Last Updated: May 1, 2026 | MIRA Safety | 14 min read
In January of 2026, Russian Professor Sergei Karaganov was giving an interview to commentator Tucker Carlson when he dropped a bomb that may change the face of the planet. Well connected to the Kremlin, Karaganov enlightened Tucker to the fact that should Europe continue to support Ukraine that the opening salvo of wider war would be to nuke both the U.K. and Germany. He went to clarify that Russia would not try to fight the entire might of Europe and taking out Europe's two strongest powers on the first day would be a priority. This is the landscape in which we find ourselves in 2026 and citizens around the world would do well to assess and monitor their individual risk. As for those in the United States, we're going to do our best to help you to that end. Here's our annual update on nuclear attack maps, key targets, and fallout risks.
Understanding Military, Infrastructure, and Civilian Nuclear Targets in the U.S. Nuclear Attack Map of New York State Nuclear Attack Map of California Nuclear Attack Map of Texas Plan A: Nuclear Weapon Test Simulations Nuclear Fallout Map: Where Radiation Would Spread After an Attack Nuclear Blast Map: Understanding Damage Zones by Weapon Yield How to Survive a Nuclear Strike in 2026: Your Complete Plan What to Do 48 Hours Later After a Nuclear Strike in New York State What to Do 48 Hours After a Nuclear Strike in California What to Do 48 Hours After a Nuclear Strike in Texas Develop a Survival Plan That Is Right for Your FamilyTable of Contents
Understanding Military, Infrastructure, and Civilian Nuclear Targets in the U.S.
The key to understanding your particular risk as it relates to a nuclear strike is understanding your proximity to unique target types. In the case of total nuclear war using the worst nuclear weapons imaginable, survival in a nuclear exchange seems unthinkable. However, in a limited nuclear exchange, it is likely that the enemy would go after military targets in the hopes of reducing the United States' ability to respond with their own nuclear weapons. For example, America's fleet of B-2 stealth bombers is exclusively stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in rural Missouri. If you live near this base you would do well to understand that you are certain to be in the first round of strikes.
Next one can consider if there are near any key critical infrastructure that could be easily targeted in an expanded round of strikes. For instance, taking out the Port of Houston would cripple the nation's ability to export oil. Washington D.C. is the hub of civilian leadership.
Nuclear reactors would make excellent targets in that it would take aim at the power grid while simultaneously creating an ongoing nuclear disaster that would have to be addressed.
Finally, if the war escalated to the point of mutually assured destruction and mass casualties became the primary objective, one just has to consider the population of major U.S. cities. A nuclear strike in the heart of Los Angeles would be thought to kill over 500,000 immediately with millions dying from the fallout in the ensuing days. If you are anywhere near these key targets, you can use our guide on how far away you need to be to survive a nuclear blast to assist in your preparations. To help assess your individual risk factors, we'll run through the key U.S. states of New York, California, and Texas as a guide for assessing your own locations.
Nuclear Attack Map of New York State
Primary nuclear threats to the United States include Russia and China. China currently maintains a nuclear capacity of 500 warheads and is expected to exceed 1,000 by 2030.
Meanwhile, Russia boasts the world's largest nuclear arsenal with over 5,500 warheads. With that many nuclear weapons to go around, it is not plausible that New York would emerge unscathed. The primary military and civilian targets are as follows.
New York City
A strike on New York City would not be just about killing millions of civilians as described above. New York City serves as the financial center of the United States. Crippling this city would simultaneously cripple the economy of the United States making any military response all the more difficult. Meanwhile, Manhattan itself has a population density of 70,000 people per square mile. It is simply too rich of a target to turn down.
A nuclear strike in the heart of New York City would be catastrophic. For the purposes of highlighting the possibility of survival, we will consider one single 300 kt warhead. A strike in Times Square would be thought to kill over 1.2 million people almost instantaneously, if not in the hours to come. Another two million would suffer catastrophic injuries as the iconic landmark would be unrecognizable. Bridges and tunnels would be largely inoperable and fires would break out as far south as the financial district and as far north as Harlem. Survival prospects would be grim in New York City. The thermal radiation would extend all the way to New Jersey and because escape off the island would be difficult, New Yorkers that survived the blast would find themselves inundated with a lethal dose of radiation. Their only hope would be that they have a ready supply of potassium iodine pills on hand. Hospitals would be overwhelmed if they functioned at all.
