Map reveals closest nuclear fallout shelter if US cities are bombed and there's one place that's safer than the rest

The risk of a new global war spurred on by nuclear weapons appears to be growing every single day at the moment, as tensions increase between Iran, Israel, and the United States.

It has led many American citizens to wonder where their nearest nuclear fallout shelter is in the event of a devastating attack.

Nuclear war has posed a significant threat since weapons began development in the 20th century, yet the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 remain the only two instances in history when they have been used.

However, with direct attacks between Iran and Israel alongside involvement of the United States military, some are growing increasingly concerned that the world's most powerful weapons could be used once more.

Predictions from famous mystic Baba Vanga have indicated that 2025 is the year that the world will be thrown into a devastating war, so you might want to consider your options for survival before it's too late.

How to find your nearest nuclear fallout shelter

Nuclear bunkers and fallout shelters are your best chance of survival if a devastating weapon were to strike the United States, and thankfully, there are plenty dotted around the country that you might be able to turn to.

Construction began on shelters across America during the Cold War period when the threat of nuclear war was at its strongest, and even though many have been transformed away from their original purpose in the decades since they were built, plenty still remain - especially in the biggest cities.

Thanks to TruePrepper, a nuclear planning website created by Air Force veteran Sean Gold, you can see a map of your nearest nuclear fallout shelters and plan where you should head if one were headed for the US.

Many Cold War era nuclear shelters remain across the US, and you can spot their signs in major cities (Kena Betancur / AFP via Getty Images)

As reported by the Daily Mail, you can see that a number of the most populous cities in America have a lot of options to choose from, but other major states have been left a bit short as the years have gone on.

Florida, in particular, is looking a bit rough, as the entirety of the state's southern region has just three shelters between 6.46 million residents…and they're all located in Miami.

How safe are nuclear bunkers?

When it comes to the actual safety of a standard public nuclear bunker, it might not be quite as good as you'd expect. If you're within the blast radius, there's little chance of survival due to the sheer power of the impact. Anything outside of that range will fare far better, depending on the construction and facilities.

Fundamentally, the purpose of a nuclear fallout shelter is to protect those within its walls from the extremely dangerous radiation that hangs around after the initial impact, as this can cause health conditions and birth defects if you're exposed to it.

What makes a good nuclear bunker?

Protection from radiation and your overall survivability depend heavily on how good the bunker you're in actually is, and that depends on a number of different factors.

First and foremost, the bunker itself should be made with enough shielding to block out radiation, and this is done through thick walls made of concrete or steel, and heading underground is also a great option.

Nuclear bunkers should be able to block out harmful radiation, keeping those inside protected following a blast (Getty Stock)

You'll also want to make sure that the shelter not only has adequate ventilation in order to provide oxygen, but that it also filters out any radiation in the air, as that would negate the point of the bunker in the first place.

Additionally, as you're going to be in there for days, weeks, or even months, having enough food and drink is essential for your survival. Most of the tinned food that was put into shelters across the US when they were first built isn't there anymore, so you might want to think about bringing your own supplies.

Finally, Sean Gold has also indicated that there should be enough space for those inside the bunker, and making the space as comfortable as you can will make the time you spend down there feel less catastrophic than it is in actuality.

Where is the safest place for a nuclear explosion?

While the nearest bunker to you is by definition the safest place you can head, there are a couple of different locations that emerge as the ideal place to be in the event of a nuclear strike.

Washington D.C. appears to be the most densely populated area across America when it comes to nuclear shelters (TruePrepper)

Looking at the TruePrepper map, Washington D.C. is by far the most densely populated location for nuclear bunkers given its political proximity, but that also gives it a significantly higher risk of being the target, which would render the shelter's protection redundant.

While more remote areas might have a lower number of shelters available, being as far away from the point of impact is the best thing you can do to avoid the effects, and you might not even need a bunker in the first place if you're far enough away from any radiation.

Additionally, one former White House official has hinted at a number of 'underground cities' dotted across America that have been built in secret, and these appear to provide the best chance of survival in the event of an attack. However, it appears as if they'll only be accessible to the ultra-rich and high-level politicians, so very few people have a chance of using them, if they even exist in the first place.