#resilient communities

[thechurchoftheatom]

A Sermon for May 21st: Shelter for the Body and the Conscience

Brothers and Sisters in the Atom, our faith teaches us to prepare—not because we wish for disaster, but because we refuse to be caught unaware. In the event of nuclear fallout, preparation is not only protection for ourselves. It is protection for memory. For knowledge. For the fragile, vital continuity of life.

This week, we turn to the subject of shelter—what it is, how to build it, and what it can represent. In an unstable world, a shelter is more than a structure. It is a choice. A statement of care. A quiet act of long-term love.

Why Build a Shelter?

Fallout from a nuclear event is not like flame or flood. It is silent. Invisible. But it clings to dust, soil, skin, and breath. And yet, it can be blocked—by dirt, stone, concrete, or water. A simple shelter, built with intention, can reduce radiation exposure by 90% or more.

During World War II, many families built bomb shelters to protect themselves from air raids. In the Cold War era, fallout shelters were promoted and constructed across entire nations—not out of fear alone, but as a form of civic responsibility.

Today, we inherit that legacy. Building a shelter is not panic—it is tradition. It is knowledge passed down through generations, adapted for the needs of our time.

But even beyond radiation, shelter building is an ancient practice of responsibility. One that allows us to hold space for others. One that, through the centuries, has taken many forms and served many roles—some of them still unspoken.

Basic Principles of Fallout Protection

Shielding: Dense materials between you and radioactive particles. Earth, water, concrete, books, and even filled containers all work.

Distance: The more space between you and contaminated surfaces, the better.

Time: The danger of fallout decreases significantly with each passing hour. A well-stocked shelter lets you wait safely.

How to Build a Simple Fallout Shelter

Option 1: Basement Corner Shelter

If you have access to a basement:

Choose a corner with the fewest windows and exterior walls.

Stack shielding materials—books, water containers, bricks, concrete blocks, dirt in bags—along the outside walls and across a roof of strong boards or doors.

Aim for at least 18 inches of dense material on all sides and above.

Create a crawl-in entrance. A simple L-shape with shielding will reduce exposure.

Ensure some air circulation and have backup lighting.

Stock with:

Water (1 gallon per person per day, for at least 2 weeks)

Long-lasting food

First aid kit

Sanitation supplies (bucket, bags, bleach)

Flashlights, batteries, hand-crank radio

Blankets, printed materials, and paper

📘 Further Reference:

Option 2: Earth-Covered Outdoor Shelter

If building outdoors:

Dig a trench about 3–4 feet deep, 6–8 feet long, and 4 feet wide.

Lay boards, doors, or other flat materials across the top.

Cover the top with at least 18 inches of packed soil.

Line the inside with tarps, blankets, or pallets to raise the floor above moisture.

Include vent pipes or filtered airflow, if possible.

On Concealment and Privacy

In any shelter, discretion is valuable. While there is no shame in preparation, we must recognize that not everyone outside our faith may look kindly upon those who plan ahead. In times of scarcity or unrest, a well-stocked shelter may attract unwanted attention—and, in the worst of times, attempts to seize it by force.

For your protection, consider:

Using furniture, bookshelves, or curtains to hide an interior entrance

Designing outdoor shelters with natural camouflage—brush, debris, or a removable cover

Blending shielding materials into everyday household storage

Keeping preparation documentation offline or physical

Concealment is not deception. It is the thoughtful act of ensuring that what you have built is not easily destroyed or taken in a moment of desperation. It is another layer of care.

The Quiet Lessons of History

There have been times in history—dark times—when shelters served more than one purpose. When rooms were built not only for safety, but for dignity, for hope, and for protection of what was right, even in the face of overwhelming wrong.

We remember those times not to draw direct comparisons, but to keep alive the knowledge that a shelter is never just wood and earth. It is also an act of belief in the future. A space to keep others safe. A way to honor the truth.

We do not need to name every possible use. Only to know that the act of building is sacred, and its purpose—whether now or generations from now—may one day matter more than we can yet understand.

Call to Reflect and Prepare

This week, consider:

Do I have what I need to protect my household for at least two weeks?

Do I know how to create a safe space using what I already have?

