Safest Place in the USA: Peebles, Ohio
It’s about time I started sharing information from my book (Survive 2012, available at Amazon). Something that makes it unique is the listings of safe spots around the world. While it is quite easy to nominate places that have substantial height, and are away from volcanoes and earthquakes and nuclear facilities, there are many other aspects that I took into consideration:
- ease of access from major cities
- off the beaten track
- affordability
- locals who would understand prepping
- good soil and rain, no extremes of weather
So for all the major population centers in the USA I provided escape routes and safe destinations. The USA is not a great place to be if a global cataclysm was to occur, but the best place for most people is somewhere they can get to. So while it is easy to tell my USA readers that Australia is the safest place in the world, what people really want is a local, achievable solution. For example, where should Dallas people flee to?
I don’t know where you live, so here’s my finest general recommendation for Americans: Peebles, Ohio (pop. 1700).
- Beyond the reach of the Yellowstone and Long Valley supervolcanoes
- More than 100 miles from a nuclear facility (FEMA suggests that 50 miles is safe – I’ve doubled it)
- Cheap land – you can buy 20 acres of flat, cleared land for $40,000
- Camping available
- Lots of local Amish would be skilled in self-sufficiency
- Cincinnati is not too far away if you need to scavenge
While there are other towns in the area I could have chosen, something that drew me to Peebles is the Great Serpent Mound just 5 miles away. Each Dec 21 the Friends of Serpent Mound hold a Lighting the Serpent event, which involves over 900 candles and a sacred fire. Perhaps a nice way of ushering in whatever the end of the Mayan calendar holds for us.
So, if I had to be in the USA this December, and there was no reason for me to be anywhere in particular – I’d choose Peebles.