Fort Drum
Home to the 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum is the largest military installation in the State of New York. Located in Jefferson County, it is home to over 19,000 soldiers along with 20,000 military families and civilian employees. The low population density of Jefferson County would mitigate the casualty count, but the loss of the 10th Mountain Division would be a blow for the United States military.
A similar 300 kt strike on Fort Drum would kill an estimated 10,000 with another 15,000 seriously injured. One can easily contrast the impact of a strike on rural Fort Drum from that of highly populated New York City. Unfortunately, a strike on the base would render the 10th Mountain Division out of the fight.
Considering a Russian ICBM could take as little as 20 minutes to reach the base with a sub based missile arriving less than 10, it is unlikely the soldiers would have time to shelter. Radioactive fallout would begin to flow to the northeast reaching Canada.
Lake Ontario Nuclear Power Plants
The shores of Lake Ontario in Upper New York State are home to three nuclear power plants. Those are the Nine Mile Nuclear Station, Nine Mile Point Nuclear Generating Station, and the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant. Nine Mile and Nine Mile Point are located in Oswego, NY while the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant is located outside of Rochester. A strike here would not only exacerbate the nuclear crisis but significantly reduce New York State's ability to regain power after a strike. It wouldn't matter which power plant was struck, the casualties would be in the tens of thousands. The real danger would be radiation that has been unleashed from the power plants. In a nuclear strike, the radiation is at its worst 24 to 48 hours after the strike.
In the case of the Lake Ontario Power Plants, the radiation would not cease until the nuclear fuel was contained. Given that the United States has just endured nuclear war, repairing and containing these sites wouldn't be feasible. The areas around these plants would likely become uninhabitable for our lifetime.
Nuclear Attack Map of California
Stretching over 770 miles from North to South, the State of California has plenty of room for individuals to survive a nuclear incident and rebuild. Certainly a strike on Los Angeles would kill millions, but citizens in other parts of the state may not be affected. Unfortunately for Californians, the state is full of rich targets that would be hard for any enemy to pass up. Here are a few of the key targets that would be prioritized during early rounds of strikes.
San Diego
A nuclear attack on San Diego would serve a dual military and civilian purpose. The civilian casualties would number in the hundreds of thousands and the military impact of losing Naval Base San Diego would be substantial. San Diego is also home to additional military sites as well as the West Coast recruit training center of the United States Marine Corps along with the training facilities for Navy SEALs in Coronado. A strike here would devastate the U.S. military's ability to respond in the Pacific.
A strike on the naval facilities in San Diego would bring an estimated 200,000 casualties in the immediate blast with hundreds of thousands more in the days to come. It would also be a devastating blow to the U.S. Naval capacity in the Pacific. The fallout would drive with the winds from West to East covering any likely means of escape with deadly radiation. Assuming Camp Pendleton was also targeted, heading North wouldn't be a viable option. Those furthest away from the port of San Diego and other military facilities would have the best chance of survival.
Camp Pendleton
Home to the 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton is nestled halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles. The military significance of Camp Pendleton would be significant enough to warrant its own nuclear strike. The casualty count wouldn't be as high as a direct strike on the city as Camp Pendleton is a large sprawling base.
However, Camp Pendleton is also home to the decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). This plant was shut down in 2013 after a small leak of radioactive steam was detected and still maintains nuclear waste on site. It also sits along the key I-5 corridor running the full length of the West Coast.
San Onofre remains a credible radiological target despite its 2013 shutdown. Roughly 3.6 million pounds of spent nuclear fuel sit in dry-cask storage on-site, approximately 100 feet from the Pacific shoreline. A successful strike on the storage pad would not trigger a reactor meltdown, but it could disperse high-activity fission products across coastal Southern California and contaminate prevailing onshore wind paths into Orange County and inland San Diego County.
