What are considered to be the safest places on earth, in the event of widespread Y2K disasters?

The question is in reference to safety from incidents such as potential nuclear reactor accidents, water pollution, food and distribution breakdowns, and utility/climate problems. Are there countries, and areas within these countries that are considered to be at less risk?

What are the areas at most risk?

I recently saw a map of nuclear reactors in the United States and was alarmed at how spread out they are. Is there any country on earth that is a safe distance from reactors like this?

Living in the New England area and realizing it's probably not the best place to spend a Y2K winter disaster, I am trying to figure out where is a good place/state/other country to move to. Is there a website where I can obtain specific information on this?

Your response is appreciated.

Thanks.

-- Kate R. (KKRK@usa.net), September 18, 1999

Answers

lots & lotsa places to hide out in n.m.--snowbird country.

-- clue, (dogs@zianet.com), September 18, 1999.

Kate,

Joel Skousen has a book out called "the safest place to live in America"

you can hear him on the artbell.com archives

there is also a very good web site (Linkmeister? - it's in the archives) which lists maps of the usa, and shows, amongst other things, which cities may be targeted by ICBM's, where the fallout will be accoding to winddrift, where all the nuke plants are in the usa (mainly eastern seabord) - etc...

Good luck :)

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), September 18, 1999.

The safest place in the world for Y2K would be a small, uninhabited island in the southern hemisphere that is of no economic or military importance to anyone. A less expensive option would be a small island in the Hawaiian chain or the Gulf of Alaska.

-- Cigaretta Smoking Man (csm@smoke.com), September 18, 1999.

Your question reminds me of when I was in NBC* Warfare training in bootcamp. The instructor asked "Where is the best place to be in the event of a nuclear explosion?"

Answer: Anywhere you can say "what the hell was that?"

-- Tuan Cu Mhara (Strider X6@aol.com), September 18, 1999.

Kate,

To the best of my knowledge, New Mexico has no reactors. It also has my vote as one of the most beautiful places to live in the US. Might be a great place to park if you are interested in staying in the US.

-- mike (maples@ voy.net), September 18, 1999.

New Zealand is a beautiful country and far enough below the equator.

-- no talking please (breadlines@soupkitchen.gov), September 18, 1999.

With regards to nuclear fall out, the southern hemisphere is the place to be. If I had a choice, I would pick the east coast of Australia. No nukes, good farm land, can grow anything, depending on where you locate. Tasmania has a southern Oregon climate with 4 seasons. As you go north it becomes tropical. West coast is also nice. Stay out of the Northern Territory... getting too close to Indonesia which, for you that have no knowledge of Indonesia, is totally out of control. Most of the army is actually composed of private/regional armies that are run by warlords, for want of a better name. This is why the Indonesian gov't has no control over the army. Many of the islands of Indonesia have been "taken" this century. East Timor belonged to Portugal who gave them their independence. Indonesia then moved in and took them over. They are doing the same with Irian Jaya, which is the eastern half of New Guinae. Same with Bali. If my memory serves me right, Irian Jaya was given independence from Portugal and the Dutch. I think the Brits were in there someplace too at one time. And what I started to say was that this whole mess is but a hours flight from the north central coast of Australia. So I choose the southern part of Australia with Tassie being my first choice. NZ is also a good choice. Unfortuantely you don't just pick up and move to another country. Especially New Zealand. If you wish to become a resident of Australia, you have to put A$500,000 in a bank down there and still be sponsored by someone. They don't want you on their social system. New Zealand is much harder and has age requirements, marriage, skills, etc. Doesn't matter if you are Bill Gates, if you are over 45 or a single parent, the gates are closed. Chris in the UK is moving to the Caribbean and she has been working on residency papers for 4 years. So best you stay in the States. We have property in Costa Rica and in Mexico. I can't see either of these areas where property is located being overrun. But will still take my chances in the States where I know the system, language, geography, culture, etc. Stick with what you know!! There now... you have my two bits worth.

Taz...

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), September 18, 1999.

Kate, Kate,

You're far too late.

Look at the date,

Kate.

I fear you are serious. Then go south and west in your own country. Far enough, if reactors are your major concern, to get upwind, not downwind, of the closest one. From New England that will be journey enough to handle. Don't go near Illinois.

-- Sol (better@gonow.then), September 18, 1999.

This was on another thread. we went there...VERY INTERESTING if you have a couple of millions. ---

ASIAN EDITION OF WALL STREET JOURNAL SUGGESTS MILLIONAIRES PLANNING GRACIOUS LIVING IN CASE OF TEOTWAWKI.

