[Serious] Nuclear war survival guide.

[Jehanne]

In most cases, the ideal use of a nuclear weapon for maximum destruction involves an air burst, which has a lot less fall out, but a wider radius of destruction, depending on the altitude. People who don't live near a military base, missile silo, or major city would likely be in no immediate danger from the burst or fallout (unless the air currents have it out for them). It could be impossible to sustain a nationwide government in the aftermath of 10% or more of the population dying and massive infrastructure damage in a very short timeframe.

On a purely historical note which would be apples to oranges with respect to a nuclear war concerns The Plague in Late Medieval Europe; in places where upwards of half of the population had died, government and society did not break down but continued to function.

But, again, apples & oranges.