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Real estate experts have revealed the safest places in the US to buy a property to survive a nuclear war as Russia continues to face nuclear threats after waging its war in Ukraine.
A report by top US officials concluded this month that Russia’s loss of ground forces has “increased reliance on nuclear weapons,” and in recent months Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric has highlighted just how many strategic nuclear weapons are left targeting US cities.
According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia is said to have 5,977 nuclear warheads, including 1,185 intercontinental ballistic missiles, 800 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and 580 air-launched nuclear bombers.
So where is a safe place to buy real estate to survive a nuclear exchange?
The map shows likely nuclear targets (purple) plus areas less likely to be hit – along with our brokers’ tips on where to buy
DailyMail.com spoke to real estate experts and overlaid their recommendations with a map highlighting potential nuclear targets, including major population centers, nuclear reactors and military installations.
The map contains data from the Natural Resources Defense Council and dates back several years – including two scenarios, a 500 warhead exchange and a 2,000 warhead exchange.
Columbia University’s Irwin Redlener believes six cities — New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington DC — are more likely to be targeted because of their financial and government relationships.
Real estate expert Andrew Ragusa, CEO/broker of REMI Realty in Long Island, NY, says buyers concerned about a nuclear conflict should rethink their usual priorities.
Ragusa said, “In the event of a nuclear war, the location of your home can determine your chances of survival.
“What used to be important when buying a home, like a great school district, close to shopping and public transportation, has now changed to a warm climate, access to food and access to water.”
The effect of a nuclear blast in New York’s financial district is illustrated, wiping out the entire southern tip of Manhattan and causing severe damage and burns across much of Brooklyn and Jersey
The prospect of a nuclear strike has never seemed more real, with Vladimir Putin and his henchmen threatening to destroy Western capitals in the latest escalation of the war in Ukraine. Pictured: A survival apartment in Kansas
A Fallout Shelter sign and an American flag next to the Manhattan Municipal Building. Air raid shelters are still scattered around New York City from the fraught era of the Cold War. Not all of them are fully operational, but can provide shelter and reprieve if the city is ever attacked with nuclear warfare
Ragusa recommends rural parts of Texas, Florida and California (far from major population centers that could be attractive targets) as places to survive a nuclear exchange.
He says, “The reason I chose these three states is because they are near water and have warm climates. When you are near water, you are always near food and water that can be taken after it has been desalted.
‘Certainly don’t move into densely populated urban centers such as Miami, West Palm Beach, Houston or San Francisco. The reason for this is that these are likely targets for a nuclear attack.’
Ragusa also suggests states along the Mississippi, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
He said: ‘Obviously the further south you go the warmer the weather, but being in densely populated areas will be a counter-survival scenario.
“Some people can endure the cold in the winter and if you hold out and are a little more insulated your chances of survival are better.
“Another thing to consider is that if you’re around agricultural areas, you can find livestock that are hopefully unaffected and reproducing naturally, which would give you access to more protein and a greater diversity of food options.”
North and South Carolina also offer attractive options, Ragusa said.
“Great weather, close water, farmland, it has everything you need for food, water and shelter,” he added. “Just be sure to stay away from densely populated urban areas.
In a post-apocalyptic setting, surviving humans going into despair will be one of the most challenging parts of life.
I would look for a secluded place to live, perhaps in a wooded area. It is now important to learn survival skills that our ancestors knew as a daily way of life. Or at least buy a survival skills book and keep it handy.”
Rural is best, agrees real estate expert Jasen Edwards, president of the agents’ editorial board.
Edwards, author of The Top Producer Life, says the Rocky Mountains are the best place to buy real estate to survive a nuclear war.
He said, “The best place to buy real estate in the United States in the event of a nuclear war would be in the Rocky Mountains. This is mainly due to the terrain, which is rugged, remote and difficult to access, making it difficult for nuclear warheads to reach the area.
“The height of the Rocky Mountains means precipitation is spread more quickly and is supported by stronger winds, which could help minimize radioactive material reaching the area.”
He also recommends areas in the Midwest and Southeast — especially rural areas with access to fresh water and farmland.
He says, “Areas in the Midwest and Southeast are far from major nuclear targets and have adequate access to fresh water, food and supplies.
“These areas are generally outside major population centers, which means there is less chance of radioactive fallout from a nuclear attack. These areas are often cheaper than other parts of the country, making it easier to buy a home and build a shelter.
He also tips Nebraska as a good choice. “Nebraska’s geography provides protection from nuclear fallout.”
The map shows potential targets in every state, with dense clusters along the East Coast and in California. Particularly large clusters are also highlighted in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming.
Active nuclear power plants are big targets. There are about 90 active nuclear power plants in the United States, including plants in Alabama, Arizona, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
The US has strategically positioned nuclear weapons, which may be prime nuclear targets, far from population centers. There are ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile silos), naval and air force bases, and nuclear storage depots scattered across the country.