Where you live and nuclear war.

[LiberatedUSA]

Not meant to be a panicky thread, just an analysis of what you think your chances of living through the initial nuke drops in a hypothetical WW3.

I don’t really know where an enemy’s nukes are pointed, but I would think major cities; which means anyone living in flyover or “redneck” country would be the safest. Safest meaning, you survived to see the New Stone Age. Not like you could order delivery at that point. Calling it living is a bit of a stretch as well.

That would be kind of ironic, the red empty red states being the safest to be sitting in during an event like that.

Or maybe I am way off and there would be so many nukes that it would not matter where you reside. City or on a farm in the middle of nowhere hours away from a major city not really making much of a difference.

[Straw Man]

1. As a child of the Cold War ...

... I've always been told that the safest place would be New Zealand.

[Chainfire]

24. I always thought the best place to be was ground zero.

I wouldn't want to attempt to survive the aftermath of a nuclear war.

[nini]

28. That's how I feel

take me out when the bomb lands and let me go.

[csziggy]

41. I agree with that assessment

I read "Alas, Babylon" far too young - it was set not far from where I grew up and the thought of living in such a bleak future was very depressing.

[Sherman A1]

2. During the height of the Cold War my plans were to just get a lawn chair out

And head to the backyard. We were too close to McDonnell-Douglas here in St. Louis to really think about trying to do much else. It’s about the same now.

[JanMichael]

53. Lived in Wichita for half of the '70s

http://www.siloworld.net/381st%20SMW/381stSMW.htm

We were always told that it really didn't matter if the nuke started following we would be vaporized. So that was fun.

[PCIntern]

3. "The Living would envy the Dead"

That’s right….

[dwayneb]

56. In the blast radius of Wright Patterson

Airforce Base, there is little doubt that we'd be goners in the early going here.

Point is there are plenty of locations in Red States that are targets. There will be more than enough nukes to go around.

Most folks don't know that Russia has more nukes than USA.

Russia has 5977, USA has 5438, and about 130o scattered among the other nuclear powers.


https://fas.org/issues/nuclear-weapons/status-world-nuclear-forces/

[Buckeyeblue]

57. I grew up about a half hour from WPAB

When I was about 10 my dad sat me down with a map. He drew a wide circle around Wright Pat. He said everyone inside the circle will be dead pretty quick. Of course we were inside the circle.

I don't remember worrying about it too much as a kid.

Less now. I don't think anyone will ever launch because it'll be the last thing that they do.

[multigraincracker]

4. At my age, just make it quick.

[kozar]

10. Memories!

I grew up in ND, thanks for the memory flash!



Koz and LilBit

[mnhtnbb]

5. Well, if I hadn't gotten myself out of the US

already--and I now doubt that I will unless when I go to Bonaire in April I just stay--I hope I go in a flash. I have no interest in trying to survive nuclear holocaust in our country of more guns than people.

[panader0]

6. Well, I'm pretty sure the nearby Ft Huachuca is a target.

It's an important communications base and I'm about 15 or so miles away. So for me, a nuclear war
would just be a quick flash. Yeehaw!

[LiberatedUSA]

7. The thing that would make me wish I was dead the most...

…assuming I lived to see the leftover, is humorous. I would not have done well for most of human history, because I fear a world where I don’t have toilet paper to wipe with and just have to walk around dirty after going.

Honestly; that is it. The thought of no easy ass wiping makes me cringe the most.

[MiHale]

8. Don't worry about it...

People tend to poop less when they have nothing to eat. Nothing in…nothing out. Hope this helps a little.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. If you are a direct hit, you are the lucky one

Sure beats months of civil strife and radiation poisoning. I mean seriously if more than 4 or 5 of them go off, mankind is doomed.

[Strelnikov_]

26. People really have no idea, do they.

There was a recent study that found that 20% of the worlds population would die from starvation following a limited exchange between India and Pakistan, due to a reduction in crop production in the US midwest, and other grain belts, from global cooling.

We live in a complex industrial society.

[Owl]

80. Powerful movie

[Polybius]

70. I'd say 50-100

We used to test dozens per year in the 50's, so 4 or 5 won't destroy all of mankind.

[blogslug]

11. Munitions are made in "flyover country"

As for nuclear war, there will be no safe place.

