The end is near. If you believe a lot of books and movies and religious leaders, that is. And with the way world events are going, who knows, maybe World War III will erupt soon.
In any event, it’s not a bad idea to prepare – or at least be in a place that has a good chance at being prepared. If any state in the country is prepared for the apocalypse, it’s the Mountain State. We’ve survived a chemical leak that contaminated our water, devastating coal mining accidents, train derailments, and a derecho storm that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of us, just to name a few. The end of the world should be a piece of cake.
Here are the West Virginia cities that are best prepared to handle doomsday.
- Wheeling
Joanne C Sullivan/Flickr Wheeling is mostly in Ohio County, which is the most religious county in the state. Sixty-three percent of people there are religious. So even though the people may be dying, they’re probably OK with that.
- New Cumberland
Jon Dawson/Flickr And on the opposite end of the spectrum from Wheeling, New Cumberland is in Hancock County, which has the most “sin businesses” – liquor stores, casinos and adult entertainment. This won’t help you stay alive longer at the end of the world, but it could help you tolerate being alive.
- Charleston – and the surrounding area
Edsel Little/Flickr Residents of the Charleston metro area know a thing or two about having to stock up on bottled water, which will be important if a major event or war has cut off our water. Nine counties total were affected by the 2014 water crisis, which required us not to use our water for days. I dare say some residents probably keep bottled water on hand following that incident. Charleston is also more prepared because it’s the biggest city, so there are all kinds of places to hide there. There are also grocery stores and other businesses — and even a few outdoor stores that would have much needed supplies at the end of the world.
- Kingwood
FotoPhrog/Flickr Kingwood is near to Camp Dawson, a West Virginia Army Guard Facility. If it were doomsday, I wouldn’t mind having the protection of the military.
- Morgantown
Taber Andrew Bain/Flickr Morgantown has lots of war-time shelters that were constructed in the mid 20th century, according to an article in Morgantown Magazine. The only difficult part would be finding them when you need them. Another point in the city’s favor is West Virginia University, which has a reputation for partying. If the world has to end, you might as well party.
- Triadelphia
Joanne C Sullivan/Flickr Triadelphia has a Cabela’s distribution center. There’s probably plenty of guns, ammo and bottled water, which would be pretty valuable at the end of the world.
- Standard (in Kanawha County)
Boston Public Library Tichnor Brothers collection It used to be part of the West Virginia Turnpike, but now the tunnel is a empty 2,802 feet (two-lane vehicular tunnel that would be a great place to hide out in. This would take some work, but you could totally hide out in there from whatever is destroying the Earth.
- Summersville
Ken Thomas Water is important, obviously, and if the country’s water system is down, you’re gonna need to find a fresh water source. In West Virginia, you can’t do better than Summersville Lake, the largest in the Mountain State. Plus, there are beaches. If the world is gonna end, you might as well be at the beach.
- White Sulphur Springs
Melissa/Flickr The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs has a former secret bunker so big that it was designed to house Congress in the event of a nuclear war. Seems like a pretty good place to be in the event of doomsday.
- Huntington
Nicholas Eckhart Medical care is going to be essential at the apocalypse, and Huntington is in a good position for that. St. Mary’s Medical Center has been rated one of the best hospitals in the state. There’s also Cabell Huntington Hospital.
What do you think of this list? What West Virginia city would you want to be in at the end of the world?
Joanne C Sullivan/Flickr
Wheeling is mostly in Ohio County, which is the most religious county in the state. Sixty-three percent of people there are religious. So even though the people may be dying, they’re probably OK with that.
Jon Dawson/Flickr
And on the opposite end of the spectrum from Wheeling, New Cumberland is in Hancock County, which has the most “sin businesses” – liquor stores, casinos and adult entertainment. This won’t help you stay alive longer at the end of the world, but it could help you tolerate being alive.
Edsel Little/Flickr
Residents of the Charleston metro area know a thing or two about having to stock up on bottled water, which will be important if a major event or war has cut off our water. Nine counties total were affected by the 2014 water crisis, which required us not to use our water for days. I dare say some residents probably keep bottled water on hand following that incident. Charleston is also more prepared because it’s the biggest city, so there are all kinds of places to hide there. There are also grocery stores and other businesses — and even a few outdoor stores that would have much needed supplies at the end of the world.
FotoPhrog/Flickr
Kingwood is near to Camp Dawson, a West Virginia Army Guard Facility. If it were doomsday, I wouldn’t mind having the protection of the military.
Taber Andrew Bain/Flickr
Morgantown has lots of war-time shelters that were constructed in the mid 20th century, according to an article in Morgantown Magazine. The only difficult part would be finding them when you need them. Another point in the city’s favor is West Virginia University, which has a reputation for partying. If the world has to end, you might as well party.
Joanne C Sullivan/Flickr
Triadelphia has a Cabela’s distribution center. There’s probably plenty of guns, ammo and bottled water, which would be pretty valuable at the end of the world.
Boston Public Library Tichnor Brothers collection
It used to be part of the West Virginia Turnpike, but now the tunnel is a empty 2,802 feet (two-lane vehicular tunnel that would be a great place to hide out in. This would take some work, but you could totally hide out in there from whatever is destroying the Earth.
Ken Thomas
Water is important, obviously, and if the country’s water system is down, you’re gonna need to find a fresh water source. In West Virginia, you can’t do better than Summersville Lake, the largest in the Mountain State. Plus, there are beaches. If the world is gonna end, you might as well be at the beach.
Melissa/Flickr
The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs has a former secret bunker so big that it was designed to house Congress in the event of a nuclear war. Seems like a pretty good place to be in the event of doomsday.
Nicholas Eckhart
Medical care is going to be essential at the apocalypse, and Huntington is in a good position for that. St. Mary’s Medical Center has been rated one of the best hospitals in the state. There’s also Cabell Huntington Hospital.
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