub powerful enough to broadcast to all of North America. Journalists from National Geographic, along with engineers, have visited the site and concluded that it would be effective in all scenarios except for a direct nuclear hit. Bruce planned to offer shelter for free, but 80% of the spaces are reserved for children. The main slogan of Ark Two is: “We don’t have room for you, but we do for your children.” In Bruce’s view, people are too concerned with their own survival, while the task of rebuilding the world after nuclear war will fall to the next generation. Since its inception in the mid-1980s, Ark Two has operated at a loss, as food and fuel supplies must always be kept at full capacity, even as they gradually spoil.
5. The Great Underground Wall
Beijing’s underground bunker was built between 1969 and 1979 during the Sino-Soviet crisis. The subterranean city lies 8 to 18 meters deep and covers an area of over 85 square kilometers. There are 90 hidden entrances across all districts of Beijing. Underground, there were restaurants, hospitals, schools, theaters, factories, and mushroom farms. The bunker was designed to shelter 6 million people in the event of nuclear war. Today, it still serves some of its purpose. According to some journalists, tens of thousands to a million people live in the underground city. Most are workers from other regions who are not fleeing radiation but rather Beijing’s exorbitant rent prices. Some have been living in underground motels for decades. The central government considers this practice illegal, as private owners merely got lucky that a secret entrance was built on their property. Part of the complex is used as a tourist attraction, where visitors are greeted by an old photo of Mao Zedong with the caption: “Prepare for war, prepare for famine.”
