When there’s any talk of nuclear war heading your way, it’s a reasonable thing to wonder if you’ll be safe during the outfall. Well, some states are safer than others, depending on the intended target. There are many factors that play a role in the spreading of radiation. Taking into consideration that the most likely targets of a nuclear attack would be U.S silo fields, these states might be safer than others.
While no state can truly be safe during a nuclear war, there are a few safe guesses as to where the primary targets would be and how safe the states around them would be during this attack. Based on fallout patterns, strategic military targets, and radiation exposure risks, some U.S. states are better positioned to withstand immediate impacts and long-term fallout. Is your state on the list of states with the best survival odds?
20. Virginia
If you’re looking for a place where your chances are the best, Virginia is a great place to be. While some secondary targets are located within the state, fallout simulations ranked this state as one of the safest. The Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains, rolling hills, dense forests, and extensive river valleys are a great natural barrier against these attacks, giving residents the best chance of survival, especially in the Western region. The dense rock and rugged terrain all over the state can also absorb and deflect blast waves, which is an added bonus.
19. Washington D.C
Even though this state is home to the federal government and numerous national security and military institutions, they might not be one of the primary targets, making it a pretty safe place at first. The Cold War has also left quite a mark on the state, as there are multiple fallout shelters across the state.
During the 1950s and 1960s, hundreds of fallout shelters were constructed throughout D.C., some below ground and others within the reinforced cores of public buildings. These shelters were intended to shield occupants from radiation long enough for the fallout to decay to safer levels.
18. Indiana
While some government maps indicate that parts of Indiana could be affected by a large-scale nuclear exchange, the state is not considered a top-priority target zone overall. The state’s landscape gives it an additional barrier against any attacks as they have a mix of flat plains, rolling farmland, forests, and river valleys. These landscapes are a great natural barrier against blasts.
To top it all off, the state has fortified underground bunkers that were built during the Cold War to withstand significant nuclear blasts and can support residents autonomously for extended periods. While not everyone can access these bunkers, they still make for a great defense while protecting residents.
17. Vermont
Without any major targets and a smaller population than most, Vermont is one of the best places to be during a nuclear strike. The Green Mountains make excellent physical barriers against the blast effects of a nuclear detonation, as mountains dampen the direct radiation pulse from a nuclear blast, significantly reducing exposure for those taking shelter behind them.
Vermont’s strong sense of community, local food networks, and rural landscape may further enhance its resilience in the aftermath, but residents still need to prepare for indirect impacts.
16. Massachusetts
If you live in or close to this state, count your lucky stars because it’s been deemed one of the safest states to live in during a nuclear attack. While the state is home to Draper Labs in Cambridge and Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, which might be considered secondary targets, the chances are still low.
Despite these risks, the state’s landscape offers some natural protection in certain areas. The Berkshire Mountains, rolling hills, and dense forests offer shielding from blast waves and radioactive fallout, especially for residents who can seek shelter in valleys, wooded areas, or behind natural barriers.
15. Connecticut
Although this state is home to significant military and naval installations like the Electric Boat submarine facility and the Groton Submarine Base, fallout simulations suggest that these targets wouldn’t be first on the list for a nuclear attack, keeping this state pretty safe at first. This state has over 500,000 acres of forests, wetlands, and parklands that can help absorb and localize radioactive dust, potentially reducing fallout spread in certain regions.
14. Alabama
The state doesn’t have any major nuclear missile silos or large urban centers that would be considered primary targets in a first-strike scenario, which generally reduces its risk of direct nuclear attack. Along with the Appalachian Mountains, rolling hills, forests, and river valleys, this state has some pretty decent natural protection to give residents the upper hand.
The state’s moderate population density and abundance of rural areas make it easier for residents to find refuge away from likely fallout paths and to access essential resources.
13. Ohio
This state has quite a large population, but seeing as it doesn’t have any primary missile silos, they are safe from an initial attack, giving residents as safe as can be during a nuclear war. While the state may be home to potential secondary targets, fallout simulations, and analyses indicate that Ohio is among the inland states expected to experience lower levels of radiation exposure compared to the Midwest silo states.
The Appalachian Plateau in eastern and southeastern Ohio provides natural shelter through valleys and wooded terrain, which can help shield residents from blast waves and reduce the spread of radioactive dust.
12. Delaware
This state might not be one of the biggest, but it sure is one of the safest, thanks to its location far away from primary silos. The state is filled with wetlands and rural areas that could help dissipate fallout particles, especially in less populated southern regions. Delaware also has numerous state parks and wildlife refuges that serve as great temporary shelters while the worst blows over.
11. New Hampshire
This state is safely tucked away in New England, away from primary strike zones, making it a great place to be when a nuclear war breaks out. New Hampshire would most likely experience some of the lowest levels of radiation exposure in the country, typically between 0.001 and 0.5 grays (Gy), well below fatal thresholds.
