Worst American States in Case of SHTF Scenarios

Assessing Each State's Survival Readiness

As preppers, a key part of our preparedness strategy is evaluating which states may fare better or worse in various SHTF scenarios. There are many factors to analyze when assessing each state's level of survival readiness.

We need to look at elements like population density, climate, topography, gun laws, crime rates, and access to renewable resources like water, wildlife, agriculture, and potential for renewable energy. Comparing East Coast versus West Coast versus Central versus Southern states also provides useful context. Some key considerations include:

Analyzing population density, which can strain resources in a SHTF situation. Highly populated areas often have more competition over scarce supplies. However, some rural areas may lack adequate resources as well. It's about finding the right balance.
Examining susceptibility to natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, winter storms and how they impact infrastructure and communities. Coastal regions tend to be more vulnerable.
Considering climate resilience and growing season for producing food. States like Arizona may struggle with droughts, while Iowa is well-suited for agriculture.
Evaluating how state and local policies impact freedom, independence, and self-reliance. For example, strict gun laws may hinder defense capabilities.
Looking at proximity to international borders and associated security factors. Northern border states like Montana have different considerations than Southern border states like Texas.
Comparing rural regions versus urban centers. Rural areas generally have more self-sufficient skillsets but urban areas have more supply chain access.
Researching potential for renewable energy through solar, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal sources based on geography. This provides sustainable power.

Most Vulnerable Coastal Regions

Coastal areas, often densely populated, tend to be more susceptible to natural disasters and resource scarcity:

The Atlantic coast is prone to destructive hurricanes like Katrina and Sandy, as well as flooding from rising sea levels which erodes habitable land over time. Coastal cities like New York and Miami are especially vulnerable.
The Pacific coast is prone to earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, droughts, and mudslides. Cities like Los Angeles and Seattle would be difficult to sustain necessities for the large populations.
The Gulf coast region gets hit frequently by intense hurricanes and suffers hot, humid summers. Cities like New Orleans are below sea level already and face high risks.
Great Lakes coastal cities like Chicago and Cleveland are vulnerable to freezing winters, storm surges causing flooding, and supply chain disruption.

Safest Mountainous Areas

More isolated and elevated mountainous regions provide natural protection and abundant wild resources beneficial for survival:

The Appalachian Mountains have dense forests filled with game like deer, rabbits, and grouse as well as edible plants like blackberries and mushrooms. The terrain would be familiar to locals.
The Rocky Mountains have low population density and plentiful big game like elk, moose, bighorn sheep and upland birds. Their peaks provide security from threats. States like Montana and Idaho provide freedom.
The Pacific Northwest Cascade region is isolated from coastal overpopulation centers, with dense forests full of salmon, deer, beaver and foragable nuts and berries.
The Sierra Nevada mountains offer seclusion, fresh water and allow for development of survival homesteads growing crops and raising livestock.
The Ozarks and Ouachita Mountains are centrally located, with navigable forests and rivers stocked with fish like bass and catfish. Arkansas provides a relatively mild climate.

Most Self-Reliant Rural Regions

America's heartland and rural farming communities tend to be more self-sufficient and suited for survival:

The Northern Plains have farmland, cattle ranching, oil reserves, and storm cellars. Nebraska, Iowa, and the Dakotas can sustain life through farming and hunting deer, geese and pheasant.
The Midwest has fertile soil, fresh water via the Great Lakes and rivers, robust hunting/fishing, and foraging for wild edibles like morel mushrooms and ramps.
Rural southern and southwestern towns and villages have experience living off the land - gardening, hunting, canning, animal husbandry.
High desert areas have adapted water conservation tactics, while Texas border regions have rugged survivalist mentalities.
Rural people tend to have useful skills for farming, raising livestock, hunting, food preservation and innovation without government reliance.

Problematic Highly Populated Cities

Urban city centers tend to have high population density and dependence on fragile infrastructure:

Coastal megacities like New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami are extremely overcrowded and lack self-sufficiency. Food, water, and housing would be scarce for millions.
Sprawling suburbs around cities have residents unaccustomed to outdoor survival skills. They expect external services for needs.
The risk of civil unrest and looting is higher in metropolitan areas with more diversity, economic disparities, and competition over scarce resources.
Cities largely depend on long supply chains for food, energy, and other life essentials. These fragile chains could be disrupted, risking chaos.
Limited space increases competition over food, water, shelter. Cooperation would be challenging in desperate times.