Camp Pendleton is home to over 40,000 Marines and if you add families and civilian employees to the mix, the base can host 80,000 people on any given day. What Camp Pendleton has going for it is the sprawling nature of its 125,000 acres. It is unlikely that one nuclear explosion would be enough to eliminate all personnel on the base. A strike would largely focus on the most heavily populated parts of the base leaving some of the surrounding barracks that are more spread out to respond to the crisis.
Los Angeles
The port of Los Angeles is the largest and busiest port in the United States. In addition to themassive civilian casualties, a strike here would wreak economic devastation upon the country. Surrounded by mountains to the North and East, the citizens of Los Angeles would essentially find themselves in a flaming fishbowl with no easy avenue of escape.
Los Angeles County is home to over 10 million residents with the combined strategic area of surrounding counties reaching north of 18 million. A single nuclear strike in the heart of the city is thought to kill over 500,000 individuals immediately with another million dying soon thereafter. Traffic on a good day in L.A. makes escaping the city difficult and in the event of a nuclear strike, the roads and congestion would be impassable. It would also bring travel from Northern California and Southern California to a halt. All travel would have to take place east of the San Gabriel Mountains.
San Francisco
The Bay Area is home to over 7 million people and a strike here would be for the purpose of maximizing civilian casualties and bringing economic devastation to the area. The port here is not quite as large as the one in Los Angeles, but a nuclear attack would still render the port inoperable for the foreseeable future.
Fortunately, most major U.S. military installations in and around San Francisco were closed in the late 90s. With San Diego and Honolulu serving as the primary hubs for the Pacific fleet, San Francisco has taken a back seat, though its ports frequently host military vessels. It would still make for a primary target as seeing the Golden Gate Bridge amongst the backdrop of a nuclear mushroom cloud would send chills down the spines of the American public.
Nuclear Attack Map of Texas
They say everything is larger in Texas and unfortunately for Texans, that includes the threat of a nuclear incident in the Lone Star State. Home to some of the largest military bases in the U.S., Texas would surely be on the target list of a major nuclear power. Home to heavily populated cities like Dallas and Houston, the casualty rate of a nuclear strike would be enormous. What Texas does have going for it is vast geography and a population that prides itself on self-reliance. Here are a few of the key nuclear targets in Texas.
Fort Hood (now officially Fort Cavazos)
Fort Hood (now officially Fort Cavazos) is one of the largest US military installations in the world. Home to III Armored Corps and the 1st Cavalry Division, it makes for a ripe target for any surprise nuclear attack. It would take a Russian ICBM approximately 20 to 30 minutes to reach Fort Cavazos. Meanwhile, it would take a sub based nuke just 10 minutes to strike its target. Wiping out the entirety of Fort Cavazos within 10 minutes would be too rich of a target to pass up. It is most certainly on the strike list.
Fort Cavazos is more rurally located which lowers the casualty count, but of little comfort to the people of Killeen, Texas. Chosen as a strategic military target, the objective would be accomplished when the warhead wiped out the III Armored Corps. A greater concern for civilians would be that the radioactive fallout would likely drift towards Waco and the heavily populated city of Dallas. If Dallas were a target itself, the fallout would be
the least of their concerns. However, if Dallas escaped the target list, the fallout would still kill countless in Dallas for those that were unprepared. Citizens of Dallas take notice, in the event of nuclear war you are in the fallout zone of a strike on Fort Cavazos.
Fort Bliss
Outside of El Paso, this base is home to the 1st Armored Division. The largest base by land mass at 1.12 million acres, the entirety of this base would fare better against a singular nuclear strike. However, a great deal of that base is large training areas and the consolidated primary facilities are sure to be a primary target.
With Fort Bliss nestled directly next to the city of El Paso with its population of nearly 700,000, a strike here would have both civilian and military implications. A strike here could see over 60,000 immediate casualties and over 300,000 injured. The Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez would not fare well either. Meanwhile, the winds would likely carry the fallout northeast into New Mexico.
