Military

The Aftermath of a Nuclear Strike on Major US Cities

24/7 Wall St. Staff

Published: June 23, 2024 10:10 am

On June 19, 2024, scientists announced for the first time in 38 years that farmland around the Chernobyl nuclear reactor is safe once again for planting crops. In 1986, one of the four reactors at the Chernobyl power plant melted down, causing an explosion and fire that spread radioactive contamination in a radius of nearly 58,000 square miles. It’s taken nearly 40 years, but finally, contamination from the radiation has begun to recede. According to an article in New Scientist, over 80% of the territory that was surveyed could be safely used for agriculture.

24/7 Wall St. used data from Nukemap, a site that simulates the detonation of nuclear bombs to find out how a nuclear strike would affect 25 of the largest U.S. cities (by population.) To determine the effects, we simulated what would happen in two different scenarios. One in which a 100-kiloton warhead was detonated in the air over a metropolitan area, and the second in which an 800-kiloton warhead was detonated. We ordered the list by total population of the metro area, from smallest to largest. All data is from Nukemap, except for population data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The events from the Chernobyl accident were a chilling example of what could happen from the fallout of a nuclear strike. The devastation from a nuclear bomb would affect far more people, structures, and agricultural land than the site of the impact. As we have seen from Chernobyl, the negative effects linger for many years.

Recently, with tensions strained between Russia and NATO, a Harvard professor warned that the threat of nuclear war has not been this high since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Matthew Bunn, a professor of energy, national security, and foreign policy, said in an editorial for Science, “Dark clouds loom on the nuclear horizon, with threats from all directions.” Bunn identifies threats from Russia, China, North Korea, India, Pakistan, and Iran. (This is what a nuclear attack would do to the world.)

Why This Matters

Source: Sean Gallup / Getty Images

It’s hard to fully grasp the range of devastation that would occur from a nuclear strike. By looking at data from Nukemap, we can visualize the scale of the impact on places that are familiar to us. As Bunn stated in his editorial, “Governments need help from scientists and engineers both in understanding the dangers that nuclear weapons continue to pose and in finding paths to reduce them.”

Here is how a nuclear attack would affect America’s largest cities:

Downtown Portland, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

Source: Visitor7 / Wikimedia Commons

• Population: 2,472,774
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 107,350 deaths, 182,800 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 548,573 (22%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 240,190 deaths, 474,100 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.5 million (59%)

Downtown, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 2,510,211
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 69,890 deaths, 162,070 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 491,361 (20%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 194,060 deaths, 420,670 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.2 million (50%)

Downtown Orlando, Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 2,560,260
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 58,540 deaths, 138,270 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 435,029 (17%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 155,090 deaths, 391,120 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.1 million (45%)

Center City, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 2,595,027
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 68,490 deaths, 108,490 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 347,989 (13%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 146,880 deaths, 279,030 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 852,169 (33%)

Historic District, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 2,800,427
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 140,730 deaths, 247,980 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 739,488 (26%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 313,370 deaths, 522,010 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.5 million (54%)

Downtown, St. Louis, MO-IL

Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 2,806,349
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 63,050 deaths, 124,530 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 378,534 (13%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 159,820 deaths, 320,680 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 978,691 (35%)

Capitol Hill, Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO

Source: milehightraveler / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 2,928,437
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 113,760 deaths, 209,240 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 627,216 (21%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 269,820 deaths, 540,620 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.7 million (56%)

Tampa Downtown, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

Source: ampueroleonardo / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

• Population: 3,152,928
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 55,960 deaths, 110,320 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 342,282 (11%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 138,770 deaths, 294,970 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 891,404 (28%)

Core, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Source: Dreamframer / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 3,323,970
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 88,100 deaths, 206,740 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 629,171 (19%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 250,540 deaths, 495,530 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.5 million (44%)

Downtown West, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

Source: Gian Lorenzo Ferretti Photography / E+ via Getty Images

• Population: 3,605,450
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 145,590 deaths, 220,450 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 675,421 (19%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 288,030 deaths, 537,220 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.6 million (45%)

Downtown Seattle, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Source: aiisha5 / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 3,928,498
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 130,440 deaths, 181,260 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 560,743 (14%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 261,270 deaths, 420,810 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.3 million (34%)

Downtown Detroit, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images

• Population: 4,317,384
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 89,020 deaths, 181,160 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 549,298 (13%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 218,290 deaths, 489,470 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.5 million (34%)

Magnolia Center, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

Source: MattGush / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 4,600,396
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 40,410 deaths, 115,390 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 344,217 (7%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 126,940 deaths, 354,960 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.1 million (24%)

Mission District, San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA

Source: bluejayphoto / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 4,709,220
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 176,180 deaths, 392,400 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 985,716 (21%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 487,210 deaths, 534,470 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.6 million (33%)

Beacon Hill, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Source: Vladone / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 4,854,808
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 261,610 deaths, 424,160 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 1.2 million (25%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 569,630 deaths, 708,080 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 2.1 million (44%)

Central City, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ

Source: 4kodiak / E+ via Getty Images

• Population: 4,860,338
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 66,930 deaths, 174,490 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 552,746 (11%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 193,210 deaths, 516,190 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.6 million (32%)

Georgia State Capitol, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA

Source: Boarding1Now / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

• Population: 5,947,008
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 102,380 deaths, 163,780 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 491,158 (8%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 218,450 deaths, 403,460 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.2 million (21%)

Center City, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 6,092,403
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 241,270 deaths, 392,350 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 1.2 million (19%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 518,820 deaths, 836,230 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 2.5 million (41%)

Downtown Miami, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL

Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 6,129,858
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 91,260 deaths, 185,890 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 558,871 (9%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 227,670 deaths, 481,990 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.5 million (24%)

White House, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Source: Matt Anderson / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 6,250,309
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 233,810 deaths, 383,110 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 1.1 million (18%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 510,110 deaths, 837,240 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 2.5 million (40%)

Downtown Houston, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX

Source: GJGK Photography / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 6,979,613
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 123,380 deaths, 228,280 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 723,217 (10%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 298,880 deaths, 619,920 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.9 million (27%)

Downtown Dallas, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX

Source: TrongNguyen / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 7,451,858
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 87,590 deaths, 185,740 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 547,875 (7%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 220,500 deaths, 514,260 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 1.6 million (21%)

Chicago Loop, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

Source: JaySi / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 9,478,801
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 324,080 deaths, 391,670 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 1.3 million (13%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 612,010 deaths, 951,550 injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 3.0 million (32%)

Financial District, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Source: DutcherAerials / E+ via Getty Images

• Population: 13,211,027
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 195,770 deaths, 510,880 injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 1.5 million (12%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 582,880 deaths, 1.5 million injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 4.4 million (33%)

Manhattan, Soho, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA

Source: TomasSereda / iStock via Getty Images

• Population: 19,261,570
• Casualties from 100 kt detonation: 583,160 deaths, 1.3 million injuries
• Population within blast range of 102.3 sq. miles: 3.8 million (20%)
• Casualties from 800 kt detonation: 1.6 million deaths, 2.9 million injuries
• Population within blast range of 409.3 sq. miles: 8.6 million (45%)