Am I willing to learn the quiet, steady work of building before I need it?

A good shelter can be raised in a weekend. Its meaning may last a lifetime.

Closing Words

Brothers and Sisters, the Church of the Atom does not preach fear. We preach readiness. We preach preservation. We preach the quiet strength of those who do the work when no one is watching.

Let the shelters we build be sanctuaries—for life, for knowledge, and for conscience. Let them carry forward not only bodies, but values. Let them stand as quiet proof that we believed tomorrow was worth surviving for.

Go forth, and be radiant.

[nrgnews-it]

"Natural Rebirth": A New Future for Our Communities

[westvalleyfaultph]

New PHIVOLCS Visayas Cluster Monitoring Center: A Game-Changer for Disaster Preparedness

In a significant leap forward for disaster preparedness and response in the Visayas region, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has inaugurated the Visayas Cluster Monitoring Center for Earthquake and Tsunami (PVCMCET). This state-of-the-art facility, located in San Fernando, Cebu, promises to enhance the region’s capability to monitor and respond to earthquake and…

[seaglassdinosaur]

Bro… the best day of their lives and the worst night they ever experienced happening back to back… pain and beauty being so closely interlinked. The push that day, night, and the outcome gave Sammie to pursue music. Sammie having nightmares for the rest of his life, well into his graying years, but never regretting the day he had at the Juke Joint.

Stack and Mary finally being able to be happy together, at the cost of the freedom of their spirits. Joy and community that can be found within dreadful circumstances. I Lied to You, a song about the conflict and separation between father and son that is transformed into communal connection. The song sung at the catalyst night, and that cements Sammie’s path as a musician. Pain that is turned into art that turns into freedom.

Delta Slim transitioning from a traumatic recollection into an improvised song as he mourns a dear friend who was lynched. That maybe in a better world art shouldn’t have to be made out of suffering, nor suffering transformed into art, but with the history that exists and the world we live in, what other choice is there?

[hope-for-the-planet]

I included some highlights from the article here, but I highly recommend reading this whole thing.

We hear so much about how wildfires that move into towns or cities devastate communities--but once the blazes have finally been extinguished the news usually moves on to the next crisis and we don't get to hear about how these communities and outside helpers rally together to rebuild afterwards. Including regrowing the trees and gardens that help provide shade and food security to neighborhoods.

From the article:

"The Altadena Seed Library, a network of seed exchange boxes, is leading the charge. Raj’s project began in 2021, with several little seed libraries stationed around the community. Seed libraries mimic regular libraries, but instead of books, people check out (and use) envelopes of seeds for free. Now, Raj and other volunteers are working on a game plan for regrowing the lawns, gardens, and urban green spaces that combat shade inequity and increase food sovereignty in their neighborhood — and looking to learn from other communities that have also seen their landscapes drastically altered by destructive wildfires. Donated seeds and tools are pouring in from locals and places around the country, as well as compost, pots, trees, and personal protective equipment for people cleaning up the hazardous waste leftover from burned homes and melted cars. “We’ve had a pretty overwhelming response,” Raj said. “People have been so, so generous.” Individual volunteers and organizations like Club Gay Gardens, a nonprofit in nearby Glendale, are helping sort the donated seeds. [...] Replanting efforts in Paradise, California, where the Camp Fire killed 85 people in 2018, and Lahaina, Hawai‘i, where a wildfire killed 102 people in 2023, offer inspiration as to what responsible reseeding can look like post-fire. Wildfire survivors from up and down the West Coast have already reached out to Raj, offering to help Altadena. “It’s so unfortunate to be bonded in that way,” Raj said. “It also feels really beautiful that those connections can grow out of something so tragic.” The Federal Emergency Management Agency helped test for soil toxicity in Paradise, eventually scraping the contaminated top layers away. But replanting efforts were left to residents. “None of this would have happened if it weren’t for these community groups that all came together,” said Jennifer Peterson, a Paradise local who saw her house, plus a seed library and two community gardens she worked on, destroyed. Peterson and other community members worked hard to safely reestablish old food sources. In 2020, several groups and 300 volunteers joined forces to rebuild — in one day — a nonprofit arts and culture center whose public gardens provide compost, seeds, and produce for free. Grant money allowed organizations like the Butte County Local Food Network to prepare 150 garden boxes and deliver them to people’s homes, complete with new soil and plants. Being part of efforts to regrow people’s food — and her front yard, which now teems with native wildflowers whose seeds survived the fire — has helped Peterson heal. “It was kind of like therapy for everybody,” she said.   In Lahaina, on Maui, where an estimated 150,000 trees burned, replanting efforts so far have focused on fruit trees that will eventually provide food and shade again, said Duane Sparkman, chair of the Maui County Arborist Committee and cofounder of Treecovery Hawaii, a nonprofit focused on replanting Lahaina.  So far, Treecovery Hawaii has raised half a million dollars to purchase trees at full price from local nurseries and give them to families who are rebuilding. The organization has established several hubs to grow more trees, and Sparkman said he’d like to buy a larger nursery space on central Maui. A detailed planting plan created by Maui County lays out what types of trees should get planted on the island, as well as the care they need.  Over 200 trees have been planted or are in pots on-site, ready to be put in the ground. That includes a mouthwatering array of fruit trees — mango, jackfruit, starfruit, avocado, citrus, and banana — fragrant plumeria and orchid trees, and native species like wiliwili, milo, koa, and lauhala trees. “Knowing that we’re going to be part of what’s eventually going to be the canopy for our grandchildren is immense for us,” Sparkman said."