Dyess Air Force Base
Outside of Abilene, Texas, Dyess is a major US strategic bomber base hosting B-1B Lancer bombers and the 7th Bomb Wing. While it is known to play a nuclear role in the past, the United States keeps the location of its strategic nuclear forces a secret. However, in that light, a foreign enemy would be likely to suspect nuclear weapons are still present. A 10-minute sub based nuke would arrive at its target before all or any of the bombers had a chance to take off. If the nuclear enemy were taking no chances, they would strike Dyess early in the campaign.
Port of Houston
The port of Houston is the largest in Texas and one of the largest in the US by tonnage. Most importantly, it is a major hub for crude oil and petroleum products. A strike here could cripple the US ability to bring in oil from offshore rigs and certainly hamper any long-term military response. A nuclear strike on the City or Port of Houston would be devastating for the United States. With a population of 2.3 million, the casualties would be staggering. Assuming the primary target was the port and not the city itself, casualties could be minimized as the Port of Houston is 20 miles away from the city center. Immediate casualties would number in the tens of thousands.
Those working in the port that wouldn't have to worry much about survival as they are unlikely to endure the initial strike. Those in the suburbs southeast of Houston would have a better chance at survival depending on the yield of the warhead used. The fireball radius would stretch over a mile with the heavy blast radius stretching out over 2 miles. The casualty rate in this radius is expected to be nearly 100%. The radioactive fallout would flow to the northeast heading towards the cities of Beaumont and Port Arthur. Meanwhile, Galveston Bay would be inundated with radiation likely flowing out into the Gulf of America.
Plan A: Nuclear Weapon Test Simulations
(Simulation of a U.S.–Russia nuclear conflict projects over 90 million casualties within the first few hours.)
Thankfully, there is no lack of information available to us when attempting to understand the impact of a nuclear strike. This subject has been studied in depth since the Manhattan Project. Plan A is a 2019 simulation from Princeton's Science and Global Security Program that models how a limited tactical nuclear exchange between NATO and Russia could escalate into all-out nuclear war. The published results project approximately 34.1 million immediate deaths and 57.4 million injuries in the opening phase of the exchange. That totals more than 91.5 million casualties within the first few hours, and those figures do not include second-wave retaliatory strikes, secondary fires, or longer-term fallout fatalities. Another great tool is NUKEMAP which allows you to run simulations using your exact location and the size of warheads used.This is why if we wrote an article identifying every key target it would take a month just to read it. Rather, we think it is a better use of your time to guide you on how to identify your unique threat and location.
Nuclear Fallout Map: Where Radiation Would Spread After an Attack
Understanding where nuclear weapons would land is only half the equation. The other half arguably the more important half for anyone who doesn't live next to a military installation is understanding where the fallout would go. The blast kills people in the immediate radius. The fallout is what determines survival for tens of millions of Americans who are nowhere near the explosion. Nuclear fallout is radioactive debris vaporized material from the weapon and the ground that is lofted into the atmosphere and carried by wind before settling back down. The distribution of fallout from any specific detonation depends on three variables: the size of the weapon, the height of the detonation, and the prevailing wind patterns at the time of the strike.
How Fallout Disperses
A nuclear weapon detonated at altitude an air burst, designed to maximize blast damage produces less local ground contamination than a surface burst but still lofts radioactive material into the atmosphere that settles downwind. The general pattern from US nuclear detonation modeling shows:
• Highest fallout concentration: in a roughly elliptical zone extending downwind from the detonation point, typically 10–200 miles depending on weapon yield and wind speed
• Medium fallout zone: extends 100–500 miles downwind at potentially dangerous concentrations in the first 24–72 hours
• Light contamination: can extend 1,000+ miles downwind at levels that are detectable but not immediately life-threatening
• The shape and direction of this ellipse changes with wind direction a strike on Chicago with westerly winds produces a completely different fallout map than the same strike with southerly winds
General US Fallout Patterns by Region
Based on prevailing US wind patterns, here is a general picture of fallout risk beyond the immediate target zones:
• Northeast Corridor (DC to Boston): high concentration of targets means overlapping fallout zones extending into New England, upstate New York, and western Pennsylvania. The jet stream's typical eastward trajectory means West Virginia and Virginia could receive heavy fallout from DC-area strikes.
