Would The Tampa Bay Area Survive A Nuclear Bomb? There’s A Web Tool For That

TAMPA, FL — A war of words between the heads of state in North Korea and the United States has again raised the specter of nuclear war. North Korea’s announcement that its military might attack the U.S. territory of Guam, met by President Trump’s pledge to unleash “fire and fury like the world has never seen,” has people talking about the potential for a highly-armed standoff. But what would happen if a medium- or long-range missile with a nuclear bomb inside reached Florida, or more specifically the Tampa Bay area?

Straddling the line between entertainment, fantasy and terrifying reality is NUKEMAP, a Google Maps mashup tool for visualizing the real-world impact of a nuclear explosion on specific locations. Here’s how it works:

Users choose their preferred weapon of mass destruction and their target. Which bomb they choose depends on how much damage they want to do — are you aiming for total annihilation, or do you just want to create a little chaos? Your choices start with the American-made “Davy Crockett,” which is relatively benign when compared to the “Tsar Bomba,” a Russian-made bomb that means business.

Watch: Foreign Policy Analysts Fear US-North Korean Threats

Once the bomb is detonated, ringed circles appear around the targeted cities, showing the radius of the fireball, the radius of thermal radiation and an outer radius where buildings would likely survive the blast. It graphically displays the extent of injuries and damage to buildings from firestorms.

If a weapon similar to one North Korea tested in 2013 was detonated in Tampa, for example, about 22,400 people would die, according to NUKEMAP, created five years ago by historian Alex Wellerstein, who specializes in the history of nuclear weapons and secrecy. Another 40,080 would be injured. The rest of the scenario is pretty ugly, too.

The breakdown for some other cities in the Tampa Bay area is also rather grim:

• St. Petersburg – 3,400 fatalities; 18,620 injuries
• Clearwater – 7,390 fatalities; 22,380 injuries
• Sarasota – 13,710 fatalities; 25,770 injuries
• Bradenton – 6,160 fatalities; 22.050 injuries
• Lakeland – 8,300 fatalities; 23,260 injuries
• New Port Richey – 7,110 fatalities; 18,040 injuries
• Land O’ Lakes – 1,880 fatalities; 8,070 injuries
• Temple Terrace – 7,060 fatalities; 27,180 injuries

In five years, the website has hosted more than 99 million virtual detonations, Wellerstein wrote on his nuclearsecrecy.com blog. He said he typically sees viral spikes in site visits around the anniversaries of the bombings of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945.

What To Do If A Bomb Drops

Here's what to do once you're safely inside a building, according to emergency officials:

• Shut your doors and windows (if they were open).

• If you are coming in from an area where there is fallout already on the ground, take your shoes off just after entering the building to avoid spreading contamination.

• Remove your clothing. Don't bother trying to wash contaminated clothes. Instead, place them into a plastic bag and seal the bag with tape. Place that bag into a second bag that is also sealed. Then store the bagged clothing where it won't be stolen but is out of the way (for example, in a basement, on a porch, in a closet you don't use often or in a hallway).

• Take a warm shower if possible. Wash your hair, but don't use conditioners because they can bind radioactive material to hair protein, making decontamination more difficult.

• Change into clean clothes.

• If it is not possible to shower, you should use moist wipes (such as baby wipes) or water from a container to clean your hands, face, and especially around your mouth, nose, and eyes.

• Wash and dry off your pets. Keep them indoors. Do not shave your pets' fur.

Most importantly, stay inside, and expect to stay there until instructed to leave by emergency personnel.

Stay tuned to alerts and instructions from media outlets and emergency officials on your phone, TV or radio — whatever's working where you are. Do not leave your building or evacuate your area until instructed to do so by government officials.

The most dangerous radiation levels in the outside air will decrease significantly over the first 24 hours, but can last for days. So getting indoors as soon as possible and staying put until officials say the threat has passed is key.

What To Eat And Drink

Avoid eating anything in your home or building that was exposed to fallout particles drifting in from open windows or doors. And make sure to rinse all plates, glasses and silverware before using them. Other than that, "you can eat canned goods, food that is in your refrigerator or freezer, boxed foods and food in bottles or jars," the city says.