Evaluating Political Factors

State and local laws impact freedom for self-reliance:

States with strict gun laws hinder defense capabilities. Conflict over scarce resources becomes more likely.
High tax states reduce disposable income available for investing in essential preps and training. This creates more dependency on the system.
Federal and state land restrictions prevent development of off-grid survival homesteads for subsistence living.
States favoring individual freedoms and constitutional rights allow for greater self-reliance and stability.
Assessing the risk of authoritarian actions being imposed regionally. Some states may be quicker to resort to curfews and controlling populations.

Ranking the 10 Least Desirable States

Now that we've covered the main criteria, here is my assessment of the worst states to be located in if major disasters and unrest strike:

Northeastern States

New Jersey - This densely populated state is wedged between the high-risk metro areas of New York City and Philadelphia. Resources would be highly scarce for the population size.
Massachusetts - Heavily dependent on imported food and energy. The harsh winters, coastal location around Boston, and dense population make it a high-risk area.
Rhode Island - The smallest state lacking large scale agriculture or ranching. Highly regulated policies also hinder self-reliance.
New York - Extreme population density in New York City leads to unstable conditions with scarce supplies and services.
Connecticut - Caught between NYC and Boston, Connecticut faces high competition for limited local resources.

Coastal States

California - Overpopulated cities with density, droughts, wildfires, earthquakes and unrest make survival difficult.
Florida - Frequent hurricanes, flooding, heatwaves and rising sea levels make Florida a difficult place to survive long-term.
Washington - Seismic and volcanic activity combined with dense cities around Seattle make stability a challenge.
Hawaii - As islands, Hawaii could become isolated from mainland. They are also prone to hurricanes and tropical storms.
Virginia - Coastal flooding risk around Norfolk area plus potential unrest around federal government sites.

Great Lakes States

Illinois - Chicago faces urban decay, soaring crime, infrastructure decline, pollution, and severe winters.
Pennsylvania - Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are densely populated with aging infrastructure systems prone to failure.
Michigan - Highly dependent on strained manufacturing industries clustered in declining urban centers like Detroit.
Ohio - Opioid epidemic, declining rural towns, aging metro areas and cold winters make survival a challenge.
Wisconsin - Freezing winters, isolated terrain in the north, and tensions around contested resources strain stability.

Other Notable States

Maryland - Proximity to Washington D.C. brings risk of civil unrest. Further complicated by migrations from coastal Northeast metro areas.
Arizona - Extreme heat, drought, wildfires, and water scarcity impact habitability. But certain rural areas may be more livable.
Minnesota - Freezing winters, limited growing season, dense urban centers, and isolated terrain in the north challenge sustainability.
Colorado - Overpopulation around Denver with drought and wildfire risks. Mountainous areas offer some refuge.
Oregon - Liberal urban centers hinder self-reliance, but rural areas in central and eastern Oregon may fare better.

The 10 Most Livable States in SHTF

Now let's examine the more favorable states for self-reliance during various widespread disaster scenarios:

Heartland States

Nebraska - Low population density across much of the state allows for agriculture, ranching, and wild game hunting.
Iowa - Rich fertile soil, fresh water, and existing agricultural infrastructure make growing crops and raising livestock realistic. Their biodiesel industry is a plus.
Missouri - Has forests, rivers, lakes, caves and abundant hunting. The southern region has milder winters.
Kansas - Known for wheat and corn production. The flat, navigable terrain is well-suited for agriculture. Oil reserves and wind energy potential.
Oklahoma - Tornado-hardened infrastructure in rural towns, central locale, and navigable terrain help Oklahoma. Storm cellars are commonplace.

Southern States

Arkansas - Experienced hunters and fishermen knowledgeable of wild edibles in the dense Ozark and Ouachita forests. Navigable terrain and agriculture land.
Louisiana - Marshes, swamps, and waterways provide fishing. Also has oil and gas reserves. Rural Cajun communities could potentially sustain themselves.
Alabama - Northern Alabama's inland Appalachian foothills location is a plus. Low cost of living allows more funds directed at preparedness.
Mississippi - Has agriculture, timber, and oil resources. But the Gulf coastal plains portion is susceptible to hurricane flooding.
Tennessee - Varied topography with mountains, caves, rivers, springs, forests, and state parks provide abundant hunting and fishing.

