With the growing nuclear arsenal of rogue nations, the question has become: What cities would be targeted first? Many Americans are terrified of the prospect of a nuclear war, and the recent Cuban missile crisis has only increased those fears. Stock prices in the U.S. have plummeted as a result, and the U.S. isn’t alone in this fear. Major cities, key infrastructure, and military targets may be the next targets.
New York City
If a nuclear bomb was to drop on New York City, it would create a colossal pressure wave that would travel faster than sound. It would generate winds of up to 500 miles per hour, demolish the weakest buildings, and rip walls from stronger structures. The explosion would also cause a severe amount of radiation to be released. The fallout would travel northeast, covering most of Central and North Jersey. The debris would spread to New York City and beyond, destroying buildings and causing extensive damage. It would also spread across the Delaware River, reaching Upper Freehold. Rutgers University would be reduced to ash, as well.
A nuclear attack would leave a massive plume of radioactive dust that would sweep up the Eastern Seaboard, contaminating everything it touched. The most dangerous part of the plume would stretch for 20 miles from the explosion, reaching as far as New Rochelle. After a few days, the danger zone would shrink to about one mile in length, dissipating over the next week.
A full-scale thermonuclear exchange would involve thousands of warheads aimed at cities and infrastructure. The damage caused by this would dwarf 9/11. If New York City was nuked first, multiple warheads with yields of over 100 times Fat Man would hit the city.
Survivors in a megaton scenario would have no way of escaping the nuclear blast. This would leave residents with no shelter and no working infrastructure. Fortunately, a tool called NUKEMAP can simulate the aftermath of such a disaster. It also offers a way to see how the city would fare in the event of a nuclear attack.
If the bomb was dropped on New York City, most residents would be stranded in their homes. The video shows a woman delivering the news that the “big one” is about to hit. She tells New Yorkers to stay indoors, and to avoid driving. However, the video was criticized by experts, including a former head of the city’s radiological emergency response unit.
After the nuclear bomb fell, a massive fireball and shock wave would cause massive damage. The fireball would destroy most of the buildings in Manhattan. In addition to the destruction caused by the bomb, people would be exposed to high levels of thermal radiation.
Los Angeles
In a nuclear war, Los Angeles would likely be the first city struck. In addition to the calamity of the initial explosion, radioactive fallout would also be a grave threat. Additionally, the electromagnetic pulse from the explosion would knock out electronic systems, causing massive pile-ups on freeways. Meanwhile, millions of Angelenos would have to rush for food, water, and gasoline, leading to mass displacement. At the same time, the resulting panic would trigger fear that the region would be attacked again by nuclear warheads.
One notable international security expert, Hal Kempfer, is encouraging California health officials and emergency responders to prepare for a nuclear war. His message comes just a day after North Korea threatened to reduce the United States to ashes and darkness by launching a ballistic missile over Japan. In any case, he says, it’s time to prepare.
Washington, D.C.
The streets of Washington, DC are designed in a grid of wide north-south and east-west trending streets, creating vistas and open public spaces. These streets are intersected by landscaped squares and circles, creating interesting streetscapes. The city is known for its national monuments, including the Lincoln Memorial.
The city is run by an elected mayor and city council. The council is composed of 13 members, with five members elected at-large. The council conducts its work through special and standing committees. It also has a school board with both elected and appointed members. There are also 37 Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, which give citizens direct access to city government. These neighborhood commissions’ recommendations are given great weight in the D.C. council’s budget.
The District’s delegate in the US House of Representatives can sit on committees, introduce legislation, and participate in legislative debates, but cannot vote on bills in the full House. In addition, Washington, DC has no representation in the Senate. In addition, the residents of the District have no voice in federal appointments and confirmation process.
In addition to the museums, the city has a thriving arts scene. It is a major national hub for the arts, hosting the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, and the Washington Ballet. There are also notable music clubs, such as U Street’s Blue Note. The city also has its own native music genre, go-go, which blends live sets with relentless dance rhythms. The city also is a prominent center for punk and indie rock.
Although the city is a desirable destination for tourists, there are also areas with high crime rates. Some areas are notorious for drug and gang activity, while others are more safe and have lower rates of crime. Generally, the more affluent neighborhoods of the Northwest and Southwest are safer than others.
The capital of the United States, Washington, DC is situated on the Potomac River. This river serves as the main transshipment point between water and land. The city is bordered to the south and the north by Maryland and Virginia.
San Francisco
The possibility that San Francisco would be nuked first is a terrifying thought. North Korea recently tested a long-range missile that could carry a nuclear bomb capable of taking out downtown San Francisco. Its nuclear capability is estimated at two kilotons. The Bay Area is an innovation hub that sits within ICBM range of East Asia. In the coming weeks and months, an ICBM strike could put San Francisco at risk.
The blast would be so powerful that it would cause a mile-wide fireball and gale-force winds. The resulting debris would be hotter than the surface of the sun and would instantly incinerate tens of thousands of people. This is especially dangerous, as some of the downtown neighborhoods have more than 70,000 residents per square mile. The city would be incinerated by the blast, and transportation infrastructure would collapse. In addition, radioactive fallout would spread across the state, causing widespread illness and death.
The panel has identified six major metro areas as high-risk targets. The most likely targets are New York City, northern New Jersey, Chicago, Washington, Houston, and Los Angeles. However, other cities could also be targeted, including San Francisco, based on their size, location, and population.
The United States is not prepared for a nuclear disaster. An air missile from another nation, a terrorist attack, or accidental detonation could cause havoc on the nation. Redlener says that the US has not prepared for any of these scenarios. According to the Mailman School of Public Health, there are six major metro areas in America with the highest risk of a nuclear attack. But the two cities that are best prepared are New York and Los Angeles.
North Korea is close to perfecting a nuclear missile that could target the Bay Area. A North Korean missile can be launched from a missile silo near Pyongyang or from a submarine in the middle of the Pacific. It would take around thirty minutes for the missile to reach California. The missile would arc briefly through the low-orbit zone, detaching its rocket propulsion system from its warhead payload, before plunging through the upper atmosphere at five or six miles per second.
