[LayoutGuru2]

Are there any science-type FReepers out there who know what 180 lbs of nuke material can do?

Keep 5,000 people in bunny suits busy for six months cleaning up a nasty mess? Some people in the immediate vicinity of the dirty bomb blast would be killed by the conventional blast, the number would depend on where it is set off. The health effects on those exposed to any of radioactive material near and downwind of the blast would depend on how long they remained in affected area before vacating and what type of material was used. The real power of this type of weapon is psychological. Ninety-percent of the public would hear 'explosion' and 'radioactivity' uttered in the same sentence and liken it to a proper nuclear explosion which is many times more deadly.

[SauronOfMordor]

Keep 5,000 people in bunny suits busy for six months cleaning up a nasty mess? Some people in the immediate vicinity of the dirty bomb blast would be killed by the conventional blast, the number would depend on where it is set off. The health effects on those exposed to any of radioactive material near and downwind of the blast would depend on how long they remained in affected area before vacating and what type of material was used. The real power of this type of weapon is psychological. Ninety-percent of the public would hear 'explosion' and 'radioactivity' uttered in the same sentence and liken it to a proper nuclear explosion which is many times more deadly.

The cute thing is that a dirty bomb would be very ineffective on Manhatten. The dirty bomb just scatters lots of radioactive dust. The problem is that Manhatten is mostly concrete and glass -- the first good rain would wash it all down the sewers and down the river to the sea. Then the people in the bunny suits could bring up power washers to any spot that sets off their geiger counters and handle the residue.

If instead they set off an aerial bomb over the lawns of Silicon Valley or the shore property of Malibu or the Hamptons, they would have much more lingering economic impact

[jerseygirl]

OK, so if terrorists had several dirty bombs, where would they be likely to place them to maximize the effects on NYC, DC and LA? They'd have to take into account weather factors, but also find locations where they could prep the weapons...