What would a nuclear blast look like in your town? [GRAPHIC]

In conversations about war it is hard for most Americans who have never been in war to envision anything other than the carnage of 9/11. Effects of a nuclear blast, from the smallest to the largest can be estimated using Alex Wellerstein’s NUKEMAP.

Below are three screenshots from sample maps. The key for the blast radius circles is as follows:
BRIGHT YELLOW–Fireball Radius-Maximum size of the nuclear fireball; relevance to lived effects depends on height of detonation.

RED–Air blast radius-20 psi overpressure; heavily built concrete buildings are severely damaged or demolished; fatalities approach 100%.

GREEN–Radiation radius-500 rem radiation dose; between 50% and 90% mortality from acute effects alone; dying takes between several hours and several weeks.

GRAY–Air blast radius-4.6 psi overpressure; most buildings collapse; injuries universal, fatalities widespread.

PALE ORANGE–Thermal radiation radius-Third-degree burns to all exposed skin; starts fires in flammable materials, contributes to firestorm if large enough.

Here is what a dirty bomb blast set at the Ryman Auditorum in Nashville would look like:

Here is a blast from a nuke equal to the largest in the current North Korean arsenal detonated on the National Mall:
North Korea nuclear blast National Mall Washington DC

Here is a blast equal to a suitcase nuke detonated in Tel Aviv, Israel:
Suitcase nuke Tel Aviv Israel

Use the link above to try it on your own hometown.

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About Me

Hi, I'm Marty Duren

I’m Marty Duren, a freelance writer, content creator, podcaster, and publisher in Nashville, TN. I guess that makes me an entrepreneur-of-all-trades. Formerly a social media strategist at a larger publisher, comms director at a religious nonprofit, and a pastor, Marty Duren Freelance Writing is the new business iteration of a decade-long side-hustle.

I host the Uncommontary Podcast which publishes weekly. Guests range from academics to authors to theologians to activists on subjects related to history, current events, and the impact of evangelicalism on American life. My voice is deep-fried giving rise to being labeled “a country Batman.” Find Uncommontary in your favorite podcast app.

Missional Press publishes books by Christian writers with the goal of impacting people with the good news of Jesus. 

I’m a longtime blogger at Kingdom in the Midst, where, over the course of many years, I’ve written a lot of words.

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