[CentralMass]

17. That is pretty much it. From memory from reading up on it long ago there

are some critical steps to surviving the initial blast and immediate aftermath.
1. Don't inhale or ingest radioactive material.
- So if you were out and a nuclear event ocurred where the Shockwave didn't kill you put on mask (to filter out particulate
matter and don't drink or eat anything that may have been contaminated.

2. Get to a shelter as fast as possible
- Minimizing how much radiation you are exposed to is key to your survival. Public radiation shelter or a basement. From memory feet of concrete or dirt such as a basement with dirt cover at least 3 side.
This will mimize radiation exposure to your body that would give you radiation poisoning and a quick a miserable death. Radiation levels drop to a somewhat safer level after a number of days.
3. Take potassium iodide pills to protect your thyroid..
- potassium iodide protects your thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine protecting it from radiation damage. The thyroid gland is the part of the body that is most sensitive to radioactive iodine.

4. A source of non contaminated food and water.
- This would have had to have been stored in advance in the shelter.

5. Sanitary concerns. At minimum the trash bag lined 5 gallon bucket with a toilet seat.

6. A Geiger counter and dosiometer to determine when radiation levels are safe enough for you to venture out and test food/water and to see how much radiation you have been exposed to.

In the end you would probably wish that you hadn't survived the blast. Having one round in the glock 9mm might be a better option.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

12. Not good

My chances are not good. During the Cold War, the Detroit area was targeted with multiple ICBM's due to how many factories are in the area. The whole "Arsenal of Democracy" thing. The number directed our way is probably lower now, but there are still plenty of factories here so I'm sure there would still be a few headed in my direction.

One thing to point out, major population centers aren't actually priority targets. Some will definitely get hit, likely multiple times, but that's due to what is in the city, not the city itself. Military targets, especially our own silos, sub pens, and air bases are the highest priority. Communication and early warning radar as well. And ports, harbors, and large airports. The whole idea is to try to destroy as many of the other guys nukes before he can launch a retaliatory strike, make them blind, hamper their communication/coordination, and prevent them from being able to move troops and equipment around. That last part was especially important for the Soviets as they wanted to prevent us from reinforcing Europe.

Also, some places would get it multiple times. The Soviets knew their missiles weren't as accurate as ours. Nowadays, they have to worry about our missile defense. For important stuff, they won't just target it with a single warhead. In the past it would be because they couldn't guarantee a direct hit. Nowadays they have to worry that the missile could be intercepted by our missile defense system. Now I know our missile defense system doesn't have a great track record in working. Doesn't matter. Its a possibility so the Russians have to account for it.

[Norbert]

13. My chances aren't good

We live relatively near GE Aviation. They make jet engines.

[LittleWoman]

14. On the Beach

You might want to watch/read On the Beach--movie based on the book by Nevil Shute. I imagine there still is a video somewhere or you could read the book. As I remember the movie was fairly faithful to the book.

[BlackSkimmer]

21. Yes, great book. Good movie too.

It terrified me as a child in the 60s.

[XanaDUer2]

52. Scared me too nt

[Texaswitchy]

64. One depressing movie.

The book is even more depressing.

[John Ludi]

15. I live in SW WI

in a rural area...but not all that far from Ft. McCoy...so I'm fucked, basically.

But I always figured that when it all went down my last bullet would be for me. Beats radiation poisoning.

[inthewind21]

40. You're fucked

No matter where you live.

[Walleye]

16. I was 12 years old during the missile crisis in Cuba

We lived 5 miles from Dover AF base, a huge strategic facility. I sometimes looked up in that direction and imagined the mushroom cloud. Yesterday walking around where I live now, about 3 miles from Joe Biden‘s house, I suddenly imagined a mushroom cloud over this neighborhood, sickening

[we can do it]

31. Wow. I'm about 3 miles from his RB home.

Lots of Dover AFB flyovers.

[Walleye]

34. Don't know why I thought of that. It's such a quiet neighborhood I couldn't keep that image out

Seems that Rehoboth would be an even easier target. Hoping none of that ever comes close to happening. Nothing we can do about it, but it stirs up old fears

[HAB911]

18. Tampa would become a field of molten glass

Been nice knowing you all.

[Generic Brad]

19. I'd be a goner

I live near a major military base. If full on nuclear war breaks out we are acutely aware we would have no chance.

[Nay]

29. We all live near DC, so we're goners, too. But I'm used to that. As a child, I

lived near a big Air Force Base in Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis -- we expected to be wiped out any minute.

