The U.S. Cities That Theoretically Could Face the Highest Risk in a Nuclear Emergency

Washington, D.C., a Primary Target

Washington, D.C., would most likely be targeted in the primary wave of attack, as it houses the core of the U.S. government and military command and control. The nation’s capital houses the Pentagon, White House, and countless defense-related facilities that Russia would target to weaken the the U.S. defense forces. New York City would be a target as it is America’s financial center. It also holds the U.S.’s largest population concentration, with over 8 million residents in New York City. Los Angeles and San Francisco would face targeting as they house major populations and economic hubs on the West Coast. Chicago’s central location and status as America’s third-largest city make it another inevitable target. Houston’s concentration of energy infrastructure and petroleum refining capacity adds strategic value as a Russian target.

Following an initial attack on major cities, Russian missiles would begin targeting more populous areas and other critical infrastructure across America. Radioactive fallout from distant nuclear strikes could contaminate almost all of California and much of coastal New England. Fallout from strikes on military bases and densely populated areas could heavily damage communities across the entire state of Florida.