The following ad for millionaires says it all.

ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE. Energy- independent villa in Paradise. A wonderful escape from millennium uncertainties on the fabulous Kona Coast. A quarter ton of food. Safest Y2K investment and hideout. Sale by owner. Take a tour of it now: www.hawaiinetdirectory.com/ halemana.html

The interesting part is the Big Island description and I would like to hear from anyone about Hawaii. I am not a millionaire but the story on this web site about the Big Island is very appealing

-- Z (Z@zzz.net), September 18, 1999.

There's an apocryphal snippet in a Larry Niven (S-F writer) article/story about a guy in thelate 1930's who *just knew* that war was going to break out. So, he took it on the lam to the furthest-away place he could think of, a little nondescript island in the middle of the South Pacific, where he could wait out the impending hard times in tranquil peace.

A tiny island named Iwo Jima.

I mention this not for whatever possible truth the story might possess, but for the following concept:

In *truly* hard times, there is no *truly* safe place. Or if there is, it's only safe for some indeterminant period of time, and if you stay past that period (especially unbeknownst to you), it could turn out to be the *worst* place.

That'll be 2 cents worth...

-- Hugh (hewiggins@mindspring.com), September 18, 1999.

Hugh,

A similar story made the rounds in NYC back in the 80s, about a couple that had decided they were fed up with pollution, crowding, noise, etc. -- and began looking for the most out-of-the-way place they could imagine, but something that still had some vestige of Anglo-American culture. So they looked, and they looked, and they finally came up with a small, tranquil group of islands in the south Atlantic, off the coast of South America. A group of islands known known as ... the Falklands.

Kate: I agree with the comment above that it's too late to seriously consider moving and establishing any kind of relationships in a new community. I moved to New Mexico almost two years ago, and am by no means considered a long-time resident. As for nuclear reactors: no, there aren't any commercial nukes in the state, but there are nuclear waste facilities down in the southern part of the state. In the northern part of the state, there is a modest research establishment you may have heard about in recent newspaper stories: Los Alamos National Labs. I assume that the most dangerous thing these folks are playing with is their computer simulations...

Ed

-- Ed Yourdon (HumptyDumptyY2K@yourdon.com), September 18, 1999.

Kate, you may want to take a look at the article on my website entitled "Serious Voluntary Relocation". (For those of you who read the version of it I posted on this forum a few days ago, I have added to it since.) Also, look at the national maps section at the bottom of the "Minnesota Emergency/Weather Maps" article on my site. Lastly, this other map isn't linked from my website yet, but I don't want you to have to wait for the relocation-related information it includes. (It's on the extent of forestation in various points in the U.S.; very important for fuel supply judgement.) http://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/land/lgif/m2325l.gif

Hope all this helps.

My site: www.y2ksafeminnesota.com (broke 10,000 hits yesterday)

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), September 18, 1999.

Hugh,I knew those people who moved to the Falklands that you refered to. Right after the war they leased their property to the British Army for a new Base ( the old one was bombed out) they have since moved to Kona and retired and are worth millions. Mr Yourdon,if you got the cash it's not too late to move---remember "shit walks and money talks" but in another month or two I fear you'll be right>By the way N.Mexico has one of the largest complexes of underground bases in America,who kn0ows what their cooking up under you--Best buy that mansion overlooking Kona! Ps, We would love to have you for a neighbor.

-- Old Kahuna (Finelife@surf'sup.com), September 18, 1999.

Old Kahuna,

Underground bases here in NM? Geez, I wondered what those noises were underneath my house!

Re the question of whether it's too late to move: yeah, sure, if you've got the cash, I suppose that you have the option to move right up until New Year's Eve ... but aside from the specific problems of nuclear reactors that Kate started this thread about, I think there is some virtue to moving someplace where you have a chance of being accepted as part of the community, rather than being seen as "that rich SOB who fled the city at the last minute and paid a fortune for that house on the edge of town..."

Ed

-- Ed Yourdon (HumptyDumptyY2K@yourdon.com), September 18, 1999.

Mr Yourdon. Thanks for the Big Island wake up call you performed this summer. Becuse of your visit y2k awareness is much better.a most sincere thank you. the state and county have still not announced a program beyond saying everything is peachy and the county mayor has devoted no funding to preparation. In reaity we've never expected anything but the party line from the imperial government in Hilo, As to nuclear safety,we have no nuc's here and the land gives us a bounty of fruits and veggies-I second the invite as you would make a great neighbor! there are millionaires aplenty but they flock to gated multi-millon dollar digs. All in all, Hawaii is one of the greatest places you can land and still be under the flag.Yes we've got wallyworld-costco- ect and no appearant shortages yet. so keep up the great work and much safety and security to you and yours. Aloha!