• Midwest: ICBM silo fields include Malmstrom AFB (Montana, 341st Missile Wing)
, F.E. Warren AFB (Wyoming, 90th Missile Wing), and Minot AFB (North Dakota, 91st Missile Wing). Prevailing westerly winds would push fallout east toward the populated cities of the Upper Midwest. Minneapolis, Chicago, and Detroit are in potential fallout corridors from these strike zones.
South and Gulf Coast: military installations in Texas and Florida, and naval facilities along the Gulf Coast, would produce fallout moving generally east and northeast with prevailing winds. Much of the southeastern US is in potential fallout corridors from Texas strikes.
• West Coast: strikes on the San Diego and Puget Sound naval complexes would push fallout inland over the Cascades and Sierras. The mountains provide meaningful topographic shielding for areas immediately east.
These are general patterns. The honest word is that accurate nuclear fallout prediction requires real-time meteorological data and specific weapon yield information. What this tells you is directional: understand the prevailing winds from the nearest military installations and major cities in your region. If you are generally downwind from a Tier 1 target, your nuclear preparedness planning should account for fallout.
How Long After a Nuclear Strike Is It Safe to Go Outside?
This is the most practical question for anyone in a fallout zone. The answer is governed by the 7-10 rule: for every sevenfold increase in time after the detonation, radiation from fallout decreases by a factor of ten.
• 7 hours after detonation: radiation is 1/10 of the initial peak
• 48 hours (2 days): radiation is 1/100 of peak
• 2 weeks: radiation is 1/1,000 of peak
The practical guidance: shelter in place for a minimum of 24 hours. Forty-eight to seventy-two hours is meaningfully better. A Geiger counter tells you your actual dose rate and removes the guesswork from that decision — without one, you are guessing at whether it is safe to move.
Nuclear Blast Map: Understanding Damage Zones by Weapon Yield
Every nuclear attack map discussion needs a frank conversation about blast radius. The explosive yield of the weapon determines how large each damage zone is, and understanding these zones tells you whether your location is a survival scenario or not.
Small Tactical Weapon — 10 Kilotons (Hiroshima Scale)
• Fireball radius: ~0.2 miles — immediate vaporization
• Heavy blast zone (100% fatality): ~0.5 miles
• Moderate blast (residential destruction): ~1.5 miles
• Light blast (broken windows, casualties): ~3 miles
• Thermal radiation burns: ~5 miles
Medium Strategic Weapon — 300 Kilotons
• Fireball radius: ~0.6 miles
• Heavy blast zone: ~2.5 miles
• Moderate blast zone: ~5 miles
• Light blast zone: ~8 miles
• Fallout danger zone: extends 50–200+ miles downwind
Large Strategic Weapon — 1 Megaton
• Fireball radius: ~1.3 miles
• Heavy blast zone: ~5 miles
• Moderate blast zone: ~10 miles
• Light blast zone: ~20 miles
• Fallout danger zone: extends 100–400+ miles downwind
The takeaway that most nuclear attack map discussions avoid: for anyone beyond the moderate blast zone of even a large strategic weapon, survival is not only possible — it is the expected outcome for people who have prepared. The fallout is the primary threat for the majority of the US population. And fallout is something you can meaningfully protect yourself against.
What Is a Nuclear EMP, and Could It Hit Your Region?
A nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a burst of high-energy electromagnetic radiation released by a nuclear detonation, most powerful when a warhead is detonated at high altitude. Unlike a ground-burst weapon that destroys a single city, a single high-altitude EMP detonation between 30 and 400 kilometers above the central United States could disable unprotected electronics across most of the continent in milliseconds.
A nuclear EMP has three distinct components:
- E1 is the fastest pulse. It damages microelectronics, semiconductors, and unshielded computers within nanoseconds.
- E2 resembles a lightning strike. It damages unprotected wiring and communications equipment.
- E3 induces sustained current surges. These surges can collapse the electrical grid, transformer stations, and long-haul transmission lines for months or years.
The strategic appeal of an EMP first strike is that it does not require a successful intercontinental missile against a hardened target. A single warhead detonated above Kansas could collapse civilian power, cellular networks, water treatment systems, and unprotected vehicle electronics across 30 or more states without causing any direct blast or thermal casualties.
