Want to survive a zombie apocalypse? Survey finds you should flee to Florida!

SAN DIEGO — A zombie apocalypse is probably something people will only see in a horror movie, but it never hurts to be prepared, right? A recent report has examined all of the factors that would come into play if the undead started walking through American streets — finding that Florida is the place to be if you’re looking to survive the oncoming zombie invasion.

Inspired by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Zombie Preparedness guide from 2011 — yes, the CDC really made this! — researchers at Lawn Love analyzed 26 key factors that measure “zombie preparedness” across 200 U.S. cities.

When you consider aspects like the number of people in poor health in the community, the number of local supermarkets, the number of hunting supply stores, and the number of basements or bunkers under local homes, Orlando, Florida tops the list of the best cities to be in to survive a zombie apocalypse. Orlando finished number one in terms of supplies and protection. The city also ranked high in terms of vulnerability and mobility.

Moreover, Tampa (6th) and Miami (8th) finished in the top 10 — making the Sunshine State your best chance to avoid a gory, zombie-related demise! Rounding out the top five zombie-proof cities are Salt Lake City, Honolulu, Portland, and Colorado Springs.

Zombies on the way? Stay out of Nevada!

At the opposite end of the apocalyptic spectrum, the Lawn Love study found Nevada will be an all-you-can-eat buffet for the undead!

Although Las Vegas (19th) is a relatively safe place to be for zombie apocalypse survivors, four other cities in the Vegas metro area finished at the very bottom of the list. Sunrise Manor (200th – last), Paradise (199th), Enterprise (198th), and Spring Valley (197th) rank as the worst places to survive a zombie onslaught.

While the researchers say cities along the water generally rank better than landlocked areas, it turns out New Jersey is also a bad place to go if you’re trying to outrun the undead. Paterson (196th), Newark (192nd), and Jersey City (190th) all finished near the bottom of the survival rankings.

Don’t laugh at your neighbors, New York City — the Big Apple and its millions of potential zombie inhabitants finished 180th. New York and Los Angeles (181st) both ranked miserably in terms of vulnerability, hideouts, supplies, and protection. So, it might not be a good idea to take any survival tips from 2007’s “I Am Legend,” which took place in NYC.

What’s the likelihood of a zombie apocalypse actually happening?

“The likelihood is higher than most would think. With major advances in genetic sequencing, and overall medical technology, the possibility is real. As humans, we will forever push the boundaries and along the way, there will be unintended consequences,” says University of Hawaii associate professor Thomas Lee in a statement.

“Stay calm, always check the entire room before dropping your guard, and learn how to use a map,” Dr. Lee recommends.

