How To Survive A Killer Asteroid

Asteroids are space rocks that orbit the sun. Some of them are big enough to cause damage to Earth. If they hit us, would you survive?

An asteroid named Apophis is currently orbiting our planet. It was discovered in 2004 and has a diameter of 2.3 miles (3.8 kilometers).

The chances of it hitting Earth are slim, but it’s always good to be prepared.

Asteroids are classified into three categories: Near-Earth Objects (NEO), Main Belt asteroids (MBA), and Jupiter family comets (JFC).

NEOs are those that come from beyond Mars’ orbit. MBA asteroids are those that orbit between Mars and Jupiter.

JFCs are those that originate from the Kuiper belt, a region beyond Neptune.

Asteroids can have an impact on Earth if they’re large enough or close enough.

An object with a diameter of more than 1 kilometer could potentially do serious damage.

A smaller one with a diameter of 500 meters could still cause significant damage.

The largest recorded asteroid strike occurred 65 million years ago when a meteorite struck Siberia and caused a mass extinction among dinosaurs.

Another asteroid, which exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2013, injured about 1,500 people.

But how exactly would you survive if there was ever an asteroid attack? Could you survive?

You might want to think about how you’d deal with the aftermath of the impact. Would there be fires?

What kind of radiation would you encounter? How long would you stay underground?

How To Survive A Killer Asteroid Attack

There are many ways to die by a killer asteroid but few to survive.

Here are some of our tips and tricks to make sure you don’t get crushed by a space rock.

Stock Up On Supplies

First things first, you know there’s an asteroid on the way. There’s panic in the streets and on the news. You don’t know what to do?

Shake that fear off of your face and get to work.

From the moment it’s spotted to impact, there’s a limited amount of time. You need to gather supplies.

You should stock up on food, water, medicine, and other necessities.

Don’t forget to include a flashlight and a radio. Keep these items in a place where you won’t lose them.

This will help you survive until rescue arrives.

If you live in an urban area, you might not have much choice but to head for the hills. But even then, you should prepare yourself for the worst.

Stock up on supplies and make sure you’ve got a plan B.

Stay Off Of Roads

Roads are dangerous places. They’re crowded with cars and trucks. And if something happens, there’s no room to maneuver.

Plus, roads are usually built at higher elevations. That means that any debris will fall and crush anyone below.

So instead of driving on roads, take the back roads. These are often dirt paths that wind through fields and forests.

They’re safer because they’re less traveled. 

Try To Get Under Cover 

If you’re lucky, you might be able to hide under a desk or behind a door. However, if you’re unlucky, you’ll probably just die.

That’s because asteroids are usually made of solid material.

They won’t burn like meteors, so they won’t disintegrate. Instead, they will crash through your body.

You may think that you’d be safe inside a building, but most buildings aren’t strong enough to withstand an asteroid.

Even the strongest steel beams can bend under pressure. So, if you’re hiding in a room, you might want to get out before the asteroid hits.

Get Away From Windows 

Windows are often used for observation purposes, but they also make great targets for incoming objects.

When an asteroid comes flying at you, it will break apart and spread debris all around.

This means that windows will become dangerous places to be.

Even if you’re not directly facing a window, you should try to stay away from any glass. You never know when an asteroid will smash right into it.

Get Off The Ground 

If you’re up high, you’ll be safer than someone who’s on the ground.

Even though you might be closer to an asteroid, the force of gravity will keep you from being thrown off by it. Plus, you’ll have time to run away.

However, if you’re on the ground, you’ll likely be crushed by the weight of the asteroid. You’ll be killed no matter where you are.

If you were caught up in an asteroid strike, your best bet for survival would be to get as far away from the point of impact as possible.

You should also try to find shelter. This is because most asteroids are made mostly of rock and metal.

When they collide with Earth, they create shock waves that travel through the air at high speeds.

These shock waves can shatter windows, break doors, and even knock down walls.

You should also stay indoors until after the dust settles. If you go outside during this time, you run the risk of inhaling dangerous particles.

When the dust clears, you may want to check out local shelters.

There are many places where you can take refuge, such as schools, hospitals, and government buildings.

Stay Inside Even After Impact

An asteroid hitting the earth isn’t as simple as smack, boom.

There will inevitably be a level of destruction and fallout, potentially even radiation and tsunamis arriving hours later from the impact.

You should aim to stay inside after an asteroid’s impact for at least two days. 

Establish Contact With The Outside World

Now you’re in your bunker, awaiting information about what’s going on in the outside world.

What countries survived, which areas perished? Is it safe to come out? You need a form of communication in your hideaway.

Before hiding, perhaps take some communication with you. 

Phones are likely to have no signal whatsoever because the asteroid destroyed our satellites on its way in or knocked the signal away.

But radio is likely to work. This will help you know what’s going on and when to finally leave your shelter and rejoin civilization.

Asteroids Are Not Always Dangerous

While most asteroids are small enough to pass over without much notice, some large ones could cause serious damage.

For example, the Chelyabinsk meteor was about 20 meters wide.

It exploded above Russia, causing thousands of injuries and damaging hundreds of buildings.

The Tunguska event was similar to the Chelyabinsk incident. It occurred in 1908, and it caused millions of dollars worth of damage.

A huge chunk of space rock crashed into Siberia, creating a massive crater.

Luckily, most asteroids are harmless. They only pose a threat if they hit Earth. If you see one coming, you should do everything you can to avoid it.

Final Thoughts

While it’s unlikely that an asteroid is going to hit the earth, it never hurts to be prepared.

In case you ever find yourself in a situation like this, here are some things you can do:

• Stay indoors until the dust has settled.
• Make sure you have food and water.
• Find a place to take cover.
• Try to establish contact with the outside world.
• Be careful when venturing outdoors.

Do all that, and you might just survive!