Russia, China, and North Korea have all openly discussed EMP attack capability. The 2017 Congressional EMP Commission report concluded that a sustained grid-down event could result in fatality rates above 60 percent within one year due to cascading failures in food, water, and medical infrastructure.
For region-specific EMP planning, including Faraday cage construction and vehicle hardening, see our EMP Attack Survival Guide and the companion Faraday Cages Guide.
Where Is Safest in the United States During a Nuclear Attack?
The safest US regions during a nuclear attack are areas located far from ICBM silo fields, major military installations, deepwater ports, and population centers above one million. No location in the continental US is fully safe from fallout, but several regions consistently rank lowest for combined blast and downwind contamination risk.
Lower-risk regions:
- Interior Pacific Northwest east of the Cascades, particularly central and eastern Oregon, well away from Naval Base Kitsap and the Bangor submarine base.
- Northern New England, including interior Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. These states sit upwind of most Atlantic-coast targets and outside major military footprints.
- Southern Appalachia, including western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and the West Virginia mountain corridor. The region benefits from terrain shielding and distance from coastal ports.
- Southwestern Colorado and northern New Mexico, away from Cheyenne Mountain Complex, Peterson Space Force Base, and Kirtland Air Force Base.
- Central Texas Hill Country west of Austin, outside the Fort Cavazos and Dyess AFB fallout corridors.
Higher-risk regions to avoid for long-term residence:
- The Northern Plains ICBM silo belt spanning Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and northern Colorado, where Malmstrom AFB, Minot AFB, and F.E. Warren AFB anchor roughly 400 active Minuteman III silos.
- Coastal port metros including New York, Norfolk, San Diego, Los Angeles and Long Beach, Seattle and Tacoma, and Houston.
- Strategic command areas within 100 miles of Cheyenne Mountain Complex, Offutt Air Force Base (US Strategic Command headquarters), or Raven Rock Mountain Complex in Pennsylvania.
- Downwind corridors from any silo field. Prevailing westerly winds typically push fallout east and northeast for 500 to 1,000 miles after a ground-burst strike on a hardened silo.
- Living in a lower-risk region does not eliminate the need for preparedness. Fallout from a Northern Plains silo strike could push measurable radiation as far east as Ohio and Pennsylvania within 48 hours, which is why a properly equipped Nuclear Survival Kit and a stocked supply of Thyrosafe Potassium Iodide tablets belong in every household, regardless of location.
How to Survive a Nuclear Strike in 2026: Your Complete Plan
(Image courtesy of FEMA)
Now let's talk about how you survive a nuclear strike in 2026 assuming the warhead didn't land in your lap. As you can see from the simulation tools above, there could be hundreds of thousands killed instantly in the fireball depending on where it strikes in the U.S. For those not in the immediate blast area, there is hope of survival if you have a plan and the right tools. We've also provided you with an article to help you understand how far away you need to be to survive a nuke. We'll use New York State again as an example to help you develop your plan.
What to Do in the First Hour
Assuming that you have survived the initial blast, your immediate instinct may be to make a run for it. However, that would actually be the worst possible course of action you could take. Certainly if you are in a burning building, escaping is your only option. You just have to hope you have a steady supply of potassium iodide pills on hand.
Shelter in place, underground if possible. If you have access to a basement that is the best place to weather radioactive fallout that will be at its highest in the first 24 to 48 hours. Seal up windows and doors with duct tape, plastic, or anything you can find. Utilize a handheld Geiger Counter. These are available at MIRA Safety and can make the difference between knowing if you are being exposed to lethal radiation or not. There will be fewcommunications going in or out in the first 24 hours of a strike. The only one who will be able to tell if radiation is a problem in your shelter is you.
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Know your radiation level before you know anything else
In a nuclear event, you cannot sense radiation without a detector. A Geiger counter tells you your actual dose rate whether your shelter is adequate, when fallout has decayed enough to move, and when outdoor movement is safe. Non-negotiable for serious nuclear preparedness. Maintain a supply of potassium iodide pills. This medicine is crucial in the aftermath of a nuclear explosion and if you are close enough to the blast, this may be your only chance for survival. Hospitals will be overwhelmed if they are functional at all. Calling 911 will not be an option. We sell Thyrosafe Potassium Iodide Tablets at an amazing low rate because we believe that every family on every budget deserves protection when they need it most.