2022’s Best Cities for Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse

Overall Rank (1=Best)	City	Overall Score	Vulnerability Rank	Hideouts Rank	Supplies Rank	Protection Rank	Mobility Rank
1	Orlando, FL	62.95	16	109	1	1	53
2	Salt Lake City, UT	57.00	54	70	8	2	19
3	Honolulu, HI	53.46	7	137	24	9	11
4	Portland, OR	53.08	74	22	82	31	1
5	Colorado Springs, CO	52.82	3	25	91	11	54
6	Tampa, FL	52.22	9	132	4	23	29
7	Springfield, MO	51.70	100	38	3	3	145
8	Miami, FL	51.67	94	125	5	5	30
9	Pittsburgh, PA	51.48	25	89	15	38	15
10	Boise, ID	51.07	57	63	58	10	21
11	Knoxville, TN	50.73	126	80	2	43	20
12	Anchorage, AK	50.09	1	118	131	4	44
13	Fort Collins, CO	50.06	55	27	73	21	25
14	Chattanooga, TN	50.01	78	83	20	13	45
15	Spokane, WA	49.61	10	17	31	36	107
16	Bellevue, WA	49.07	34	29	84	20	49
17	Vancouver, WA	48.49	82	73	12	66	24
18	Alexandria, VA	48.39	21	69	18	98	43
19	Las Vegas, NV	48.00	84	194	6	16	32
20	Orange, CA	47.81	73	135	29	8	48
21	Savannah, GA	47.52	52	110	7	15	120
22	Des Moines, IA	47.45	2	8	104	128	74
23	Reno, NV	47.44	86	173	44	7	23
24	Austin, TX	47.17	6	33	120	117	22
24	Seattle, WA	47.17	53	46	160	52	8
26	Grand Rapids, MI	47.15	111	10	79	25	71
27	Richmond, VA	46.95	42	97	9	102	37
28	Tacoma, WA	46.82	8	60	66	37	91
29	Albuquerque, NM	46.77	77	6	81	76	50
30	Madison, WI	46.72	28	13	95	88	65
31	Eugene, OR	46.23	110	78	47	46	13
32	Torrance, CA	45.99	51	175	13	14	113
33	Minneapolis, MN	45.90	70	9	125	114	27
34	Overland Park, KS	45.90	11	1	42	115	174
35	Cincinnati, OH	45.47	115	66	11	41	105
36	Lakewood, CO	45.41	64	40	102	12	128
37	Plano, TX	44.94	45	20	43	50	139
38	Omaha, NE	44.85	65	5	80	111	101
39	Sioux Falls, SD	44.46	26	18	37	45	176
40	Rochester, NY	44.34	146	77	21	68	39
41	Corpus Christi, TX	44.17	18	67	96	58	87
42	Fort Lauderdale, FL	44.13	121	115	35	6	119
43	Arlington, VA	43.98	4	84	161	153	17
44	Frisco, TX	43.84	19	12	148	103	123
45	Sacramento, CA	43.57	20	155	26	35	115
46	Lincoln, NE	43.27	40	7	76	133	138
47	Olathe, KS	43.22	58	2	112	97	149
48	Huntsville, AL	42.99	139	95	16	29	108
49	Tucson, AZ	42.85	23	177	28	89	68
50	Santa Rosa, CA	42.60	80	152	51	33	46
51	San Antonio, TX	42.45	22	54	168	79	84
52	San Diego, CA	42.42	24	156	176	132	6
53	Kansas City, MO	42.37	29	11	139	172	104
54	St. Louis, MO	42.26	88	42	113	57	78
55	Baltimore, MD	42.14	15	91	145	175	14
56	Little Rock, AR	42.08	85	88	39	42	118
57	Naperville, IL	42.07	47	4	110	113	156
58	San Francisco, CA	41.92	98	182	127	139	2
59	Mobile, AL	41.83	46	185	34	19	141
60	Tulsa, OK	41.74	104	75	54	71	76
61	El Paso, TX	41.66	33	52	103	119	109
62	Denver, CO	41.66	79	45	170	59	63
63	Baton Rouge, LA	41.65	83	190	10	17	167
64	Salem, OR	41.50	144	62	41	24	142
65	Scottsdale, AZ	41.44	30	116	68	60	103
66	Denton, TX	41.28	41	36	27	91	188
67	Houston, TX	41.26	56	48	179	135	31
68	Buffalo, NY	41.23	118	98	65	122	18
69	St. Paul, MN	41.14	89	3	191	178	40
70	Columbus, GA	41.13	43	113	36	47	133
71	Aurora, CO	41.13	13	28	92	116	164
72	Huntington Beach, CA	40.77	122	124	99	26	58
73	Providence, RI	40.70	150	32	134	186	9
74	Syracuse, NY	40.54	103	81	48	109	82
75	Washington, DC	40.44	39	43	166	183	26
76	Virginia Beach, VA	40.33	12	111	98	65	130
77	Lexington, KY	40.29	59	16	77	94	177
78	Amarillo, TX	40.28	68	65	23	73	179
79	Atlanta, GA	40.21	106	90	30	129	80
80	Rockford, IL	40.11	87	15	33	148	163
81	Oklahoma City, OK	40.06	5	82	121	92	159
82	Louisville, KY	39.76	191	21	124	100	41
83	Tempe, AZ	39.73	107	167	69	28	97
84	Augusta, GA	39.70	31	121	46	85	136
85	Lubbock, TX	39.63	114	41	67	22	187
86	Wichita, KS	39.61	71	24	74	72	181
87	Riverside, CA	39.39	50	158	101	107	56
88	Fort Wayne, IN	39.29	67	105	61	34	155
89	Tallahassee, FL	39.20	125	133	19	55	140
90	Fullerton, CA	39.07	129	169	63	83	42
91	Killeen, TX	39.06	69	55	128	70	150
92	Oakland, CA	39.06	145	117	132	177	3
93	Corona, CA	38.91	141	129	45	44	95
94	Cleveland, OH	38.90	101	87	135	160	33
95	Henderson, NV	38.80	75	181	133	32	90
96	Newport News, VA	38.65	36	141	75	112	116
97	Birmingham, AL	38.55	76	143	25	64	151
98	Fremont, CA	38.55	44	142	147	157	34
99	Bridgeport, CT	38.52	169	47	188	131	16
100	Murfreesboro, TN	38.44	119	86	17	40	194
101	McKinney, TX	38.44	63	23	100	151	157
102	Pasadena, CA	38.44	127	123	40	105	73
103	Nashville, TN	38.32	105	79	175	108	57
