If it's a true concern, the answer is probably iodine tablets and a respirator. Increases your chances of survival (if you would survive the first wave). But,

If it's a true concern, the answer is probably iodine tablets and a respirator. Increases your chances of survival (if you would survive the first wave). But, what more can we do? It's an interesting question to think about. Nuclear war would probably be the result of a significant escalation, and in all likelihood will involve many nukes back-and-forth, rather than a single nuke hitting a single city. With that in mind, I'll give it a go. I'm assuming your goal is to survive the war, and be able to continue living afterwards. Step 1: A location likely to survive the war. You need to pick a location that allows you to survive the initial wave of nukes, then provides sufficient shelter for the resulting radioactive fall-out, and then finally allows to you rebuild some resemblance of living, once you're able to go outside again. This probably eliminates all countries that have nukes, or are part of alliances that have nukes. You'll either get a direct hit, or will likely be close to the fall-out. Maybe French Polynesia is a good place. It is in the southern hemisphere (vs US, Russia, EU in the north), very remote, has limited military value. Step 2: Shelter. Although you've picked a location unlikely to get nuked, it's still good to be in a sturdy shelter, underground (maybe even under water), that also holds your supplies. Assuming no direct hits, I'd go for a concrete basement with an extra thick roof. Step 3: Stocking up to survive the aftermath of the war. You'll need various supplies: (a) water (for days, assuming you have a way to get new fresh water, e.g. a well or small-scale desalination), (b) food (months, maybe years, assuming global supply chains no longer exist), (c) basic defensive weapons (when others find out you have supplies), (d) materials to survive the increased radiation outside (iodine tablets, respirators), (e) medicine (antibiotics, painkillers, etc.) Step 4: Building a new life: seeds, fertiliser, building materials that are hard to get in the post-war world, fishing equipment, a boat, etc Bonus items: Communication (FM/AM antenna on a weather balloon?), Transport (Sailing yachts with solar panels and desalination equipment can go a long way, might even be a good shelter if you find the right place to sail), pooling up with a group of people so that you can maintain a small 'society'.