Oklahoma Zombie Survival Index: 81/100

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The three tests

Oklahoma scored three times

A state that handles shamblers can get erased by sprinters. Here is how Oklahoma performs under each outbreak model.

Walking DeadThe Walking Dead

87

Slow zombies reward distance, terrain, food and freshwater. Oklahoma has about 4,123,288 people and 32.8 million acres in farm operations, plus 4.65 million cattle and calves, 181.3 million meat chickens and 106.4 million bushels of wheat. Against walkers there is time to turn all of that into a defensible long-term system.

World War ZWorld War Z

77

Fast zombies turn evacuation into a race against the road network, and Oklahoma does better here than most farm states. Only two real metros, low density everywhere else, and county-road redundancy that gives survivors genuine options. The open terrain is what keeps the score from going higher.

Last of UsThe Last of Us

79

Yes, we know they're not technically zombies. This asks whether a settlement can still work after modern supply chains stop. The food and energy are exceptional. Water is the constraint, and it gets worse the farther west you go — which is also where the terrain stops helping.

What helps

Open plains in the west and centre, with wooded Ozark and Ouachita terrain and lakes in the east
Major reservoirs, Red and Arkansas river systems, eastern lakes and groundwater, with drought stress increasing westward
32.8 million acres in farm operations
4.65 million cattle and calves
1.98 million hogs, 181.3 million meat chickens, 804 million pounds of milk, 106.4 million bushels of wheat and major hay, corn, cotton and sorghum production in 2025
Major oil and natural-gas production plus very large wind resources and a strong regional electric system
Tinker Air Force Base, Fort Sill, Altus Air Force Base, Vance Air Force Base and Oklahoma National Guard forces

What hurts

Tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, drought, extreme heat, wildfire, flooding and ice storms
Open terrain across much of the state offers limited natural barriers
Remote safety can trade away medical and repair access
Main corridors become population funnels after late evacuation

Get away from Oklahoma City and Tulsa early, then favour eastern Oklahoma near dependable lakes or groundwater, wooded terrain, farms and multiple secondary roads.

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The reason for the score

Oklahoma's zombie superpowers

Open plains in the west and centre, with wooded Ozark and Ouachita terrain and lakes in the east, determine movement, observation, evacuation and settlement options. The best refuge needs terrain plus water plus food plus energy plus access.

1 · Food and cattle

USDA lists 32.8 million farm acres, 4.65 million cattle and major wheat, hay, hog and poultry production.

2 · Energy

Oil, natural gas and wind give Oklahoma one of the strongest energy packages anywhere in the index.

3 · Space and roads

Low density and extensive road redundancy make evacuation easier than in compact states.

4 · Eastern terrain

The Ozark and Ouachita fringe adds water, forests and considerably better defensive terrain.

The catch

The sky, and the water table

Tornadoes

A shelter is not optional equipment in an Oklahoma survival plan. It is the plan.

Drought and heat

Western and central regions can turn water into the limiting resource very quickly.

Open terrain

Much of the state offers limited natural barriers, which costs it badly in the fast scenario.

The framework

25 survival factors, scored 1–10

Every state is measured on the same 25 factors. Weighting shifts by scenario — terrain matters more against sprinters, agriculture matters more in a long collapse.

01 Population density Low-moderate statewide density 8/10

02 Major city exposure Oklahoma City and Tulsa are the main concentrations 7/10

03 Road escape capacity Excellent highway and county-road redundancy 9/10

04 Freshwater availability Good eastern water, drier west 7/10

05 Agricultural capacity 32.8 million farm acres 10/10

06 Food self-sufficiency Massive cattle, wheat, hay, hog and poultry output 10/10

07 Wilderness & remote land Large rural areas 8/10

08 Natural defensive terrain Eastern hills and forests help; centre and west are open 7/10

09 Climate survivability Heat and weather extremes are significant 6/10

10 Winter zombie suppression Some winter suppression 5/10

11 Natural disaster risk Extreme tornado and severe-storm exposure plus drought 3/10

12 Energy production Elite oil and gas and strong generation 10/10

13 Off-grid energy potential Elite wind and good solar potential 10/10

14 Medical resources Adequate cities, sparse rural access 7/10

15 Military & Guard presence Large Air Force and Army presence 8/10

16 Emergency management Very strong severe-weather emergency capability 9/10

17 Supply & logistics Excellent central U.S. logistics 9/10

18 Infrastructure vulnerability Weather and grid exposure remain risks 6/10

19 Survival resource availability Food, fuel, livestock and energy are exceptional 10/10

20 Evacuation & refuge potential Excellent rural refuge potential 9/10

21 Natural barriers & water access Eastern lakes, rivers and hills create barriers 7/10

22 Distance from population centers Large areas far from giant metros 9/10

23 Chokepoint & bridge dependency Road redundancy is strong 8/10

24 Hunting, fishing & foraging Excellent hunting and fishing in the east 9/10

25 Long-term settlement potential Very strong where water and storm shelter are solved 9/10

Tactics

What works, by scenario

Strategy	Walking Dead	World War Z	Last of Us
Rural farm or ranch with independent water	Excellent	Very good if reached early	Excellent
Small agricultural town	Very good	Good	Excellent
Remote site with no food system	Good early	Very good for isolation	Poor long-term
Major highway evacuation	Good early, bad late	Terrible late	Poor after collapse
Major metro shelter	Poor	Terrible	Poor
Distributed renewable power	Very good	Good	Excellent
Hunting and fishing supplement	Very good	Good	Very good
One-road refuge	Risky	Risky	Risky

Geography

Where to be

Best overall

Eastern Oklahoma / Ozark-Ouachita fringe

Water, forests, farms and hills create the best balance in the state.

Dependable lakes and groundwater
Wooded terrain rather than open plain
Farms and cattle within reach
Secondary roads in several directions

Runner-up

Rural southeast Oklahoma

Strong forest and water resources with genuinely low population.

Third

North-central agricultural communities with proven water

Food and roads are excellent; the terrain is considerably more open.

Where not to be

Avoid early

Oklahoma City metro

Largest population and transport concentration in the state.

Avoid early

Tulsa metro

Regional movement and interstate exposure are the issue.

Avoid

Open rural site without a hardened storm shelter

The zombies are not the fastest thing in Oklahoma.

Verdict

81 out of 100 · Grade B− · Rank #23

Oklahoma is strong zombie-survival territory for groups that can manage severe weather. It has cattle, wheat, oil, natural gas, wind power, freshwater reservoirs, open land, and a relatively low population outside Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The catch is tornadoes, drought, extreme heat, hail, wildfire, and limited natural defensive terrain across much of the state. Energy and food are abundant, but the sky remains a recurring threat.

Walking Dead 87. World War Z 77. Last of Us 79.

Get away from Oklahoma City and Tulsa early, then favour eastern Oklahoma near dependable lakes or groundwater, wooded terrain, farms and multiple secondary roads.

See the national survey board

Method & sources

Where the numbers come from

The Zombie Survival Index is a fictional entertainment ranking that uses real public data as its inputs. Every state is scored on the same 25 factors under three outbreak models, and the overall number blends those results. All fifty states have been assessed and normalised against the same national scoring set.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 Population Estimates and QuickFacts
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2025 State Agriculture Overview
U.S. Energy Information Administration, State Electricity Profile
State water-resource and environmental agencies
State emergency-management agencies
U.S. Department of Defense and National Guard installation sources
State wildlife, hunting and fishing agencies
NOAA and state climatology and hazard sources