Halloween brings out the ghosts and goblins, but what if zombies were more than just make-believe? A new study looked at how well each state in the U.S. would handle a full-blown zombie apocalypse, and the news for New York isn’t great.
Researchers looked at things like how crowded each state is, how many hospitals and airports there are, how much water is available, and how many hunting stores and military bases people could rely on. After putting it all together, New York ended up ranking as the fifth least prepared state in the country, with a readiness score of just 2.61 out of 10.
Why New York Ranks So Low
One of the biggest issues is how many people live here. New York has about 424 people per square mile, which makes it hard to escape danger or stop an outbreak from spreading. The state also has less than one hospital per 100,000 people, so getting medical help would be difficult during a crisis.
With only about one or two airports per 100,000 people, travel in and out of the state wouldn’t be easy either. There aren’t many hunting supply stores or military bases either, which means fewer places to get tools or support if things went bad.
Other States in Worse Shape
New Jersey ranks as the least prepared state overall because it has the highest population density in the country and very few hospitals, airports, or military bases compared to how many people live there.
Connecticut comes next, with crowded cities and limited survival resources. Pennsylvania and Massachusetts follow close behind because of similar issues. California sits just ahead of New York.
Who Would Actually Be Ready?
Alaska was ranked as the most prepared state. With only one person per square mile and more than 78 airports and over 67 hunting stores per 100,000 people, it offers space and supplies. Maine and South Dakota also rank high because of lower population, more natural resources, and better access to hospitals and survival gear.
What It Means for New Yorkers
Of course, this is all in the spirit of spooky fun coming at the end of the month, but the rankings show that New York wouldn’t be an easy place during a zombie invasion. With lots of people and limited access to medical care, supplies, and escape options, survival would be tough.
If the undead were to show up, New Yorkers would want to pack a bag and start heading somewhere with more space and fewer neighbors…although getting to Alaska could be tough.
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CAUTION: These popular Halloween foods are dangerous to dogs!Our adorable pups might be great at begging but if you give in, Halloween could end up being an even scarier time for your pooch. According to the American Kennel Club, the following Halloween favorites are foods you should avoid giving to your dog.
Gallery Credit: Jessica On The Radio