🛡️Thyrosafe Potassium Iodide (KI) Tablets
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Maintain unopened supplies of food and water. A person can easily survive 24 to 48 hours without water. Food and water exposed to radiation should be avoided. Just because your tap water running doesn't mean it is safe. After 48 hours you may need to evacuate. Having safe food and water for that journey will be essential.
What to Do 48 Hours Later After a Nuclear Strike in New York State
The next question one will need to answer is where to go next? This situation will typically boil down to remaining put and utilizing existing stores of food and water for survival or beginning to evacuate. If you decide to evacuate, don't forget that this might be a trip you take on foot due to the electromagnetic effect of the nuclear blast frying the circuits on every car. While radiation will be lower, you also have to understand that the toxic smoke and gases from the burning surroundings can be equally dangerous. Ensuring that you have a professional grade gas mask on hand for every member of your family can be the difference between life and death during the first hours of this journey. In addition, it is essential that you have a MIRA Safety Geiger Counter before you step out. You have to know if you are walking into an area of increased radiation as the threat is otherwise invisible. If you wait to find out when the symptoms of radiation sickness show up, it is too late.
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New York City
In the event of a strike on Times Square, leaving the island if you survived would become quite difficult. If any bridges were functional it is likely that you would have to traverse them on foot. If you were on the southern tip of the island near the financial district, south is truly your only option. Heading north towards the Brooklyn Bridge would put you closer to the disaster and it may not be wise to take your chances with the Hugh Carey tunnel as damage to the tunnel would be unknown. This makes a water escape via any functioning boats your best option. If you find yourself north of the strike in Harlem or above, North is your only option.
It is possible that the George Washington Bridge is still functioning and if so, heading north and west across the Hudson would be your best bet as the radioactive fallout is travelling northeast along the island. A water escape across the Hudson is an option if watercraft were not fried by the EMP effect. If that is not an option, keep heading north and west, perhaps until you reach West Point if that was not a target itself.
For those in and around Times Square, there are no good options. To the east and west of you will be equally affected by the strike and crossing the river is unlikely. Depending on how far north or south you are away from the strike, head in one direction or the other. Again, the prospects for the citizens of New York are grim.
Fort Drum
Citizens around Fort Drum may only have one of two options. If you are north of Watertown, you would want to head north towards the Canadian border and pray for some Canadian hospitality. Heading south would put you in the blast radius and higher levels of radiation. You could head west toward Lake Ontario itself depending on how the winds are shifting.
If you are south of Watertown, then south towards Syracuse and Utica would be your best option. Whether you travel all the way to those cities would depend on your resources. Remember, upper state New York can be brutal in the winter. However, south and away from the blast is the direction to go.
Lake Ontario Power Plants
It wouldn't matter which power plant is struck, sticking around longer than you have to is a bad idea. The power plants will continually pour out radiation until contained. Given that Lake Ontario is in the north, this makes south the best option for each plant. If you are near the Ginna plant near Rochester, heading west towards Buffalo could also be a viable option. The fallout would continue to follow the winds northeast and that direction should be avoided at all costs.
What to Do 48 Hours After a Nuclear Strike in California
San Diego
In the event of a strike on the Naval facilities in San Diego, the furthest you are away from water the better chance you will have to escape. The radioactive fallout will blow to the northeast making this a difficult option in the first 48 hours. North would be an option if you knew that
Camp Pendleton was not also a target. South lays the Mexican border and it wouldn't be likely that Tijuana is ready to receive hundreds of thousands of refugees. One's best bet would be to head east towards the mountains along the I-8 corridor. The mountains could provide some refuge from the chaos unfolding in San Diego. You wouldn't want to head over the mountains as you are then entering desert territory.
Los Angeles
If there is any city that we wouldn't want to be trapped in during the aftermath of a nuclear strike it is Los Angeles. We've seen first hand the impact of wildfires in California and if the Santa Ana winds kick up in the wake of a nuclear strike, L.A. residents are in serious trouble. The entire city would be a flaming hellscape and escape is truly your only option for survival.
