Charlotte city centre sits 345.7 km from Port of Savannah, the most plausible strategic target in the area (medium targeting confidence). Modelled strike: 150 kt airburst.
Estimated survival chance at city centre: 99% · Estimated metro fatalities: 9.6K, injuries: 11.6K
What a strike on Port of Savannah would mean
A 150 kt detonation produces a fireball 490 m across in radius. Reinforced concrete fails out to 1.8 km (20 psi). Most residential buildings collapse within 3.7 km (5 psi), and windows shatter dangerously out to 8.2 km (1 psi). Anyone in line of sight within 5.2 km suffers third-degree burns from the thermal pulse.
An airburst maximises blast damage but produces minimal local fallout, so for Charlotte the dominant risks are blast and thermal effects rather than radiation.
Most plausible targets near Charlotte
| Target | Type | Distance | Assumed yield | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port of Savannah | port | 346 km | 150 kt | medium |
| Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta | airport | 373 km | 150 kt | medium |
| Norfolk Naval Station | military | 448 km | 455 kt | high |
| Kings Bay Naval Base (SSBN) | military | 497 km | 800 kt | high |
| Surry Nuclear Plant, VA | energy | 430 km | 100 kt | low |
Key blast radii (150 kt airburst)
| Effect | Radius | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Fireball | 490 m | Complete vaporisation |
| 20 psi blast | 1.8 km | Hardened structures destroyed, ~100% fatalities |
| 5 psi blast | 3.7 km | Most buildings collapse, widespread fatalities |
| 3rd-degree burns | 5.2 km | Full-thickness burns to exposed skin |
| 500 rem radiation | 2.1 km | Lethal dose without medical care |
| 1 psi blast | 8.2 km | Window breakage, light damage, glass injuries |
How Charlotte can prepare
With a population density of 1,200 people/km², Charlotte's outcome would hinge on the first hour. The guidance is identical everywhere: get inside, stay inside, stay tuned. A basement or the core of a large concrete building cuts fallout exposure by a factor of 10 or more, and radiation decays fast — dose rates fall ~90% within the first 7 hours and ~99% within two days.
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