Detroit city centre sits 0 m from Detroit industrial core, the most plausible strategic target in the area (medium targeting confidence). Modelled strike: 150 kt airburst.
Estimated survival chance at city centre: 0% · Estimated metro fatalities: 84.3K, injuries: 101.5K
What a strike on Detroit industrial core 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 Detroit the dominant risks are blast and thermal effects rather than radiation.
Most plausible targets near Detroit
| Target | Type | Distance | Assumed yield | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit industrial core | industrial | 0 km | 150 kt | medium |
| Toronto financial district | city | 332 km | 300 kt | medium |
| Chicago Loop | city | 381 km | 455 kt | high |
| Pittsburgh | industrial | 330 km | 100 kt | low |
| Chicago O’Hare | airport | 403 km | 150 kt | medium |
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 Detroit can prepare
With a population density of 1,600 people/km², Detroit'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.
Check your exact address in Detroit →