Western States

Idaho - Low population plus geographic isolation provide advantages. Agriculture and sustained hydroelectric power from rivers help stability.
Wyoming - Very low population density across large areas. Oil, coal and natural gas reserves provide fuel. Existing cattle ranches can provide food.
Utah - Remote terrain provides seclusion from unstable metro areas. Mormon communities have emergency food stores and survival knowledge.
New Mexico - Solar and nuclear energy infrastructure, plus low population density improves sustainability, but desert conditions persist.
Montana - Wide open plains and mountain peaks allow flexibility. Lacks overcrowding and favors individual freedoms.

Other Favorable States

West Virginia - Existing coal, timber, and agriculture industries, plus isolated terrain provide advantages.
South Dakota - Low population density and agriculture surpluses help sustain life. But winters are extremely harsh.
North Dakota - Oil reserves, grain storage, and low population density improve livability. Border access provides additional options.
Vermont - Decentralized local government, liberty mindset in rural areas, and maple syrup production help stability. But harsh, isolated winters.
New Hampshire - Small, self-reliant communities combined with a libertarian culture and forests. But cold climate limits agriculture.

Key Factors to Determine your Ideal State

Choosing your optimal region depends on your needs and situation. Here are some key guidelines:

Research climate projections to evaluate future weather, water access, crop viability, and resource scarcity for different areas.
Analyze population density patterns in both rural and urban areas. Low density reduces resource competition.
Evaluate state and local politics/policies and how they could inhibit or aid self-reliance after a collapse.
Assess risk of unrest and crime based on existing divisions, poverty levels and competition over resources.
Understand your ability to defend yourself based on local laws, community culture, geography and homestead location.
Consider proximity to nuclear facilities and likelihood of fallout or meltdowns affecting your region.
Determine if the native terrain and natural resources can realistically sustain survival for both short and long-term timeframes.

Stockpile Essential Resources

Store long shelf-life food, water barrels and purification equipment to handle disruptions.
Obtain non-GMO seeds, gardening tools, and canning supplies to grow and preserve your own renewable food.
Keep sufficient fuel, batteries, generators, communication devices, and alternative energy sources like solar panels.
Acquire any weapons/ammunition permitted by local laws for hunting, defense, and deterrence. Train to use them safely.
Get clothing, footwear, camping gear, and other equipment to aid survival in the terrain and climate of your location.

Develop Key Skills

Take first aid, emergency medicine, agriculture, animal husbandry, hunting, food preservation, and shelter construction training courses.
Practice hunting, fishing, trapping, identifying edible wild plants, and foraging for food sources away from cities.
Study key knowledge fields like emergency medicine, mechanics, engineering, technology, and communication to maintain critical equipment.
Improve physical fitness, self-defense capabilities, navigation, and other wilderness survival skills through regular practice.
Research psychology techniques for dealing with unstable people safely during times of scarcity.

Prepare and Test Survival Plan

Make your home more secure and self-sufficient with backups, renewable power and water if possible.
Establish a secluded, sustainable survival retreat as a fallback position away from high risk areas.
Set up solar panels, wind turbines, rainwater collection - aim for fully off-grid and self-reliant capabilities.
Organize bug out gear so it's ready to evacuate quickly in vehicles if needed. Test it under real conditions.
Carefully vet and establish mutual assistance with nearby neighbors for sharing skills, tools, and resources. Maintain operational security.
Regularly test survival/bug out gear in real world conditions. Identify gaps, make improvements in equipment and training.

Maintain Situational Awareness

Actively monitor emerging threats, news events, local conditions to get early warning and time to prepare.
Keep communications options ready to connect with family members in case of any emergency separation.
Set up discreet security cameras and sensors around your location. Monitor them for activity indicating threats.
Run practice evacuation drills to your bug out location so the process goes smoothly when urgently needed.
Build a faraday cage, store paper maps, reference books and other resources not dependent on technology.

Be Prepared Wherever You Are

Location is one factor, but your skills, knowledge and preparations matter more. Here are final thoughts:

With proper training, tools and provisions, you can significantly improve survival odds in any region.
Continue honing essential skills - growing food, hunting, foraging, cooking, medicine, combat, engineering, psychology.
Stay vigilant against normalcy bias. Don't assume a disaster "can't happen here". Actively prepare.
Keep yourself physically fit, mentally sharp, and emotionally resilient to handle high stress situations and protect your family.
Remain flexible, adaptable, and ready to evacuate. Being mobile and having backup locations improves survivability.

With robust self-reliance, useful knowledge, vital supplies, and an adaptable mindset, you can survive and recover, even in very difficult times. The keys are becoming as independently sustainable as possible, connecting with trusted allies, and being ready to relocate to safer locations as needed. Prepare today, survive tomorrow.