Surviving a Nuclear Attack on Washington, D.C.

National Journal ^ | June 24th 2005 | By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

[backtothestreets]

Thank you. I bet few people wonder why their "conservative" members of our federal government seem to become "liberal" after spending time in Washington, D. C. They are stuck there in that political environment. They become like the area that surrounds them.

Here's another thought. The Constitution does not forbid moving the capital. Give the land back to the states, but retain the building and open them fully to the public under the management of the Parks Department. People exploring our rich history would strengthen our nation and rival all the theme parks in attendance.

And if these reasons alone were not enough, relocating our nations capital would spur such economic activity with people building homes, companies relocating offices, and foreign governments building new embassies in this new city that every segment of our economy would enjoy great benefit.

[DCMB]

Thanks for posting this. Scary scenario but good to read it all. We live about three miles from the White House, fortunately upwind (prevailing winds are from the west).
The house is stone, 18" thick. I used to think evacuation was the answer but now I know better. I've neglected the
three day supply aspect but intend to get on it. This needs to be read by all who live in major cities of the US.

[GOPJ]

Federal resources, civilian and military, rally under the National Response Plan. Across the country, firefighters, paramedics, police, soldiers, and volunteers are loading up their trucks and rolling toward Washington.

And at the exact moment of maximum damage while our protectors are setting up in the worst areas, Osama explodes the 2nd nuke in the Washington area.

This bomb taking out almost all emergency workers. It'll be the 2nd of 8 nukes that will be exploded in the following 6 days. The others will be in 3 other major cities, using the same MO. Kill, then kill those coming to help. And yeah, these folks have perfected the second bomb that kills the people helping.

If we underestimate the evil we're up against, we'll be destroyed. Bush gets it, but the democrats live in la la land.

Then again, maybe the dems are right and Osama just wants us to feel his pain and be his friend -- and then everything will be fine and everyone will like us. Who knows?

[ASA Vet]

Ammo, never can have enough of it...

Ammo - The monetary unit of the future.
Comes in many denominations.

[Stashiu]

I am within at least fallout range of D.C. I cannot and will not evacuate for any reason. That is why I have a CBNR shelter at home. When I got the permits for it 2 years ago, I found out that I was not the only one putting in a shelter.

I have heard too much from and seen the behavior of those 'in the loop' to ignore the constant direct and indirect warnings. There is a lot to see in DC with regards to this, if you look in the right places.

A close-by nuclear blast can ruin your day!

[xone]

Now you are a national security guru?

[nina0113]

I won't be surprised...I'll be busy. I'm on our building's Evac/Shelter in Place Committee.

[cvq3842]

Good point about second waves of attack.

One of the most frightening things about 9/11, which people might not remember right away, was NOT KNOWING WHEN IT WAS OVER. Not that morning, certainly. And the next days were extremely tense.

Of course, in a sense it NEVER ended . . .

[RightWhale]

This one seems reality-based.

As long as we are dealing with reality today, eminent domain and all, why not just open both eyes. One nuke [depending on yield, Hiroshima-sized being not so serious] would be disastrous, but the country would cope. Three nukes of 200 kton or more in the wrong places would ruin the country for decades. Any more than that would ruin it for a century.

The same for any other country.

[Cyber Ninja]

.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

"Surviving a Nuclear Attack on Washington, D.C."

Step one: Don't live in or downwind of Washington, D.C.

BTW, if al-Qaeda does this, we are probably going to nuke Mecca just to make it clear that you don't pull s**t like this and get away with it.

[Bear_Slayer]

Great episode.

[TheForceOfOne]

Hello, I'm Geraldo Rivera reporting live from Washington D.C. where it appears a nuclear bomb has just gone off, we will be reporting live on the scene to get local reaction to this event. It appears there is some sort of cloud forming in the sky, not sure what it is, could it be related to the nuclear bomb explosion? you decide!

Did I tell you I'm Geraldo Rivera? reporting livvvvve!

Peace!

[ExSoldier]

The others will be in 3 other major cities, using the same MO. Kill, then kill those coming to help.

I don't think the terrorists give a damn about first responders. Their objective is to start by killing four million Americans. They won't waste a perfectly good nuke on a site already struck. Law of Diminishing Returns. If this happens it'll be different cities across the country and at crucial choke points like the mouth of the Mississippi River or in hub cities for food and fuel distribution. And then we are well and truly in the deeeep poo poo.

Have you heard of the urban legend about the alledgedly lost suitcase nukes supposed to be already secreted here on US Soil during the cold war era? If the Jihadis buy those from some retired KGB officer.....

[conservativewasp]

I've read minimal EMP from a gound detonated device, so radios and cars should work.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Almost feels like someone's preparing us for an inevitability they know can't be stopped.

Scary as h*ll, isn't it?

[conservativewasp]

Supposedly the radioactive decay has damaged other bomb components to the point that they will not detonate, to old.
Supposedly.

[Yo-Yo]

LOL! Nice job finding a still of the episode!

[Pete'sWife]

Read "War Day" by Whitley Streiber and James Kunetka.

It's the best nuclear apocalypse story I've ever read.

The attack occurs in 1988 (this is an old book) on NYC, D.C., San Antonio, and all the missile fields in the Dakotas.

There are anti-Reagan overtones in the text, but just ignore them.

Really, really excellent book.

[ExSoldier]

Ammo, never can have enough of it...

Ammo...can't have any of it...at least in DC....or so they say.