50. Delaware

50. Delaware

The Blue Hen State has a lot going for it. According to one site, the world’s largest Lego tower was erected in Wilmington, Delaware. As the first state to ratify the constitution of these United States, it is a place rife with symbolism and historical significance.

However, in an apocalyptic scenario, Delaware unfortunately ranks last on my list of places you’d want to be.

As the second smallest state, it is also the 6^th densest, in terms of population. The crime rate is astoundingly high, as well. Dover is sometimes listed as one of the most dangerous small cities in the nation, with a violent crime rate significantly higher than the national and local averages. Given these two facts alone, it seems that Delaware would be a dangerous place to be under abnormal circumstances, since it is sometimes dangerous under normal ones. People act differently under stress, and the complete destruction of society would probably lead to some stress.

Delaware is also close to the major population centers of America. Located in the mid-Atlantic region, the state is smack dab in the heart of the eastern seaboard. It is a day or two’s walk from Philadelphia, a city with a euphemistic nickname that often doesn’t live up to its billing. Philadelphia is a wonderful city, and I love the people (great job on the Super Bowl win), but, boy, can their residents be mean. Delaware is also about a 2-3 day’s march from Manhattan.

On an important related note, Delaware doesn’t offer many places to hide. According to rivers.gov, the Blue Hen State offers a scant 2183 miles of river. That’s not a lot. And I wouldn’t recommend drinking most of that water, ESPECIALLY during the apocalypse. Given the state’s history with chemical plants, the proximity to one of the largest masses of humanity on the planet, and a variety of other factors, much of that fresh water would not be usable to any people who found a way to survive long enough for that to be important. There are some beautiful state parks and recreation areas, as well as some agricultural land that could offer the potential for shelter and the satisfaction of immediate needs. However, the relative dearth of such resources, coupled with the abundance of people likely to be competing for it spells disaster. With a capital D.

Or maybe apocalypse. Perhaps it should spell apocalypse.

Regardless, it’s bad.

On a final note, delawareonline.com reported that Delaware has a number of "food deserts." To put it plainly, that means there a number of areas where there are a lot of people but not a lot of grocery stores close by. The first place many people would go in a crisis is the grocery store. 

Delaware, this isn’t a dig at you. But, you ranked number fifty. My first and only tip for Delawareans in an apocalyptic event would be to get the fuck out of Delaware.

Exist and thrive, Grays.

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Resources:

https://247wallst.com/special-report/2018/01/24/most-dangerous-states-in-america-2/3/

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/quality-of-life/natural-environment

rivers.gov

http://worldpopulationreview.com/states/state-densities/

https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2015/09/13/delawares-food-deserts-grow/72213132/