Raise a glass of wine, SLO residents. We’d probably survive the apocalypse
Good news, everybody: San Luis Obispo residents would probably survive the apocalypse.
That’s the finding of Realtor.com, which last month released a report titled “The Best and Worst Cities in America to Survive the Apocalypse.”
The website used a variety of criteria when rating survivability: Percentage of Realtor.com-listed homes with a lake, pond or well for drinking water; safe room; shelter; and solar power. It also examined population density, number of active-duty military and federal government employees, health workers, manufacturing workers, gun stockpiles and landmass covered by fresh water.
The news is sure to come as welcome relief for a city so recently devastated by the news it is no longer the happiest in America.
SLOcals would fare particularly well in the unlikely event of a zombie apocalypse, the report found. San Luis Obispo came in No. 3 on that list, behind only Lubbock, Texas (1) and Deltona, Florida (2). Maybe it’s because we could out-ride them on our bicycles?
San Luis Obispo also came in at No. 8 for cities most likely to survive nuclear Armageddon — our higher-than-average number of homes with solar panels plays to our advantage, assuming we survive the blast and ensuing fallout. And don’t forget all that power that Cal Poly’s new solar farm will generate.
If you’re looking for the safest place, try Middle America; Kansas City, Missouri, to be specific.
As for where not to be in the event of nuclear war (besides Planet Earth), the website unsurprisingly listed New York City as the worst place to be. Year-round Hamilton shows and all-night takeout comes at a price, apparently. The Big Apple also takes No. 1 on the list of worst places to be in the event of a zombie outbreak.
Of course, all bets are off in San Luis Obispo if The Big One hits.
You can see the rest of the listings here.
Andrew Sheeler: 805-781-7934, @andrewsheeler
This story was originally published November 18, 2017 at 2:54 PM with the headline "Raise a glass of wine, SLO residents. We’d probably survive the apocalypse."