The 15 US States Most Likely to Endure a Nuclear Conflict

Buzzline

A recent study that merges Scientific American's nuclear fallout predictions with military target analysis reveals which US states have the greatest likelihood of surviving a significant nuclear conflict. States that are located far from missile silos, key military bases, and densely populated areas rank highest — including Hawaii (distant from major targets but vulnerable to warheads launched from the Pacific), Maine, Vermont, West Virginia, Idaho, and regions of the upper Midwest. States such as Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana, and Nebraska — which host the nation's missile silo fields — are deemed the most perilous, despite their low population density, due to the potential targeting by Russian first-strikes.

Transcript

00:00If nuclear war starts, where you live may be the most important decision you never made.

00:05Scientific American's nuclear fallout models, combined with military target analysis,

00:10reveal a stark picture. Not all American states face the same risk,

00:15and some offer dramatically better survival odds than others.

00:19Here's the reality. Russia's first strike targeting focuses on places where America

00:24keeps its nuclear weapons. That means the most dangerous states in nuclear war are actually

00:30some of the least populated—Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana, Nebraska—the missile silo

00:37states. Also immediately targeted—Washington, D.C., Virginia, Northern Virginia military complexes,

00:45and the Pentagon. The cities of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston face targeting

00:52as economic and population centers in a second wave. The states offering the best survival

00:57probability are those far from all of the above, with low population density and no military strategic

01:04value. Maine, Vermont, West Virginia, and parts of Idaho, and the upper Midwest consistently score

01:12highest in survival analysis. Hawaii presents a paradox—remote from primary targets, but

01:18exposed to submarine-launched warheads from the Pacific. Knowing where you stand is not paranoia.

01:24It is preparation. And in a world 85 seconds from midnight, preparation is rational.

01:30It is rational.

01:30The state of Indiana

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