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Wilmington’s Cold War Nuclear Evacuation Plan | Wilmington News
In 1981, U.S. analysts revealed a chilling truth: a Soviet missile silo targeted Wilmington, NC—making it the only county in North Carolina designated for full nuclear evacuation. With proximity to Fort Fisher Air Station and a GE nuclear plant, the area was deemed as critical as Fort Bragg or Camp Lejeune. Residents were ordered to flee to Pender, Columbus, and even parts of Brunswick counties. When time ran out, 112 civil defense shelters—including churches, courthouses, and the Battleship North Carolina—could house 120,000 people, though some, like Trask Coliseum, offered little protection…
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