What A Nuclear Winter In Iowa Would Look Like

Though it's unsettling to consider. However, it's a thought that’s on the minds of many. Newsweek used maps created by historian and professor Alex Wellerstein to assess the potential effects of a Russian nuclear strike with their strongest missile. If you're curious about the impact of a strike from another country, the results would likely be very similar.

While you may think that Iowa isn't a target for nuclear attack, there actually is one spot that is in the top 10. Council Bluffs is a massive target. The target is situated on the border between Iowa and Nebraska, and Wall Street 24/7 even ranks it among the top 15 locations in America. This area is home to the Offutt Air Force Base, which serves as the headquarters for the U.S. Strategic Command.

In the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush, who was in Florida at the time they struck, was first flown to Barksdale AFB (No. 15), then to Offutt, where he was taken into an underground command center bunker designed to withstand a nuclear blast and as a place from which a presidential order to go to nuclear war could be issued.

Now let's take a look at what a hit on the capital would look like.

Results of an attack on Des Moines, Iowa 

The population of Des Moines is around 210,381. It is double the population size of Cedar Rapids. It is reported that a blast could and would affect people for many miles, but the worst of it is obviously at the drop point. The black dot is where the impact is.

Severe shockwave damage could extend to about a half mile. Severe thermal damage would extend out about a mile. Flying debris could extend up to a few miles. Initial (prompt) nuclear radiation for a 10-Kt blast could expose unprotected people within about 3/4 mile of the explosion site to lethal radiation dose.

This is an extreme example, and shouldn't be taken to seriously.