Eight most dangerous US states to be in if WW3 breaks out
These US states would be the most at risk if there were a nuclear attack on missile silos in America's heartland
World War III fears have intensified following the attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel over the weekend, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
For those who aren't up to date with the news, tensions between the US and Iran came to a head on Saturday (28 February) when America and Israel launched their attack on the Middle Eastern country.
According to US President Donald Trump, 79, the aim of this weekend's attacks were to 'ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon'.
The strikes killed not only Khamenei but also at least 555 people in Iran, as reported by Al Jazeera.
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Iran retaliated after the strikes, with attacks on Israel and on Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates - countries that have ties to the US.
As we say, questions are now being raised over whether this could spill out into a wider conflict and even be the start of a third World War.
These fears have led people to question how safe they would be if wider scale conflict did break out.
Experts have pointed out that countries with political neutrality, low militarisation, and geographic isolation are likely to be the safest, such as Antarctica, Iceland, New Zealand, and Argentina.
However, 'safe' is relative, as even the most peaceful countries would be affected by fallout from a world war, especially if nuclear weapons were involved.
As for America, Newsweek previously assessed which US states would be the most at risk if there were to be a nuclear attack on missile silos in the US heartland - Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Montana, and North Dakota.
However, it's important to note that this is just a simulation, and was created six months ago, before America's attacks on Iran.
It analyses 'the average radiation exposure risk calculated for each latitude and longitude point, using a scale measuring the estimated cumulative radiation dose after four days in grays (Gy), a unit of ionizing radiation dose.'
John Erath, the Senior Policy Director for the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, told the publication: "While those who live near military facilities, ICBM silos in the Midwest or submarine bases along the coasts might bear the most immediate and severe consequences of a nuclear attack, there's no question: ANY nuclear war or weapons detonation would be bad for everyone."
He added: "Nowhere is truly 'safe' from fallout and other consequences like contamination of food and water supplies and prolonged radiation exposure."
The most dangerous US states if WW3 breaks out
Looking at Scientific American’s fallout maps of nuclear attacks on missile silos in the US to identify which states would be the most affected, the publication found that these eight locations would be the most affected by radiation exposure risk:
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Colorado
- Nebraska
- South Dakota
- North Dakota
- Iowa
- Minnesota
The safest US states if WW3 breaks out
Meanwhile, the 15 states deemed safest are:
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- New York
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
- Maryland
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Georgia
- Florida
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Tennessee
- Kentucky
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Michigan
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