[Walleye]

35. Yep, I knew that feeling. The grown-ups were scared so I was scared

And now, living in Northern Delaware, I often see the presidential motorcade go by out my back window, not too far away. His church is about 500 yards from here. Up until this latest threat, I have thought of this as an area easy to protect. Now I’m starting to get a new feeling in the pit in my stomach

[mahatmakanejeeves]

20. Great Falls, Montana; Mountain Home, Idaho; Ellsworth, South Dakota; Minot, North Dakota; ... NT

[Strelnikov_]

22. . . . along with everything south and east of Kansas City (Whiteman) n/t

[dameatball]

23. North Central Florida now, so who knows? Jax area would be gone, not sure about Gainesville area.

It depends on what magnitude of weapons hit. I assume that Florida would be pretty much toast no matter where one lives.
I grew up about 15 miles from MacDill AFB in Tampa, which was SAC headquarters at the time if I remember correctly. We did the duck and cover drills in elementary school but I think most of us knew it was just to make us feel better.

[mnhtnbb]

25. Since I replied to this thread earlier this morning

I was nauseated after getting out of the shower. Realized it was the acute anxiety brought on by thinking about nuclear war. Nausea is gone, but I have that just below the surface of full out jittery sensation.

Damn Putin. Damn Trump. Damn Republicans. Two YEARS of Covid--and it ain't over, yet--and now the very real threat of nuclear war from a fucking bully? Those two BOTH have talked about the idea of why have nukes if you aren't going to use them?

Damn, damn, damn.

[Nay]

32. Funny, I wasn't able to sleep much at all last night -- I bet it's anxiety over

this goddamn Ukraine stuff.

[Walleye]

36. This is creating a sort of critical mass in my anxiety levels as well

[Nay]

69. "Critical mass" is a good way of putting it. One thing on top of another, then

another thing, then along comes that thing -- jeez. I sure wish I'd never had a kid. The poor guy. If it was just me, well, I could handle that better.

[Best_man23]

27. I'm in the shadow of the National Capital

If they're stupid enough to press The Button and I have enough notice, I'll take my wife and our kitties and we'll all go out to the screened porch. I'll open up a bottle of our favorite bourbon, pour a drink, light up a cigar, and wait for the flash.

[nini]

30. As a kid I was taught getting under my desk would save me

[Walleye]

37. We were out in the hall putting our hands behind our necks like it was World War I

[csziggy]

42. Yep, here, too - In Central Florida during the Cuban Missle Crisis

Just like this:

For those of us who were in school then, this movie is great.

[nini]

43. Awesome lol

I even knew it was pointless as a little kid.

[Wounded Bear]

33. I'm in a target zone...just South of Seattle.

Puget Sound is the best salt water port in the Pacific Northwest. Several bases in the area, including USAF and Naval bases, and sub pens.

Yeah, I'm toast.

[Trailrider1951]

50. Me too, Wounded Bear

I'm down here near Orting. I haven't been this worried about Thermonuclear war since the Cuban Missile Crisis. What was that song? Oh yeah, "We'll all fry together when we fry".

[Iggo]

38. I spent my childhood worried about this.

Duck and Cover bullshit.

No more.

[relayerbob]

39. Zero. As an Air Force brat from the 60s

I long ago decided if the nukes are incoming, I’ll go out in the street so I get vaporized. Living in the aftermath would be, well, less than pleasant.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

72. Same. I remember standing in an Air Force base in GA, ...

... wondering how long it would take nuclear missiles to get here from Cuba. I figured an Air Force base would be high on the target priorities.

We'd have enough time to bend over and kiss our asses goodbye.

[Demsrule86]

44. Not really as there are military bases and missile silos in red states. Please stop trying

to scare people. There is not going to be a nuclear war.

[BlackSkimmer]

47. Thank you.

This war has really brought out…something.

[Celerity]

63. +1

[Wingus Dingus]

45. I'm toast.

[RobinA]

46. I Live

halfway between DC and NYC. I used to worry about this stuff.

[WarGamer]

48. smack dab in between LA and a Naval Base... I'd be toast. Rapidly.

[Iggo]

51. Lol...yep.

The missiles start flying, I’m plugging in and turning it up to 11.

[BannonsLiver]

49. Taft, CA is the safest place in the United States if nuclear war breaks out.

It’s because of the winds.

