Q&A for How to Understand the DEFCON Scale

No, DEFCON 1 is used in the event of nuclear war or if EMERGCON is declared by NAT (which implies nuclear war).

DEFCON has an infrequently updated website, but it does not show all information, so for real time status updates, no.

The Defcon system was implemented after the end of WW2, so the Allies did not have this type of system during the war and therefore did not use it. However, the Allied countries "Declared War" on the Axis countries. "Declaring War" is an official act of a government and, within the United States, it is only done so by an act of Congress. Once a nation has declared that it is at war, many laws and rules come in to play that change how it works and how it functions.

Yes. America has been to Defcon 2, but only once during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

There is no Defcon 6; however, if the subcategories of each Defcon were made separate, there would be more than 6.

DEFCON 4. This is the first level of alertness beyond peacetime DEFCON 5. You can look up the definition of DEFCON 4, but it is basically a raised level of alertness for the military and reactionary forces because there is intelligence of a potential threat.

If you were in the U.S., it's theorized you have a half hour. However, I'd recommend getting there with supplies ready ASAP.

Nobody can predict exactly what could happen, but while it is very unlikely that any nation will be completely wiped out, severe devastation could certainly be expected.

On a national level, Defcon 5, but on a global level, Defcon 4. The Americas have not been in much conflict with each other as much as the African and European countries.

Defcon 1 means imminent nuclear devastation.

The UK is expected to receive a much shorter warning period than the U.S - in the Cold War it was commonly known as the "four-minute warning." In reality, submarine-launched missiles would begin to hit their targets in as little as 30 seconds of any warning. And as the U.K. has the highest number of nuclear targets per square mile of any nation on Earth, it is less a question of adequate time to get to shelter, rather it is if adequate shelter can be found. EMERGCON would probably see the U.K. effectively destroyed.

DEFCON 3 if they keep the fight conventional. When nuclear weapons gets introduced, then it'll elevate to DEFCON 2, then 1 if necessary.

No, he can't do it on his own.

Only the President has the complete authority to raise or lower DEFCON levels.

Not necessarily, although they would be most likely to be used at this level. For example, the Cuban Missile Crisis (when nuclear war was a very real possibility) was a DEFCON 2 event.

DEFCON is an acronym for Defense Readiness condition. Con stands for condition.