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If a nuclear bomb exploded in downtown Washington, what should you do?
The Week ^ | April 14, 2014

Posted on 04/14/2014 6:13:21 AM PDT by stevie_d_64

Funny question in the headline, yes?

But since President Obama worries more about the threat of terrorists' improvised nuclear device going off in a major American city than anything Russia can throw at us, I was wondering if the government had deigned to share with us citizens any tips for, you know, surviving something their own intelligence points to as the likeliest unlikely Black Swan event.

Well, no. And yes.

No — very few people in Washington, D.C., who work for the government have any idea what they would do if a 10-kiloton nuclear device exploded at the intersection of 16th and K streets.

You can always look to movies to figure this stuff out, right? And in movies, since nuclear radiation is BAD, the thing to do is to get away from it as quickly as possible. In the movies, electronics are fried, too, the response is chaotic, and hundreds of thousands of people die.

Interestingly enough, though, the government has done quite a bit of work to figure out what exactly would happen if a suitcase nuke — which, I know, doesn't really exist, but, for the sake of this example, bear with me — actually did explode a few blocks from the White House.

(Excerpt) Read more at theweek.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: bomb; fallout; nuclear; preparedness; response; terrorist
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To: stevie_d_64

I heard that when the sci-fi movie, “Independence Day,” premiered (Billy Clinton was in office at the time), the moment the audience saw the White Hut being taken out by the aliens many of the theatres had people jumping up and down celebrating.

Could happen again in real life.


41 posted on 04/14/2014 6:28:42 AM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: Jack Hydrazine

Ditto for the scene I reference above in Mars Attacks....everybody cheered when Congress blew up.


42 posted on 04/14/2014 6:29:30 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: All

Whew!!!

I was kinda thinking what we would expect from what may be left of our government should do in response...

Now I gotta go find a place where I can go buy a “Pocket Hose Ultra”...TV ad was playing as I was writing this...


43 posted on 04/14/2014 6:29:31 AM PDT by stevie_d_64 (It's not the color of one's skin that offends people...it's how thin it is.)
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To: VRWC For Truth

Correct. Hillary said it best.


44 posted on 04/14/2014 6:29:55 AM PDT by taterjay
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To: dfwgator

I know. I’m prepared for the fiery responses. :)


45 posted on 04/14/2014 6:30:01 AM PDT by Mich Patriot (Pitch black is the new "tranparent.")
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To: Qiviut

I think that baraq has been setting the table for either an economic crash or a terrorist attack or both since he slithered into office. Think of what they could do with that. (Never let a crisis go to waste).

They would use the crisis as an excuse to go postal on all of us. They will be greeted with nasty surprises, but I don’t think they are deterred by that thought.


46 posted on 04/14/2014 6:31:15 AM PDT by Texas resident (The democrat party is now the CPUSA)
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To: stevie_d_64; All

First I would pray that my wife wasn’t at work should such a frightening and horrific scenario actually take place. Secondly, I would pray she didn’t suffer if she was at work when it happened. Thirdly, I would pray that I was with her at the end. If I survived (because I don’t actually work in D.C. anymore), I wouldn’t cheer or throw a party or act as if nothing happened. I would pray for my country and those who were killed or injured and their families.


47 posted on 04/14/2014 6:32:08 AM PDT by bayliving
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To: stevie_d_64

Will trade mechanical work for ?
May be worth more than the dollar is today.
Who knows.
Carry my 91/2” 44 mag on my hip.


48 posted on 04/14/2014 6:33:03 AM PDT by right way right (America has embraced the suck of Freedumb.)
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To: stevie_d_64

be deeply saddened with the sure knowledge that some politician is on holiday (at our expense) and wouldn’t be there?


49 posted on 04/14/2014 6:33:11 AM PDT by SERE_DOC ( “The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” TJ.)
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To: stevie_d_64

I was down there one time working a job in Tyson’s Corner. Was awaken in the middle of the night with a deafening boom. Waited for the building to be blown apart. Realized a minute later it was a thunderstorm coming though. Had to change my underwear though.


50 posted on 04/14/2014 6:33:23 AM PDT by McGruff
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To: SERE_DOC

Dang, that’s depressing to contemplate.


51 posted on 04/14/2014 6:34:04 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Paladin2; All

Ding ding ding ding!!! Winner Winner winner winner!!!

Post of the thread award!!!


52 posted on 04/14/2014 6:34:34 AM PDT by stevie_d_64 (It's not the color of one's skin that offends people...it's how thin it is.)
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To: GOPJ; sickoflibs; Grampa Dave; TADSLOS; Tennessee Nana; AuntB; ken5050; justiceseeker93; ...

What would I do if a nuclear bomb hit DC?

I’d clear my desk-—and make plans to attend all the WH and Congressional funerals.


53 posted on 04/14/2014 6:34:46 AM PDT by Liz
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To: stevie_d_64
dance photo: dance stuperdance.gif
54 posted on 04/14/2014 6:35:03 AM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: stevie_d_64

First thing I’d do is realized that suddenly my state government would have basically the same power it had before the Civil War.

I’d then either pat myself on the back for getting my solar power system in or curse myself for not doing it, depending on which happened.

I’d frantically try to get my daughters to my place. I’d buy every single piece of ammo for my guns that I could get my hands on.


55 posted on 04/14/2014 6:35:32 AM PDT by cuban leaf
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To: stevie_d_64

Russia wouldn’t nuke 16th and K St. NW. Their old embassy, which they apparently still own—it sports a Russian flag—is a couple blocks away.


56 posted on 04/14/2014 6:37:24 AM PDT by Taft in '52
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To: stevie_d_64
what exactly would happen if a suitcase nuke — which, I know, doesn't really exist, but, for the sake of this example, bear with me

The W54 device:

a nuclear system which is 10.75 inches diameter (270 mm), about 15.7 inches long (400 mm), and weighs around or slightly over 50 pounds (23 kg).
produced in 1961, would fit into a suitcase quite nicely. Don't tell me we haven't developed anything more compact since then.
57 posted on 04/14/2014 6:37:38 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 (You don't notice it's a police state until the police come for you.)
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To: stevie_d_64

Obama would be out playing golf or on vacation and not find out about the attack for nearly an hour. He would immediately call the UN for help.


58 posted on 04/14/2014 6:38:37 AM PDT by The Great RJ
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To: sauron

The TV serial “Jericho” covered this topic well, only 23 cities were wiped out. The last episodes of the show dealt with the rupture of the US into three factional provisional governments that became enemies of each other. It was not a pretty sight.


59 posted on 04/14/2014 6:38:54 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: stevie_d_64

Cheer, wildly?


60 posted on 04/14/2014 6:39:19 AM PDT by Howie66 ("Tone down the tagline please." - Admin Moderator)
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