Relation of wind speed to peak overpressure and distance for a 10 KT

explosion

Peak Overpressure (psi) Approximate Distance from Ground Zero (miles) [km]

Maximum Wind Speed (mph) [km/h]

50 0.18 [0.29] 934 [1503]

30 0.24 [0.39] 669 [1077]

20 0.30 [0.48] 502 [808]

10 0.44 [0.71] 294 [473]

5 0.6 [0.97] 163 [262]

2 1.1 [1.8] 70 [113]

100 kiloton NW from NUKEMAP (nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/)

 

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE BOMB

DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS OF THE BOMB

Fireball Radius 380 meters (0.46 km sq)

Airblast Radius 20 psi at 1.3 km, 5 psi at 3.2 km

Radiation Radius 500 rem at 1.8 km or 10.5 km sq

Thermal Radiation Radius (3rd degree burns)

4.6 km or 66.9 km sq

International Journal of Health Geographics

Vulnerability of populations and

the urban health care systems to

nuclear weapon attack – examples

from four American cities William C

Bell and Cham E Dallas*

International Journal of Health Geographics

• 20 Kt and 550 Kt nuclear warhead attacks

• Trend of more destroyed hospitals where

there are more victims

• Mass casualties treated in a disorganized

fashion by peripheral hospitals

International Journal of Health Geographics • Model estimates of casualty

distributions

• Metropolitan Medical Response

System

• Upgrading of civilian first responders

by US Army SBCCOM

• Military deployable emergency

response units

International Journal of Health Geographics

• A study by the American College of

Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Task Force

found that "little or no WMD-based expertise"

existed among medical staff workers in

hospitals (SARS-SP Task Force 2004.

[http://www.frontlinesmed.org/SARS-SP].

International Journal of Health Geographics

• First responders during 9/11 suffered from an

inability to communicate information concerning

the scale and magnitude of the disaster, and

thereby released conflicting public service

information during the crisis that resulted in

additional loss of life. [http://www.9-

11commission.gov/ report/911Report.pdf].

Federal Nuclear Emergency Plan

• Part 1: Master Plan 5th Edition (January 2014)

• Chief, Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and

Response Division Radiation Protection Bureau

Health Canada2720 Riverside Drive, Ottawa,

Ontario K1A 0K9

• Telephone: 613 954-6676Facsimile: 613 948-

4098Email: neprd-dpuin@hc-sc.gc.ca

NCRP Report No. 165, Responding to a Radiological or Nuclear Terrorism Incident: A Guide for Decision Makers

NCRP Report No. 165, Responding to Radiological or

Nuclear Terrorism Incidents: A Guide for Decision

Makers, provides the most comprehensive summary to

date of recommendations and key decision points for

planners preparing responses to radiological or nuclear

terrorism incidents.

NCRP Report 165

• It is incumbent upon all levels of

government, as well as public and private

parties within the US, to prepare for this

incident through focused nuclear attack

response planning.

• could result in life-saving on the order

of tens of thousands of lives.

NCRP Report 165• it does not consider very high doses

or dose rate zones expected

following a nuclear weapon

detonation and other complicating

impacts that can significantly affect

life-saving outcomes

NCRP Report 165• It is important to clarify that the

Federal government does not

anticipate the development of or the

need for specific nuclear detonation

protective action guides (PAGs) for

the most heavily impacted zones

NCRP Report 165

• the general recommendation that everyone

should seek shelter regardless of

proximity to ground zero or orientation

to the actual path of fallout.

• survivors should use good judgment and

should not seek shelter in buildings that are

on fire or otherwise clearly dangerous.

Civil Security in Montreal

• http://ville.montreal.qc.ca/pls/portal/

url/page/prt_vdm_en/accueil

Roddick Gates McGill U

RVH & MNI

Hotel Dieu

Shriner’s Hospital

MGH

Hopital St-Luc

Hopital Notre Dame

Montreal Children’s