4 U.S. Cities That Would Be Hit Hard in a Nuclear Attack

According to more recent surveys, a significant portion of Americans are scared about the threat of a nuclear attack. For example, a poll made by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research in March 2022 showed us that almost half of the entire adult population of America is concerned that Russia is directly targeting the USA.

In a survey form released by Chapman University in 2024, 55.8% of those who responded said that they are afraid of Russia using nuclear weapons, and 55% reported that they are afraid of North Korea for the same exact reason.

As you can see very clearly from all of this data, around half of the American population is scared of a nuclear attack. However, where you are located in the country also matters because some areas are more prone to nuclear danger than others.

Read on and find out if you are living in one of the safe areas or if you are directly exposed to the potential danger! Keep yourself safe!

Seattle, WA

Unfortunately, if you are in Seattle, we don’t have good news for you! The city is close to Naval Base Kitsap and the Jim Creek Naval Radio Station, which are both important military strategic points.

Naval Base Kitsap can be found 30 miles away from Seattle, and a big part of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear arsenal, including Trident ballistic missile submarines, can be found here. Then the Jim Creek Naval Radio Station is 46 miles away from the city, and this is the biggest communication hub for the Pacific submarines fleet.

Considering this, it’s easy to understand that Seattle would be a central target if a nuclear attack were to occur. Also, Seattle’s large population, almost 8,787 residents per square mile, will complicate the evacuation plans.

Hopefully, the Seattle Office of Emergency Management collaborates well with the community, and the city is prepared for most types of disasters, including a nuclear attack.

Chicago, IL

The whole Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan area is a hugely populated area with approximately 12,060 residents per square mile, and this makes it the third most populated area in the US.

Also, Chicago is very close to four nuclear power plants, and the nearest of them all is 20 miles away. This makes this city a real danger in case of a nuclear attack. If these facilities were to be targeted, you could imagine the disaster that could occur.

O’Hare International Airport is another important point that can make this place a target. Why? This is one of the busiest airports in the world, and if anything bad happens, international air traffic will be affected. Then we need to mention that Chicago holds the third-highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) among U.S. metropolitan areas, following New York and Los Angeles. If anything happens to this city, it is clear that the national economy will have to suffer.

What we are trying to say is that Chicago has a big strategic significance, is highly populated, and is very close to critical infrastructure. Combine all that, and you get the perfect target for a nuclear attack.

Honolulu, HI

Once again, this is a densely populated urban area with 5,797 individuals per square mile, ranking it seventh among major U.S. cities. Also, Honolulu is on an island, and this is an interesting geographical feature when it comes to nuclear attacks.

The presence of the United States Navy’s Very Low Frequency (VLF) transmitter in Lualualei, roughly 30 miles from Honolulu, boosts the city’s tactical importance and makes it a greater danger for those living there.

According to a simulation for a nuclear detonation, an estimated 20,920 fatalities and 56,710 injuries were registered for the Honolulu Urban Area. These are big numbers, and it’s only expected from its residents to be concerned about the future.

O’ahu, the island where we find Honolulu, is also the place where we can find the historic Pearl Harbor. Besides that, we need to mention that there are many more military installations that make this place risky in case disaster strikes.

Hopefully, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency has developed guidelines that are meant to help the residents if anything bad happens.

New York, NY

This is for sure the most populated area in the whole country, with 29,303 residents per square mile. Considering that there are so many individuals, it’s easy to understand why evacuation in case of an emergency could be an almost impossible task.

If a nuclear attack were to happen, the simulation would estimate approximately 1.7 million fatalities and over 3 million injuries, which is a catastrophic scenario. Not to mention that, besides the lost lives, the economy would be affected because this is a global financial hub and housing institutions like Wall Street. This role of an important economic factor is also what makes it a target.

How New York has a reputation for being the site of major terrorist attacks, such as the events of September 11, 2001. This resulted in the four-day closing of the New York Stock Exchange, its longest closure since 1933. The only good part of this is that these experiences have encouraged the city to improve its disaster preparedness procedures.

In case a nuclear attack happens you might want to have this in your home: LifeStraw Personal Water Filter for Hiking, Camping, Travel, and Emergency Preparedness

You should also read: Top 10 WORST States in the USA for Quality of Life