[rhymeswithfart]

Collection of sonic characters

If you see this, please look here:

URGENT: Donate directly to Gaza municipality to provide water. 82% funded. Time remaining: 35 days. Please donate to provide clean, safe water for Gaza.

[entomolog-t]

Hi!

Just wanted to say that you do all the resting and getting better that you need, and i am sure we'll all be here waiting for you when you are ready to do so ❤️

Wishing you the best ❤️❤️❤️

[not-super-sonic]

Broken face 2018x... so angsty... such a bastard...

Also heres some sillies

[contemplatingoutlander]

States caught unprepared for Trump’s threats to FEMA

FEMA is canceling plans to award states grants to help prepare against future disasters. Federal funds given to states after disasters strike could also be in jeopardy.

Torrential rain fell on Eastern Kentucky in July 2022, turning creeks into rivers that roared through the valleys and hollows, wrecking hundreds of homes and killing 45 people. Since then, the state has been trapped in a cycle of seemingly never-ending disasters, exhausting storm-weary residents in impoverished small towns. “Our families are hurting and suffering, and our businesses are being hit and hit again,” said Kristin Walker Collins, chief executive of the nonprofit Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky.

The Trump administration is doing away with FEMA bit by bit. Right now they are ending the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program that has provided billions of dollars in grants to states

to repair levees, elevate flood-prone homes and shore up drinking water systems. The program was built on research showing it is many times less expensive to protect against future damage from natural disasters than to pay for repairs and rebuilding afterward.

A FEMA spokesperson gave this reason for why BRIC is ending:

“BRIC was yet another example of a wasteful and ineffective FEMA program,” she said in a statement. “It was more concerned with climate change than helping Americans effected by natural disasters.”

This is another example of how Trump's unconscionable war on anything to do with "climate change" is going to cost American lives and far more money repairing property damage than if Trump had just continued the BRIC proactive program of shoring up infrastructure to prevent unnecessary damage during extreme weather events.

That Trump wants to live in denial about climate change won't make it go away.

But regarding FEMA, Trump doesn't want to stop there:

The president has said he wants to eliminate FEMA and shift responsibility for disaster response to the states — which experts said are unprepared to respond to catastrophic disasters without federal assistance. [...] Some emergency management experts say the president’s proposal to shift the financial responsibility of responding to those disasters to states could prompt chaos in state capitals and city governments, forcing messy political fights about how to pay for disaster relief and fund preparedness offices.

It shouldn't be surprising, that two of the three top states for FEMA aid since 2003 are red states:

Among states, Louisiana ($22 billion), New York ($17.6 billion) and Florida ($13.6 billion) received the most in public assistance funds over the past two decades, mostly for damage caused by hurricanes, according to the analysis. [color emphasis added]

Red states could be in major trouble without FEMA, since GOP legislatures typically don't believe in raising taxes for needed services. Some of those states, like Wyoming, have such small populations that they might not be able to meet state disaster relief needs on their own, even if they raise taxes.