104	Norfolk, VA	38.13	37	120	97	118	112
105	Mesa, AZ	37.98	97	159	136	27	121
106	Oceanside, CA	37.92	124	146	165	56	38
107	McAllen, TX	37.88	130	56	22	121	173
108	Garland, TX	37.86	183	49	114	63	100
109	Philadelphia, PA	37.83	116	96	190	185	4
110	Raleigh, NC	37.76	81	99	86	93	122
111	Glendale, AZ	37.57	38	166	83	61	153
112	Yonkers, NY	37.16	153	93	151	104	51
113	Milwaukee, WI	36.90	161	14	180	188	60
113	Dayton, OH	36.90	152	104	14	162	134
115	Sunnyvale, CA	36.88	96	147	184	39	75
116	Chesapeake, VA	36.88	17	103	55	144	172
117	Chula Vista, CA	36.78	135	140	126	80	67
118	Glendale, CA	36.77	109	176	118	87	69
119	St. Petersburg, FL	36.74	95	183	167	62	64
120	Brownsville, TX	36.74	185	58	38	166	99
121	Thornton, CO	36.68	91	26	177	147	135
122	Irvine, CA	36.65	60	112	141	163	77
123	Fayetteville, NC	36.62	48	184	71	18	197
124	Jacksonville, FL	36.55	62	119	137	86	131
125	Dallas, TX	36.49	160	50	174	159	55
126	Fort Worth, TX	36.48	147	44	172	145	79
127	Ontario, CA	36.43	171	171	106	30	88
128	Clarksville, TN	36.41	162	68	62	138	127
129	Phoenix, AZ	36.36	35	178	182	127	72
130	Hayward, CA	36.31	108	161	49	182	59
131	Greensboro, NC	36.27	133	162	60	54	137
132	Arlington, TX	36.23	131	34	130	120	154
133	Durham, NC	36.14	93	122	116	155	70
134	San Jose, CA	35.89	117	131	164	167	28
135	New Orleans, LA	35.74	14	193	107	171	125
136	Midland, TX	35.72	90	39	109	81	192
137	Montgomery, AL	35.66	27	189	59	110	168
138	Shreveport, LA	35.58	72	196	32	130	146
139	Cary, NC	35.54	49	92	72	179	162
140	Escondido, CA	35.53	156	126	56	134	92
141	Chandler, AZ	35.51	66	130	89	48	184
142	Modesto, CA	35.49	138	165	64	51	147
143	Columbus, OH	35.19	159	51	173	141	106
144	Salinas, CA	35.08	187	128	50	156	47
145	Stockton, CA	35.07	178	151	87	69	102
146	Akron, OH	35.04	157	30	143	82	170
147	Peoria, AZ	35.00	99	139	150	75	126
148	Charlotte, NC	34.85	92	114	138	164	94
149	Fresno, CA	34.76	179	149	108	74	83
150	Toledo, OH	34.71	170	61	119	184	86
151	Bakersfield, CA	34.66	148	160	53	53	158
152	Pomona, CA	34.64	175	180	115	136	35
153	Long Beach, CA	34.62	172	186	146	174	12
154	Macon, GA	34.51	142	170	52	77	152
155	Chicago, IL	34.39	168	72	187	189	36
156	Boston, MA	34.18	155	163	193	180	7
157	Springfield, MA	34.14	189	74	153	165	66
158	Oxnard, CA	33.97	188	145	90	140	52
159	Port St. Lucie, FL	33.75	134	102	156	49	161
160	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	33.67	140	138	144	137	98
161	Cape Coral, FL	33.62	149	100	88	78	166
162	Anaheim, CA	33.42	154	172	159	96	96
163	Grand Prairie, TX	33.22	158	35	169	106	178
164	Irving, TX	33.10	128	37	122	168	185
165	Joliet, IL	32.98	143	31	162	169	165
166	Indianapolis, IN	32.71	123	134	158	154	114
167	Palmdale, CA	32.68	174	144	123	84	129
168	Gilbert, AZ	32.50	61	108	111	126	191
169	Worcester, MA	32.43	120	85	163	187	143
170	Mesquite, TX	32.39	190	53	78	99	189
171	Laredo, TX	32.37	192	76	155	149	144
172	Hialeah, FL	32.36	199	150	70	67	111
173	Winston-Salem, NC	32.12	112	101	57	181	169
174	Kansas City, KS	32.06	173	59	94	90	195
175	Santa Clarita, CA	31.77	132	148	192	95	117
176	Santa Ana, CA	31.58	197	164	140	125	61
177	Aurora, IL	31.54	136	19	186	161	190
178	Lancaster, CA	31.17	176	168	93	123	148
179	Fontana, CA	31.11	181	154	154	158	93
180	New York, NY	31.09	182	187	196	193	5
181	Los Angeles, CA	30.94	184	174	195	192	10
182	Memphis, TN	30.84	186	157	178	101	110
183	Pasadena, TX	30.73	166	57	129	170	186
184	Elk Grove, CA	30.72	102	107	149	143	182
185	Garden Grove, CA	30.66	180	179	105	142	132
186	Pembroke Pines, FL	30.59	137	94	157	150	175
187	San Bernardino, CA	30.45	194	197	117	124	89
188	Hollywood, FL	30.30	164	127	85	146	171
189	Moreno Valley, CA	29.28	167	153	185	194	85
190	Jersey City, NJ	28.37	193	198	142	190	81
191	North Las Vegas, NV	28.10	151	192	171	152	160
192	Newark, NJ	27.68	198	71	181	195	124
193	Jackson, MS	26.45	32	200	183	173	196
194	Detroit, MI	26.11	195	191	194	191	62
195	Miramar, FL	24.43	163	106	189	176	198
196	Paterson, NJ	23.78	200	64	152	195	180
197	Spring Valley, NV	22.27	165	136	197	195	193
198	Enterprise, NV	21.83	113	195	197	195	199
199	Paradise, NV	20.35	177	199	197	195	183
200	Sunrise Manor, NV	17.17	196	188	197	195	200

Tags: apocalypse, Halloween, survival, united states, zombies