Oak Ridge, a city in Tennessee, is known for its role in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge continues to work on nuclear weapons, fueling naval reactors and storing nuclear materials. The vulnerability of such facilities to a nuclear attack has been a concern, but according to a 2006 backgrounder published by the Council on Foreign Relations, U.S. nuclear weapons sites are heavily guarded and not very vulnerable to terrorist attack. However, there have been past threats, such as in 1972 when hijackers threatened to crash a plane into the Oak Ridge facility. In terms of the potential impact of a nuclear attack, the area within a half-mile radius of the blast would face severe damage and likely no survivors. A one-mile radius would have moderate damage, and the surrounding region would be at risk of radiation fallout for up to 20 miles. The amount of damage would depend on the size and yield of the nuclear bomb used. In the event of a nuclear explosion at a facility where enriched uranium is stored, a large amount of radioactive material could be released, essentially creating a dirty bomb. In such a scenario, warning sirens would sound within two miles of the affected site, and people would be advised to either shelter in place or evacuate.
Mon, 31 Jul 2023 09:03:33 GMT | Knoxville News Sentinel