In the light of Trump and the GOP's determination to cut taxes for the obscenely wealthy, Trump's plans to cut back on FEMA are particularly cruel.

This is a gift 🎁 link, so you can read the article without a paywall.

[thechurchoftheatom]

A Sermon for February 26th: When the Sky Burns, Stay Inside

Brothers and Sisters in the Atom, our faith teaches us to look toward the future, to preserve knowledge, and to prepare not in fear, but in wisdom. Today, we focus on survival—on what to do in the unthinkable event of a nuclear detonation. This is not a message of panic, but of preparedness. Knowing what to do in the first hours after such an event could be the difference between life and death.

A Reading from Ready.gov: Nuclear Detonation Safety

"Get Inside. Stay Inside. Stay Tuned."

These are the three most important steps to remember. If a nuclear explosion occurs, your survival depends on quick action:

Get Inside: The greatest danger in the moments following a detonation is radioactive fallout. Seek shelter immediately, preferably in the center of a sturdy building, away from windows and exterior walls. Underground locations are best.

Stay Inside: Do not leave for at least 24 hours unless authorities instruct otherwise. Fallout radiation is most dangerous in the first few hours and will weaken over time.

Stay Tuned: Radio, emergency broadcasts, and official alerts will provide the best guidance. The internet and mobile networks may fail, but information will still be transmitted through radio signals.

Protecting Food, Water, and Medicine

Radiation exposure is invisible, but its dangers are real. Fallout consists of radioactive particles that settle onto surfaces, including the ground, roofs, and anything left outside. These particles emit radiation, which can be harmful if inhaled, ingested, or left in prolonged contact with the skin. This is why decontamination measures are critical.

Food already inside your home or in sealed containers is safe. The radiation from fallout cannot penetrate metal, glass, or plastic packaging, meaning that canned or bottled food and drinks remain uncontaminated. However, any fresh food that was outside or exposed to fallout should not be consumed.

Water from sealed bottles, a covered toilet tank, or a water heater is safest. If those are not available, tap water is still safer than dehydration. However, surface water, such as from lakes and streams, is likely to be contaminated and should be avoided unless properly treated.

Medicine should continue to be taken. If it was already inside, it is safe. If it was outside, wipe down the container before using it to remove any radioactive dust.

Why Wipe Down Surfaces?

Fallout particles are too small to see, but they settle on surfaces just as dust does. These particles continue to emit radiation and can transfer onto skin, food, or objects we touch. Wiping down surfaces with a damp cloth helps remove radioactive material and reduce exposure. After wiping, dispose of the cloth in a sealed bag away from living areas to further prevent contamination. Simple actions like this can greatly reduce the risk of radiation exposure in a sheltering situation.

A Tradition of Preparedness

This knowledge must be passed on, not just stored away for ourselves. The Church of the Atom is not merely a faith—it is a commitment to carrying knowledge into the future. Every time we learn, every time we prepare, we ensure that this wisdom will not be lost.

We do not know what the future holds. We cannot predict every crisis. But we can be ready. And in doing so, we honor the power of the Atom—not by fearing it, but by understanding it.

A Call to Action

This week, take a moment to prepare:

Read the full Ready.gov Nuclear Detonation Safety guide.

Ensure you have access to emergency supplies, including food, water, and a battery-powered radio.

Share this knowledge with someone who may not have it. Preparedness is a gift that can save lives.

Closing Words

Let us go forth with wisdom, carrying this knowledge with us. May we never need it, but should the day come when the sky burns, may we remember: Get Inside. Stay Inside. Stay Tuned.

Go forth and be radiant.

[beheamothscreamoth]

Quick question for the Touchstarved fandom!! As much as we love Ais calling us 'Sparrow,' I have to ask - if you had to decide, what other bird nickname do you think he would call you/your MC? :O

For example, Ais would my Unnamed MC Daniella 'bluebird,' while he'd call my Alchemist MC Edgar 'crow' (and another OC I'm planning, Shinju, 'woodpecker!')