If you are north of Los Angeles you would want to head in that direction when it is safe. Moving along the I-5 corridor is a good way to track your direction, but remember that you will likely be walking. Finding refuge in the small mountain cities to the north is a great first step to escape LA. If you are in the city of Los Angeles itself, escaping east toward the mountains may be your only option. A few days after a nuclear strike, human beings will start to become desperate and dangerous.
San Francisco
Escaping San Francisco in the aftermath of a nuclear strike comes with its own perils. If you are in the city of San Francisco itself, know that I-80 and Golden Gate Bridge are likely to be out of action. This makes south your only viable option until you get around the Bay. If you are in Oakland, then you have both South and East as options for escape. Remember, people are going to be scared and will be dangerous. Escaping to lesser populated areas of the state will be essential for survival. Know your neighborhood and learn the best way to get out if all the bridges have been destroyed.
What to Do 48 Hours After a Nuclear Strike in Texas
Fort Cavazos
A strike on Fort Cavazos would be primarily targeted at US military personnel and they would be at the behest of their command as to what to do next. However, the civilian population in and around Killeen would have a decision to make. Do they stick around and wait for help or do they leave? You could head south towards the city of Austin if it was unaffected by the attack under the hopes that more resources and support would be available. However, Austin is also full of people who will be scared themselves. Tread carefully. Your other option is head west towards rural Texas. This is again where the size of Texas is an advantage as it does not take much to reach lightly populated areas.
Fort Bliss
The citizens of El Paso are in a bit of a pickle in the event of a strike on Fort Bliss. South is not really an option as that would take you into Mexico and it is unclear how welcoming they would be to refugees from the United States. The Franklin Mountains are to the north with arid desert extending beyond that. It's a tough decision, but one must be made.
With Fort Bliss being to the east of those mountains, your best bet may be to head north and to the west of the mountains along the I-10 and the Rio Grande. The river would provide a source of fresh water. Unfortunately, you can't deviate too far as nothing but an arid desert awaits you.
The evacuation from El Paso would be difficult making the necessity to store as much supplies as you can ahead of time sheltering in place may be your best option.
Port of Houston
With the winds likely taking the fallout to the northeast, your best option is head west or southwest. Remember though, winds shift. If you head southeast, you could use the Gulf coast as a marker to ensure you are heading the right direction. Hug the coast and you'll always know that you are heading southeast.
To the west of Houston, you'll find rural Texas towns of self-reliant individuals who may bewilling to be of some assistance. Then again, if the entire city of Houston is fleeing in the hundreds of thousands, they may be in defensive mode and you can be sure every household in Texas is armed.
Whichever direction you choose, if you live in the city of Houston proper it is advisable to evacuate. Though this city itself may have been spared the worst, this nation is likely in for a season of chaos after nuclear strikes and a large urban city is not where you want to be. Identify relatives or friends living in rural Texas and make a plan with your family ahead of time to rendezvous there in the event that you are separated.
Develop a Survival Plan That Is Right for Your Family
Far too many assume survival is hopeless and certainly if it were a full nuclear exchange, mankind would be on the brink. However, that sentiment makes planning seem pointless and far too many would die who could have survived if they had a plan. We've used New York, California, and Texas as a guide and given you some great tools to map out your strategy.
We've also tried to give you an idea of threats facing us all in 2026 and the likelihood of a global war. We've been delivering great survival products for years now and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Whatever plan you come up with, it has to be unique to your family. Look up your location or that of your potential bug out location. Identify the key targets from a military, infrastructure, and civilian lens. You may think you are good to go in the wilderness of Montana until you realize you've been living next to an ICBM silo the whole time. Develop the plan and make sure every member of the family knows the plan and you practice it often. We'll continue to update this page often as new information and threats evolve. Until then, keep studying your own nuclear attack map and practice the plan to keep your family safe.
See also: Nuclear Survival Kit: Complete Checklist & CBRN Preparedness Guide — everything you need in one place.
See also: How to Survive a Nuclear Attack: Before, During & After
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