Fruits that have to be peeled (bananas, oranges, etc.) are safe to eat. You can also eat fruits and vegetables that are not normally peeled, such as apples and carrots — but be sure to rinse them thoroughly beforehand.

Water safety depends on several factors and whether or not a municipal water supply has been affected. Until you hear from public health authorities that tap water is safe to drink, bottled water is the only source that is guaranteed to be free of contamination.

What You Can Do To Prepare

At the risk of looking like a paranoid apocalypse nerd, there are some steps you can take to make sure you and your family are as prepared as possible for nuclear war before it starts.

Experts recommend keeping a seven-day emergency supply of life essentials inside your home "in an easily accessible container or special cupboard." Here's what to include:

• One gallon of drinking water per person per day
• Nonperishable, ready-to-eat canned foods and manual can opener
• First-aid kit
• Flashlight (Note: Traditional flashlight bulbs have limited lifespans. Light Emitting Diode (LED) flashlights, however, are more durable and last up to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs.)
• Battery-operated AM/FM radio and extra batteries (you can also buy wind-up radios that do not require batteries)
• Whistle
• Iodine tablets or one quart of unscented bleach (for disinfecting water ONLY if directed to do so by health officials) and eyedropper (for adding bleach to water)
• Personal hygiene items: soap, feminine hygiene products, toothbrush and toothpaste, etc.
• Phone that does not rely on electricity
• Child care supplies or other special care items

Although hiding in your car is not recommended during a nuclear event, you may have no choice. So officials recommend keeping the following supplies in the trunk of your vehicle:

• Blankets, sleeping bags, extra newspapers for insulation
• Plastic bags (for sanitation)
• Extra mittens, socks, scarves and hat, rain gear and extra clothes
• Sack of sand or kitty litter for gaining traction under wheels, small shovel
• Set of tire chains or traction mats
• Working jack and lug wrench, spare tire
• Windshield scraper, broom
• Small tools (pliers, wrench, screwdriver)
• Booster cables
• Brightly colored cloth to use as a flag, flares or reflective triangles

In case you have to evacuate or flee, pack these items in advance:

• Copies of your important documents in a waterproof and portable container (insurance cards, birth certificates, deeds, photo IDs, proof of address, etc.)
• Extra set of car and house keys
• Copies of credit/ATM cards
• Cash (in small bills)
• Bottled water and nonperishable food, such as energy or granola bars
• Flashlight (Note: Traditional flashlight bulbs have limited lifespans. Light Emitting Diode (LED) flashlights, however, are more durable and last up to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs.)
• Battery-operated AM/FM radio
• Extra batteries/chargers
• First-aid kit
• Toiletries
• Notepad and pen
• Contact and meeting place information for your household, and a small regional map
• Lightweight raingear and Mylar blanket
• If you have children, pack child care supplies as well as games and small toys
• If you have any special medical needs, pack instructions and extra batteries for any devices you use, aerosol tire repair kits and/or tire inflator to repair flat wheelchair or scooter tires and back-up medical equipment
• Items to comfort you in a stressful situation

You should also pack a Go Bag for your pet, with:

• A current color photograph of you and your pet together (in case you are separated)
• Copies of medical records that indicate dates of vaccinations and a list of medications your pet takes and why he or she takes them
• Proof of identification and ownership, including copies of registration information, adoption papers, proof of purchase, and microchip information
• Physical description of your pet, including species, breed, age, sex, color, distinguishing traits, and any other vital information about characteristics and behavior
• Animal first aid kit, including flea and tick treatment and other items recommended by your veterinarian
• Food and water for at least three days
• Food and water dishes
• Collapsible cage or carrier
• Muzzle* and sturdy leash (*Note: Nylon muzzles should only be used temporarily as they can restrict a dog’s ability to pant)
• Cotton sheet to place over the carrier to help keep your pet calm
• Comforting toys or treats
• Litter, litter pan, and litter scoop
• Plastic bags for clean-up

Patch Editors Beth Dalbey, Deb Belt and Simone Wilson contributed to this story

Photo by South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images/Getty Images News