[electric_blue68]

54. Hey...the #2 Target in The USA! NYC'r. Lived through The Cold War...

The monthly Siren Drills were terriffying bc of course the they were so LOUD! (besides the implications) And much of the time I was in school...

we had one right on the rooftop! Omg!

[Jspur]

55. I live in Raleigh, NC and I think my area would be

targeted since after Silicon Valley, Boston, Seattle it is 4th when it comes to the tech industry, and it is big for medical research development.

[electric_blue68]

58. I remember the movie "The Day After", and ...

it was terrifying seeing a mid western city's people looking up, and watching the missles from their
near byish silos arcing up into the sky heading towards the Soviet Union!




I do believe WWIII will probably not happen.

[peggysue2]

59. When I was a kid . . .

the corridor between NYC and DC was referred to as Nuke Alley. Any and all places in-between were considered scorched and done.

Right now, I'm living outside the Philadelphia city limits. So, we're back in the 'alley' once more.

However, when we lived in TN these last 20 years, we lived within 8-10 miles of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a leading nuclear power and neutron research facility, another ripe target.

Either way, we're crispy critters. The only bright light in all this (no pun intended) is our family and friends all live in our current area.

So if it were to happen? We're in it together.

Weirdly enough, just today my husband said: If the bombs were to ever fly, I'd walk towards it. No way would I want to survive a nuclear apocalypse. For myself? I'd want to be with my kids and grand baby.

The red states, the Trump&Putinhumpers? They can own that grim future, have it all to themselves.

[EX500rider]

60. Do you live near a military target?

Russian's unlikely to go with countervalue (cities) over counterforce (military targets), it just invites counter strikes against Russian cities. I live near MacDill myself...after the flash I should have about 50 seconds to find a manhole cover to open and dive down...lol

[LuckyCharms]

61. Unless it is a very limited range small nuke,

I'd be dead in a nanosecond where I live.

[Swede]

62. Nuclear missle silos are spread across the midwest. Military bases too.

Now where is safe.

[tosh]

65. VERY rural area for me...

but surrounded by large military bases.

I'm 60 miles (less as the crow flies) from a major army base, but also there are 4 large air bases almost forming a semi-circle around me at 100-240 mile range with the Gulf of Mexico filling in the other half of the circle.

A flight path passes right above my roof, commercial and military. A lot of copter traffic whenever something is going on.

It can be rather unsettling under nearly normal circumstances but no, I don't feel a safe distance from a nuclear strike.

[Texaswitchy]

66. Spent the Cuban Missile Crisis in Houston on my Grandparents farm.

The farm was located between Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.

My parents took us to the farm just to get us away from the TV.

We would have been fried.

I spent the last three days of the crisis mostly flying kites.

I am now retired in the Hill country.


Sort of close to Austin.

I do not think I want to survive anyway.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

67. I have never lived anywhere that wouldn't be gone in the first hour of nuke war

BTW, not all of the empty redness is safe. That's where many of the missile silos are.

[Emile]

68. I live approximately 40 miles from an old nerve gas ammunition plant.

They say all the nerve gas has been destroyed and the ammunition plant has been shut down for years. Who knows? It still might be a target.

[Kaleva]

71. Live in a very rural area. Fallout would be a concern for 72 hrs

[VGNonly]

73. "I don't know what weapons

will be used in WW-III, but WW-IV will be fought with rocks and sticks"

Albert Einstein

[irisblue]

74. Ohio people- 'Conceptual Nuclear Weapon Target Map of Ohio, created by FEMA Sept 1990'.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ohio/comments/s47n1d/conceptual_nuclear_weapon_target_map_of_ohio/

Me & the cats will be atoms.

[maveric]

75. We're in San Diego. A major military site.

Ground zero.

[onethatcares]

76. we're about 12 miles from MacDill AFB

CentCom if I'm not mistaken.

our asses are grassess if the manure hits the whirling blades.

[VGNonly]

77. A major target

Sault St. Marie, Michigan and Ontario. Not only the Soo Locks, Algoma is the 2nd largest steel mill in Canada.

[inanna]

78. I live near major oil refineries.

We are (apparently) also a target.

[Stinky The Clown]

79. Close to Washington DC. Closer to the NSA complex.

Less that Ironman distance to DC, less than marathon distance to NSA.

I would expect an air burst over either one would do it.