-- Another Ed (merek@aloha.net), September 18, 1999.

Kate,

There is a book written by Sun Bear,that goes into detail of where the safest places are to live in the U.S. He talks about the water supply and safety,nukes,weather,the drought that will come and so much more.There is a map of the U.S. where he has pointed out the places to live and to avoid.He also list other places of the world.

I bought his book about six years ago.I don't remember the exact title,it is something like ---day,-----dawn.I would give more info but I can't find my book.

-- maggie (aaa@aaa.com), September 18, 1999.

Serious! I had no idea that it was so hard to enter Australia. I moved from Sydney to outskirts of Brisbane on rural acreage. Wonderful. Wouldn't touch Sydney with a 10 foot pole, too expensive, to overcrowded now. North Coast of New South Wales and close to the New South Wales border in Queensland is just wonderful. There are many people here now around these areas very Y2K aware. We thought of relocating inland but too expensive. Culture is not that different from US, Queensland country is very laid back. Keep away from Melbourne, Sydney. Tasmania is just wonderful but very very slow. But on the other had great for self sufficiency. Regards Pamela

-- Pamela J (pamelav@vandersound.com.au), September 19, 1999.

More on places of safety Serious! I had no idea that it was so hard to enter Australia. I moved from Sydney to outskirts of Brisbane on rural acreage. Wonderful. Wouldn't touch Sydney with a 10 foot pole, too expensive, to overcrowded now. North Coast of New South Wales and close to the New South Wales border in Queensland is just wonderful. There are many people here now around these areas very Y2K aware. We thought of relocating inland but too expensive. Culture is not that different from US, Queensland country is very laid back. Keep away from Melbourne, Sydney. Tasmania is just wonderful but very very slow. But on the other had great for self sufficiency. Regards Pamela

-- Pamela J (pamelav@vandersound.com.au), September 19, 1999.

Anybody know where's the web site Andy mentions above? I have been looking for this kind of site, with maps of nuke plants, fallout patterns, prevailing winds etc. Please Help!! Thanks

-- Deb (deb@needhelp.com), September 19, 1999.

No where is safe. Think about it. Nuclear fallout will affect everyone! Everyone is dependent on the infrastructure and we all feed off of something. It doesn't matter how remote you are, you will need something from someone sometime and most of the the time! The world is getting smaller, we are over populated, we are draining the earth of nonrenewable resources, and someone wants to know where to cover their butt best! THERE AIN'T NO UTOPIA!

-- Reality In Check (realist@realisttt.com), September 19, 1999.

Evaluation of the safest places is found in Joel Skousen's book "Strategic Relocation" Several of the best are NW Arkansas, the mountains of northern New Mexico (where Ed Yourdon relocated), northern Minnesota and right here in East Texas. (See the post about our self sufficient Christian community on North's Relocation Forum at http://206.67.59.5/wwwboard13/index.html or E-mail me directly)

You may contact Joel to purchase the book at jskousen@enol.com (incidentally Joel is the moderator of the Relocation Forum)

RK

-- RK Mount (rkmount@t2kprep.com), September 19, 1999.

I guess those of us left will get in our wagon trains and make it to Ed's place. We'll bring seeds, sour dough starter and tools to start over. I won't venture to Arkansas due to the fact that everyone there is related to each other, you know, the gene pool is contaminated, must be all of Bill Clintons clan. Northern Minnesota, tooo cold for my butt, long winters and short summers. East Texas....hmmmm, red neck country, I'll pass, but I'll bring some chew'n tabacky for barter on our way to Ed's place. Wagon's Hoooooo! Raw Hideeeeee!

-- Packin Up (packin up@packinuppp.com), September 20, 1999.

Some fellows did hide successfully from the British navy at Pitcairn Island. So I checked the add offered above........

The following ad for millionaires says it all.

ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE. Energy- independent villa in Paradise. A wonderful escape from millennium uncertainties on the fabulous Kona Coast. A quarter ton of food. Safest Y2K investment and hideout. Sale by owner. Take a tour of it now: www.hawaiinetdirectory.com/ halemana.html

-- Z (Z@zzz.net), September 18, 1999.

======= Well I went to the page...a bit more than I can afford...but the island is truly a place to consider. Lots of water ...plenty of food...low population...great climate. One could camp on abeach and survive quite well.

-- Bligh (Bligh@Bounty.HMS), September 21, 1999.