The state also has some great rugged terrain that will be a natural buffer to any possible radiation spread. Residents in more remote or elevated regions may have the best survival odds in a more severe attack, as the landscape could help to localize and limit the impact of radioactive particles.
10. California
While California might be home to major targets like Los Angeles and San Francisco, the state’s large size and diverse geography, ranging from remote mountain regions to barely populated deserts, means that many areas would be less directly affected by initial nuclear strikes, especially compared to more densely targeted areas of the country.
California’s distance from primary missile silo targets means its projected radiation exposure would be significantly lower than the hardest-hit regions. The analysis estimates that California would likely face a cumulative radiation dose well below fatal thresholds in the initial days following an attack.
9. New York
This might be a state you would want to live in if there were ever an attack on silo fields. The state’s geographic distance from primary missile silo targets means it would likely experience only minimal radiation exposure. New York’s projected cumulative radiation dose is determined to remain well below life-threatening levels.
If the intended targets turn out to be major cities, these statistics can change drastically, and New York can quickly go from the safest to the worst place to be.
8. Florida
Wouldn’t it be great if there’s a nuclear war going on, and you could still lounge on the beach without a care in the world? This state’s considerable distance from primary strike zones means that projected radiation exposure in Florida would remain well below dangerous levels.
Rural and inland areas are relatively far from likely ground zeroes. They could avoid the worst initial blasts and fallout, particularly when strikes are concentrated in the Midwest and major metropolitan centers.
7. Maine
Studies and fallout projections consistently indicate that Maine would experience less direct impact from a nuclear strike. Maine, along with other states in New England, is projected to experience cumulative radiation doses between 0.001 and 0.5 grays (Gy), far less than the fatal levels expected in the Midwest.
The state’s relatively low population density and absence of large military installations make it less attractive as a target. At the same time, its extensive forests and rural landscapes provide natural buffers against the spread of fallout. Thanks to less congestion, the state also has the upper hand on emergency preparedness, giving it an even better chance of survival.
6. Tennessee
The distance from major targets will reduce the likelihood of direct blast effects and the highest levels of immediate fallout, making Tennessee one of the states projected to experience lower cumulative radiation doses in simulated strike scenarios. This state does have a nuclear power plant, making it a possible target, but if targets are limited to silo fields, this state should be one of the safest places to be.
Tennessee’s landscape also gives them a real advantage, especially along the Appalachian Mountains and rural expanses, which provide natural shelter and isolation.
5. Kentucky
There are some pretty great benefits to living in Kentucky, one of them being that you’re most probably safe from a nuclear attack aimed at silo fields. Fallout simulations and scientific studies suggest that Kentucky, while not entirely immune to fallout due to variable wind patterns, would generally experience less severe effects than states closer to the primary targets.
This state also has moderate population density, extensive rural areas, and access to natural resources like water and farmland, giving it an excellent chance of survival in the long and short term after the attacks.
4. Pennsylvania
This is a great place to be when news of nuclear attacks hits, as the state’s location in the northeastern U.S. places it far from the epicenters of the most probable initial attacks, which are expected to target military installations and silo clusters. Although they are far from initial attacks, the state has a few nuclear plants that might be seen as potential targets later.
Despite these concerns, the majority of Pennsylvania’s population would likely avoid the immediate devastation of a direct nuclear blast, and the state’s mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas offers a variety of sheltering options.
3. Michigan
If you find yourself anywhere near the Great Lakes state, you can count your blessings in the event of a nuclear attack. Michigan would likely experience much lower levels of radiation exposure compared to the direct path of fallout in the central plains. Even in more severe scenarios, while Michiganders might face health impacts from increased radiation, the state remains outside the zones of greatest danger, making it a comparatively favorable location for survival.
Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula are considered especially safe havens, far from major population centers and potential targets. However, people would still have to prepare for the initial fallout.
2. Maryland
In both average and severe-case scenarios, Maryland is projected to receive cumulative radiation doses between 0.001 and 2 grays (Gy), which are considered well below fatal thresholds and among the lowest in the country. Rural areas in western Maryland and the Eastern Shore will likely do better than the urban corridor between Baltimore and Washington.
1. Rhode Island
Last but not least, the only nuclear facility in Rhode Island is a small research reactor at the University of Rhode Island, which is considered safe and poses minimal risk compared to commercial power plants. While there might not be any safe areas in the U.S. as no one can fully predict where nuclear strikes might be, if the primary targets were silo fields, this state would be a good option.
While Rhode Island’s small size and distance from major military targets offer much protection from direct fallout, residents would still need to prepare for the indirect consequences and ensure access to shelter and supplies in the aftermath of a nuclear event.
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