After the Big One: Nuclear War on the Prairies

This film deals straightforwardly with the consequences of a nuclear attack for the Canadian Prairies. The Prairies are singled out because of their proximity to huge stockpiles of intercontinental ballistic missiles located in North Dakota. Scenes include a visit to a missile base and to an emergency government bunker in Manitoba. A doctor, a farmer and a civil defence coordinator provide different perspectives on nuclear war. Although the film focuses on one region, it provides a model for people everywhere who would like to know more about their own situation but don't know what questions to ask.

Directed by Bob Lower - 1983 | 23 min

[ShirudoSystems]

I laughed at how even then they were noting how "old" the B52 is. Meanwhile, 40 years after this video was made, it's still our primary bomber.

[fen]

Fun Fact: The diesel generator at many facilities would only run for 48 hours before requiring an external fuel truck to be parked on site for an additional week of operating time. Someone finally noticed during the Y2K scare when it was clarified that in a grid-down situation, expecting ground deliveries of fuel is insane.

[stevenvanheel]

On a happier note, I love these old school videos because it is really neat to see all of the old cars and trucks cruising around. It’s truly amazing how times have changed.

[eldutcho]

It’s an old story but think worth repeating.
January 13 2018 my wife & I were in Hawaii. We are early risers so we had been dressed for a while when the state issued an alert that an nuclear attack was imminent.
Obviously a little shocked by the news, we hugged then my wife went to the bar fridge, grabbed a 6 pack and said, “let’s go the beach & watch fireworks.”
Needless to say 40 minutes later... nothing.
Except I fell deeper in-love with her that morning.

[DEADMANRIDING]

I met a woman from Texas who moved to Winnipeg in 75 because she thought it would be safer if the SHTF. When I explained to her we live on the front line of WW3, she was blown away, figuratively. My advice to her was just quit worrying, enjoy life here while you can.

[mike]

I'm a Canadian, 60 years old and have seen tons of NFB films but not this one. Fascinating.

[nathanhannah]

As a weather specialist in the US Navy, at the same time this video was made, one of the drills I had to do was plot fallout maps. Seeing these charts and knowing what the potential death count was, at 18 years old, i came to the conclusion that I wanted to be at ground zero for any real blast.
Once the Soviet Union collapsed, I thought the immanent threat of nuclear war was over. How wrong I was.

[bélalugrisi]

“The nuclear arms race is like two sworn enemies standing waist deep in gasoline, one with three matches, the other with five.” ― Carl Sagan

[ashgonza]

That part about the dust being the people, cars and buildings sucked up into the mushroom clouds and dispersing as fallout was chilling 💀

[DanLaFollette]

I was stationed at Grand Forks in the early 80s and worked on B52 bombers. This documentary really hits the reality on the head for that time period. If we launched our bombers that were filled with nuclear cruise missiles we all knew we only had a few minutes to live afterwards. There was no place to hide.

[katem]

I grew up in Edmonton and remember being made to watch this in school - I think it was grade 5ish, and it scared the heck out of me then. I remember a lot of kids crying afterwards. The teacher responded by telling us that it was better to die in the initial strike - which was just icing. Feels about the same watching it now.

[baconsnot]

That synth outro is amazing. The relaxing vibe just says, "don't worry about it, there is nothing you can do anyways"

[tonyv]

I worked around nuclear weapons when I was in the military. In civilian life I worked in a Federal Center full of alphabet organizations and learned about my government's response to a DEFCON 1 situation. Because of all I learned, I moved to within a couple miles of a primary military target. I figured it would be far better to vanish in a cloud of atoms and molecules than to die a slow death from radiation or starvation. I no longer fear nuclear war. I live every day to the best I can. Thank you for sharing this video.

[biggiebagel]

"So it can't happen here, eh?" Is the most Canadian warning ever lol

[Macadune]

I’ve been inside the part of that bunker here in Manitoba that are not being used and are effectively abandoned. It is legitimately the closest thing to the Backrooms as you can get.

[bendavis]

A reminder to all of us who grew up in this era, and still live in it.Its was a scary time. If you are younger, the results will still be the same. Be aware. This problem has not gone away.

[Airborne]

As a child in the 70s, I heard the scary air raid sirens being tested on the last Thursday of every month, learned the duck and cover drills and fully expected to die before growing up. Then, as an Army paratrooper in 1980….I was trained and expected to fight the Soviet bear. Then…… the Cold War ended and I couldn’t believe that the threat of a nuclear Holocaust was over. Well…….. I’m now 60 years old and just bought a Geiger counter and radiation pills. Who knew that the horror movie had a sequel? God help us all

[jewelhome]

Which surviving doctor / nurse / firefighter / power plant operator etc is going to show up Monday morning after a nuclear war? We’d be on our own. Stone Age. For years.

[TommyT]

5:00 Wow, that really says a lot. Even after nuclear war in the 80s you could see a doctor faster than you can now.

[islandwills]

This film really brings back memories from my childhood, Those of us who grew up during the cold war seem to have a very different idea of how scary and dangerous nuclear brinkmanship really is.