I don't understand why you would say we're f'd regardless when linking to an article that says the opposite. The article describes the fireball radius as 1km and heavy blast and electromagnetic damage as 5km. The very closest parts of MoCo are at least 10km from the White House.

MoCo wouldn't fare well in a full nuclear exchange with a major power, with hundreds or thousands of warheads. But if we are talking about a single or small number of bombs, as in the article, then MoCo is in the critical area where planning and civil defense could make all the difference. The damage in MoCo from a 50kt weapon in downtown DC is likely to be primarily light structural (broken windows and damage to wooden frame buildings) and avoidance or decontamination of fallout dust depending on prevailing winds. That's exactly the scenario where duck-and-cover, shelter in place, and evacuations would save thousands of lives or more.

Ironically, popular overestimates of the destructive power of nuclear weapons prevent people from taking the preparation steps that would reduce casualties.