Experts are analyzing what a nuclear strike on U.S. soil might look like. “The first missiles would target military installations, command centers, and critical infrastructure,” making these sites the highest priority in an initial exchange.

Nearby cities and states face the greatest danger in the opening hours, as “proximity to these targets determines the immediate risk.” Regions farther from strategic sites may see less immediate impact.

Some areas on the East Coast and Midwest could be relatively safer at first. Analysts note that “states like Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire could be relatively safer,” because they lack the dense concentration of high-value military targets found elsewhere.

Even so, no place would be truly safe in a full-scale nuclear war. “The devastation would eventually reach far beyond the initial blast zones,” making long-term survival uncertain.

For those planning for the unthinkable, geography still matters. Being farther from primary targets could mean the difference between immediate annihilation and a fragile chance to survive.