New START expired: a calm shelter-in-place checklist for families

Connecticut Public reports that New START, the treaty that limited deployed US and Russian nuclear forces, lapsed in early February 2026.

What happened

The lapse ended caps on deployed warheads on missiles, bombers and submarines. The lapse came only a few months after President Trump said the US would resume nuclear weapons testing. The Pentagon said the two countries agreed to restore high-level military-to-military dialogue that had been suspended in 2021. Arms-control experts do not expect an immediate arms race, though that could change over time.

What it means for your home

This news is about treaty limits between two countries. The basics below help with most emergencies, whatever the cause, so a calm plan is the best use of your time.

What to do this week

• Talk through a family plan: where to meet, and who calls whom.
• Store a few days of drinking water and shelf-stable food.
• Keep a battery or hand-crank radio with spare batteries, so you can hear official alerts.
• If officials ever advise sheltering in place, pick the interior room your family would use.
• Keep copies of important papers and a written list of medicines in one folder. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about any refills you may need.

For a step-by-step family plan, read Family emergency plan.