Expert map identifies four safest US states if a nuclear war happens

With World War III becoming a very real possibility as fighting between the U.S., Israel, and Iran enters yet another day, the continued airstrikes have prompted widespread disconcertion regarding safety in the States if Iran were to begin an assault on American shores.

With several states believed to house numerous nuclear warheads, including Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota, there has understandably been growing concern amongst those living in the country in the event of an Iranian attack, as many look to areas that are least likely to be impacted.

Which areas in the U.S. are likely to be the safest?

According to data from NUKEMAP, parts of western Texas, as well as large areas of Nevada, Michigan, and Wisconsin, could remain “notably in the clear,” according to analysis by Mira Safety. However, the company cautioned that “with that said, the latter two would likely become uninhabitable in the coming nuclear winter.”

As the most densely populated metropolitan area in the United States, New York City would likely be a major target in the event of a nuclear conflict. With such a large concentration of people living there, an attack could be devastating and potentially endanger millions of residents, according to reports from Express US.

A map showing the American cities most exposed during a potential nuclear strike, compiled using information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), identifies key civilian, military, and infrastructure targets. Areas not highlighted in blue, yellow, or red on the map are considered relatively safer zones in the country.

Expert advice if nuclear detonations occur in the U.S.

Guidance from the American Red Cross says that even if a nuclear detonation occurs outside your immediate area, people would likely need to remain sheltered for at least 24 hours unless officials advise otherwise. In some cases, staying indoors could be necessary for as long as a month.

The tool NUKEMAP, created by historian Alex Wellerstein, explains that it is “intended as an educational resource. It should not be used for emergency planning or emergency response purposes where lives and health might be on the line. It is not a perfect simulation.”

The site also notes: “The NUKEMAP is aimed at helping people visualize nuclear weapons on terms they can make sense of - helping them to get a sense of the scale of the bombs. By allowing people to use arbitrarily picked geographical locations, I hope that people will come to understand what a nuclear weapon would do to places they are familiar with, and how the different sizes of nuclear weapons change the results.”

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