Global conflicts, including recent military strikes involving Iran, have fueled concerns in recent months about broader escalation and the possibility of a nuclear confrontation.
nuclear war supplies
According to Express, the European Commission has drawn up a list of recommended supplies to be stockpiled in case of war and similar emergencies:
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Bottled water and drinking water filters
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Non-perishable food and energy bars
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Flashlight and spare batteries
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Warm clothing and shelter equipment
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Multi-tool or survival knife
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Communications equipment, including radios
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Important identification documents
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Navigation tools such as compasses and maps
Where in the United States is a nuclear attack most likely to occur?
World Population Review recently compiled a map of nuclear targets. Includes more than a dozen cities: New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Miami, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver, Houston, Chicago, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Several military installations are also listed:
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Colorado: NORAD and Peterson Space Force Base
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Georgia: kings bay naval base
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Hawaii: VLF transmitter Luare
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Louisiana: barksdale air force base
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Montana: malmstrom air force base
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Missouri: whiteman air force base
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New Mexico: Albuquerque Kirtland Air Force Base
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North Dakota: minot air force base
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Nebraska: U.S. Strategic Command and Offutt Air Force Base
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Pennsylvania: crow rock mountain complex
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Utah: hill air force base
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Virginia: Pentagon and Norfolk Naval Base
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Washington: Jim Creek Naval Radio Station and Kitsap Naval Base
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Wyoming: FE Warren Air Force Base
Why is New York on the nuclear target list?
New York City appears on the World Population Review list of potential U.S. nuclear targets, which primarily identifies military institutions associated with nuclear capabilities that could be prioritized for a first strike, rather than population centers.
In short, population and influence.
According to the U.S. Census, more than 8.4 million people live in New York City’s five boroughs, making it the most populous city in the United States.
A 2025 Newsweek article reported that New York was one of about a dozen major U.S. cities that could be targeted for nuclear attack “given their political, military and industrial value.”
New York has had its share of major attacks in the past. On September 11, 2001, two hijacked commercial planes crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center during the September 11th attacks. The Twin Towers burned and subsequently collapsed, killing more than 2,700 people, including hundreds of first responders.
The coordinated attack also included a third hijacked plane crashing into the Pentagon. Passengers on the fourth plane fought back and the plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania instead of reaching its intended target, believed to be in Washington, D.C.
What types of websites are considered strategic targets?
According to defense analysts and nuclear policy researchers, potential first-strike targets typically include:
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Bases for storing or deploying nuclear missiles
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Submarines and air bases capable of launching nuclear weapons
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Command and control center responsible for military communications
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nuclear ammunition storage depot
The reasoning is strategic: disabling an adversary’s ability to respond may limit its ability to retaliate.
Contributed by: USA TODAY NETWORK
This article originally appeared in the Rockland/Westchester Daily News: What to stockpile for a nuclear emergency and which New York cities are at risk
