Nuclear war is a haunting possibility that many dread. Despite hopes for its avoidance, escalating tensions between nuclear-armed nations like the US and Russia underline the persistent threat. In such a grim scenario, which US cities would likely become targets, and could there be surprising risks lurking in unexpected places like Kentucky?
The Six Primary Targets
Irwin Redlener, a disaster preparedness expert from Columbia University, highlights six major US cities as prime targets: New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington DC. These cities boast critical infrastructure, including financial hubs, governmental centers, and energy facilities, making them attractive to adversaries aiming to maximize destruction and chaos.
Other Potential Targets
Beyond these primary targets, a circulated map based on various data sources suggests additional areas could be in the crosshairs. States like Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming, hosting intercontinental ballistic missile silos and military bases, could be strategic targets. Moreover, states such as Alabama, Arizona, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, with active nuclear plants, might also face risk.
The Unexpected Kentucky City
Surprisingly, Lexington, Kentucky emerges as an unexpected potential target. Despite being the state’s second-largest city and known for landmarks like the University of Kentucky and the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington harbors a darker facet. It hosts the Blue Grass Army Depot, a facility storing chemical weapons and conventional munitions, including mustard gas, sarin, and VX nerve agent. Though efforts to destroy these weapons are underway, completion isn’t expected until 2023, leaving Lexington vulnerable to a secondary chemical disaster if a nuclear conflict were to occur.
The Conclusion
While the specific outcomes of a nuclear war are unpredictable, certain areas are deemed more vulnerable based on plausible scenarios and available data. From major urban centers to rural locales housing nuclear assets, the risk spectrum is wide. Diplomacy, cooperation, and disarmament remain the best defenses against nuclear catastrophe. Nonetheless, preparedness and awareness are crucial, ensuring individuals know which areas to avoid or evacuate in the event of such a calamity.