# Are there safe places in the usa to survive the end of the world? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 7, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301 "2012-12-07T15:16:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/1 "2012-12-07T15:16:17Z")
Here in France, there’s a village (Bugarath) currently crowded by people who hope to survive the end of the world on december 21, since for some reason a mountain situated there will supposedly be safe. Are there similar “end of the world-proof” places in the USA or, for that matter, in other countries? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/2 "2012-12-07T15:18:00Z")
Yes. PM me, and I will disclose my guaranteed end-of-the-world-safe location for a mere $10,000. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/3 "2012-12-07T15:18:40Z")
Despite what you hear from certain members of Congress, the US is part of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/4 "2012-12-07T15:31:34Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Here in France, there’s a village (Bugarath) currently crowded by people who hope to survive the end of the world on december 21, since for some reason a mountain situated there will supposedly be safe. > Are there similar “end of the world-proof” places in the USA or, for that matter, in other countries? Depends on how the world ends. Nasty virus? Isolation. Flooding? High ground. Earth being destroyed to make room for a hyperspace bypass? A handful of peanuts, a towel and a good thumb. ---
**Author:** ![Qwakkeddup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Qwakkeddup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwakkeddup)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/5 "2012-12-07T21:18:23Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Depends on how the world ends. > Nasty virus? Isolation. > Flooding? High ground. > Earth being destroyed to make room for a hyperspace bypass? A handful of peanuts, a towel and a good thumb. I would rather stay here. Vogon poetry is worse than death. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/6 "2012-12-07T21:22:08Z")
There’s a doomsday cult that lives in a complex of bunkers north of Yellowstone Park that has been pushing their end times date back since early 80’s, IIRC. I always found this amusing because the Yellowstone supervolcano erupting is one of the very few plausible end of the world scenarios out there and they are definitely toast if that happens. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/7 "2012-12-07T21:26:23Z")
Maybe [Mount Weather](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Weather_Emergency_Operations_Center) or [Raven Rock Mountain Complex](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_Rock_Mountain_Complex), if you can convince them to let you in one of them. ---
**Author:** ![solosam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@solosam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solosam)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/8 "2012-12-07T21:30:01Z")
Colorado frequently comes up. That’s why the government hollowed out Cheyenne Mountain, and built the USAF Academy next door. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/9 "2012-12-07T21:30:40Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > [Raven Rock Mountain Complex](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raven_Rock_Mountain_Complex), That is a cool logo. For the record, I hope if the end of the world is coming it is quick, swift, and painless and that I go with it. I hate to say it, but I wouldn’t want any of my family to survive either because how miserable would that be for them? If you aren’t afraid of dying why wold the end of the world be so scary? It’s surviving that seems the more dire prospect. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/10 "2012-12-07T21:32:12Z")
I was thinking NORAD (aka Cheyenne Mountain Complex) and when googling, came up with this - which lists several places in the US suitable for surviving zombies, chemical warfare, natural phenomona, etc. [http://justpiper.com/survival/nine-best-u-s-places-to-survive-the-apocalypse/](http://justpiper.com/survival/nine-best-u-s-places-to-survive-the-apocalypse/) ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/11 "2012-12-07T21:42:02Z")
If you stay in your own house, you will be perfectly from any “end of the world” events on December 21. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/12 "2012-12-07T22:12:40Z")
Western Idaho. [ul] [li]Tectonically sound [/li][li]Far enough inland for any epic tsunami. [/li][li]Enough elevation - just handy in general[/li][li]West of the Yellowstone super volcano’s eruption and fallout[/li][li]Low population density[/li][li]Resources: national forest with rivers for water, hunting, and fishing[/li][li]Lack of major highways and interstate - keeps the likelihood of outsiders low[/li][/ul] That’s just off the top of my head. I’m no prepper. I don’t even have a flashlight. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/13 "2012-12-07T22:20:32Z")
If it involves living in an underground school bus, you can count me out. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/14 "2012-12-07T22:39:30Z")
We have two vicious attack kitties named Boris and Natasha - they will protect us from anything the Mayans can throw at us. You’re welcome to come crash with us - I suspect the pantry could sustain us through a nuclear holocaust. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/15 "2012-12-07T22:49:38Z")
> [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > If you stay in your own house, you will be perfectly from any “end of the world” events on December 21. I’m planning to ride it out in my recliner. Only seats one, though. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/16 "2012-12-08T00:19:54Z")
As I understand it the end-of-the-world protection give by Bugarath is due to the Aliens that live underneath the nearby mountain (I am unclear on how or why they plan on protecting the town). So probably the US equivalent would be Mt Shasta in California which is also allegedly populated by a race of mountain-dwelling aliens (allegations which I am sure have nothing to do with the prodigious amount of high-quality cannabis produced and smoked in those parts): [http://www.ufodigest.com/article/mysteries-mount-shasta-home-underground-dwellers-and-ancient-gods](http://www.ufodigest.com/article/mysteries-mount-shasta-home-underground-dwellers-and-ancient-gods) ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/17 "2012-12-08T00:32:07Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > As I understand it the end-of-the-world protection give by Bugarath is due to the Aliens that live underneath the nearby mountain (I am unclear on how or why they plan on protecting the town). > > So probably the US equivalent would be Mt Shasta in California which is also allegedly populated by a race of mountain-dwelling aliens (allegations which I am sure have nothing to do with the prodigious amount of high-quality cannabis produced and smoked in those parts): > [http://www.ufodigest.com/article/mysteries-mount-shasta-home-underground-dwellers-and-ancient-gods](http://www.ufodigest.com/article/mysteries-mount-shasta-home-underground-dwellers-and-ancient-gods) Bugarach ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/18 "2012-12-08T01:54:51Z")
Yucca Flat? No, looks like I was thinking of [Yucca Mountain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_Mountain). [Yucca Flat](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_Flat) is funnier, though. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/19 "2012-12-08T02:19:09Z")
I plan to spend that week at **Skald the Rhymer’s** house. But don’t tell him…it’s a surprise… ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301/20 "2012-12-08T02:27:43Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > I plan to spend that week at **Skald the Rhymer’s** house. > But don’t tell him…it’s a surprise… It’ll be a total bummer when you find out he’s only hypothetically prepared. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-safe-places-in-the-usa-to-survive-the-end-of-the-world/643301.md?page=2)