Expect Fallout If A Nuclear Strike Hits Maine, New Hampshire, or Massachusetts
If you grew up in the 1970s or 1980s, you probably remember the constant fear that there would be a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union.
When the Soviet Union split up in the early 1990s, many people felt that we were finally safe from a nuclear war.
While the fall of the USSR did mean that we were safe from a war with the Soviet Union, it did not mean that we were safe from nuclear war. While it made the chances of a large-scale nuclear war less likely, some would say the chances of a limited nuclear war became more likely.
According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, nine nations (officially) have nuclear weapons. They are the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel, France, China, and North Korea. Given the current state of the world, three of those nations pose a potential threat to the United States and its allies.
Hopefully, we will never see a day when we have a leader in power who is mad enough to think that using nuclear weapons would be a good idea.
But, what if it did happen?
Effects of a Nuclear Weapon Detonation
What happens when a nuclear bomb explodes?
First, there is a bright flash of light and a blast of heat that is many times hotter than the surface of the sun. This intense heat melts and burns anything near ground zero. It also lights fires.
After the initial blast of radiation and heat comes a powerful shockwave that topples buildings and tosses around smaller objects (such as cars) like they were toys.
Those who are far enough away from ground zero to survive the initial blast will need to worry about the fallout. Made of minute particles of now irradiated debris, this dust rains down over a large area, spreading deadly radiation.
Live Science gives a more in-depth explanation of what happens
How Safe Would New England Be in a Nuclear War?
Because we know that the trolls will immediately say our goal is to scare people, we need to say that it is not our intent to scare people. However, we do want to inform people.
A recent article in The Mirror referenced a map showing potential nuclear targets across the nation. The map, which was put together by Halcyon Maps and based on data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, also shows where nuclear fallout could drift and where there is a high potential for nuclear detonation-caused wildfires.
Unfortunately for us, there are several potential targets in New England. These include the VLF array (shore-to-sub radio) in Cutler (Maine), Bath Iron Works (Maine), Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (Maine/New Hampshire), and Boston.
The map shows that much of Massachusetts and a significant portion of New Hampshire would face significant fallout. Maine would have to deal with some fallout, but it would likely be localized to the areas around targets.
You can see the full map HERE