[discursiverecursion]

Psst... Queer American fam...

A lot of us are in survival mode right now, and who knows how long that is going to last. An onslaught could begin the first day, or it could be relatively quiet until a storm breaks, so our background stress/anxiety levels are going to be high, and some of the effects of excess circulating cortisol include anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping, headaches, digestive problems, and problems with memory and focus.

It’s normal to be struggling right now.

It means you’re human.

I know this sounds bad, but I’m restating a thing I think many people already know, because the thing is, a common tactic of the Right is to put people in a stressful situation and then blame them for their response to it (I’ve seen this referred to in other contexts as “reactive trauma”). As queer folks and people being targeted, we might think we are immune to this, but it works more insidiously than that. It can tear us apart, and it plays out like the following:

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------

As violence towards our community escalates, they will start publically pointing at things “we are doing” that are “causing” the escalation. 

They will use this term “we”, because they don’t understand that we are not homogeneous.

Sometimes we ourselves, as individuals, will not be part of that “we”. 

It will be terrifying, in that moment, to have rights stripped away (or worse) without having any perceived control, and that lack of control will feel like it is due to the actions of another being blamed on you. 

DON’T FALL FOR IT THOUGH!

This is misdirection. They do not have to hurt us, even if we are loudly gay, even if we protest the ways they are hurting us already.

Please, please don’t let yourself get to a safe place and wonder why others aren’t hiding. You are allowed to keep yourself safe. In fact, I encourage it, but please remember that those of us fighting this thing publicly are not the enemy. We need your support and solidarity.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------

We are a big family with many different survival strategies:

We don't all have to utilize the same one

We don't have to stick with our original choice over time

We are not bound to only using one at a time

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I’m going to end this with a list of some survival strategies found in nature, because I'm definitely rambling and this was the thought I actually started typing this post with:

Do you recognize any of your own strategies in the list below?

Do you recognize any that are the opposite?

Can you hold that we are all in this together coping in our own ways, that we are not each others’ enemies?

Can you remember that "health" is a social construct, and that a strategy doesn't have to be the "best" one for it to be functional for the time being to keep someone alive?

I hope you can, because we will need each other to get through the coming years.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------

STRATEGIES:

Becoming a spore (more info) - Shutting down completely for a bit - Sleeping more - Building mental walls

Playing dead (more info) - Retreating from social life  - Retreating from social media - Missing work

Camouflage (more info) - Going back in the closet - Codeswitching - Becoming extremely quiet

Mimicry of a more dangerous creature (more info) - Being argumentative/loud - Being assertive - Presenting even more queerly

Nocturnality (more info) - Nocturnality - Avoiding people - Staying in a social bubble

Distraction (more info) - Drag - Hacking - Certain forms of protest

Pursuit-Deterrent Signals (more info) - Making oneself needed - Feigning compliance - Presenting in “stealth” mode

Mobbing (more info) - Protests - Taking down websites - Coworker solidarity to create workspace change

Staying in the middle of a group (more info) - Being in community support networks - Going to therapy - Getting to know your neighbors

Sounding an alarm (more info) - Being loud on social media - Being loud in the workplace - Naming the quiet parts out loud

[appeypie]

Used to love this manga as a kid….

[gennsoup]

People who give more than they get. Mothers who love their children, fathers who stay. Grandparents who babysit, even in a wheelchair. We create beauty out of scraps. Hold cars together with duct tape. Work jobs and sell beadwork for cash to 'have a little extra.' Make frybread even though we know it isn't good for the diabetes but because it's good for the spirit. Resilience is making decisions that benefit the whole instead of just the individual. It's getting up and putting one foot in front of the other, even when you don't want to. This is our resilience.

Marcie Rendon, Resilience

[rhymeswithfart]

Assorted drawings

If you see this, please also check out the Zaynab Project:

This is from Operation Olive Branch, it's a project to deliver winter clothes to children in the south of Gaza strip, they did a similar project for North Gaza a while back. Low on funds, $4,713 / $50,000. Please share and donate! Donations are tax deductible!