A person in the vicinity of a nuclear blast will be displaced if the wind velocity exceeds how many miles per hour (mph)?

• A. 120.
• B. 150.
• C. 100.
• D. 200.

Answer: (C)

Blow impacts from a nuclear blast create a powerful blast wind that can push people off their feet. There’s a threshold where that wind becomes strong enough to dislodge someone who is standing in the open or not adequately sheltered. That threshold is around 100 mph, meaning once the wind reaches roughly that speed, a person is likely to be displaced if they are exposed. The force of the moving air increases with wind speed, so higher winds would make displacement even more likely and cause more damage from flying debris. That’s why the protective action is to seek sturdy shelter indoors, away from exterior walls and windows, to minimize exposure to the blast wind.