U.S. Cities Most at Risk for a Nuclear Attack. How Many Are in Arizona?

• Western cities could be at risk of a nuclear attack
• The Arizona locations most at risk
• Moving the Doomsday Clock closer to Midnight

Doomsday Takes a Holiday

As we inched toward the end of the last Millennium, there was a spirit of optimism. Things seemed to be looking up, people seemed to be nicer, and doomsday seemed to slip further into the background.

In the late 1980s and into the 90s, communism seemed to suffer its last gasps, and nuclear disarmament signaled a more peaceful world. The USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) even reverted to its maiden name: Russia.

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It was too good to last, I'm afraid. Rolling into the millennium, things began to change. It's almost as though we're nostalgic for some of the craziest parts of the 20th Century.

The Doomsday Clock

Have you noticed that this century almost seems to be an echo of the last one? A global pandemic, an economic depression recession hitting everyone right in the wallet, and now world powers staring down everyone, it's no wonder we're all on edge these days.

Were all those world powers who promised to stop nuclear proliferation just crossing their fingers and hoping the other guy would dump their weapons? Or were they getting rid of the old stuff to make room for newer, more sinister technology?

What we do know is that the Doomsday Clock was moved a little closer to midnight just about a year ago. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists took a look at the state of the world last year, frowned, and announced the Big Move. They considered the following factors:

• Threats of nuclear war
• Climate change
• Emerging technologies

I'm sure scowled at events like the global pandemic, international tensions and war across the globe, and the state of the world economy. Wringing their collective hands in worry and angst, they moved the clock forward, stopping at 90 seconds to midnight. This is the closest to midnight the clock has been since it was created in 1947.

The Chance of Nuclear Attack in Arizona: More Than Zero

The chance of Arizona cities and military targets being hit by a nuclear attack is relatively low, but not zero.

With military bases like Fort Huachuca, Davis-Monthan, and Yuma Proving Grounds spread throughout the state, the possibility of an attack exists, although they are not prime targets when considered against the rest of the country.

Places in the United States Most at Risk for a Nuclear Attack

The Independent UK shared a list of US cities most likely to be targeted due to their infrastructure:

• New York
• Chicago
• Houston
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Washington, DC

They also listed the Western States considered to be the biggest global targets:

• California
• Colorado
• Montana
• North Dakota
• Wyoming

Arizona Not on List of Prime Nuclear Targets

The good news is, Arizona didn't make the list of top US nuclear targets, should world powers lose their minds and take the path of Mutually Assured Destruction. The bad news (if you can single out one piece of bad news in this instance) is that nuclear fallout doesn't respect borders and prevailing winds could share the awful fallout across Arizona and beyond.

If my grade school experience is any help, we could try sheltering under our desks, while covering our heads with a heavy book. I'm guessing that's probably not our best plan, though.

Better idea? Let's encourage our leaders to work for world peace, instead.