Worst States to Bug In. Do You Live in One of Them?

Article originally published on Ask A Prepper!

When the grid goes down and chaos sets in, your location could mean the difference between survival and disaster. There’s no ideal place, when SHTF, but you want to know the harsh truth? Some states are practically death traps when it comes to bugging in. Overcrowded cities, crippling laws that strip you of your right to defend yourself, sky-high crime rates, and unforgiving weather, all of it can turn your so-called safe haven into a ticking time bomb. Let’s take a hard look at the worst states to bug in and find out if your home is already working against you.

California: The Red Tape Nightmare

California may offer stunning views and sunshine but don’t let the scenery fool you. When crisis hits, this state becomes a nightmare for anyone planning to bug in. With some of the harshest laws in the country, your ability to defend your home could be crippled when you need it most. And in a state teeming with people, especially in urban jungles like Los Angeles or San Francisco, the scramble for dwindling resources will be ruthless. When millions are desperate, chaos isn’t just possible. It’s inevitable.

But the real danger doesn’t stop there. California is a tinderbox, and if a wildfire strikes, your well-stocked safe zone could become an inescapable inferno. Add to that the crushing weight of building codes, water restrictions, and sky-high taxes, and you’re left with a hard truth: California may look like heaven, but for preppers, it’s a trap waiting to spring.

If you want to increase your chances of handling wildfires effectively, it’s absolutely crucial to ensure you have access to a sufficient water supply. You should know that there’s this backpack-sized water generator out there that can that make almost 40 gallons of water per day. Out of thin air!

New York: Packed and Policed

What happens when the unthinkable strikes the heart of New York City? The moment disaster hits, the city becomes a trap. So many people crammed together in a concrete maze with nowhere to run. Streets choke with panicked crowds. Shelves empty in hours. Imagine being surrounded by desperate people, all fighting for the same dwindling resources. How long could you last?

And if you think you can defend yourself… Well, think again! New York’s strict gun laws leave you frighteningly exposed. When law enforcement is overwhelmed, and help is nowhere in sight, what options do you really have to protect your family? Then there’s the cold. Brutal winters combined with a shaky power grid can quickly turn your apartment or house into an icebox. Could you survive days, or maybe weeks, without heat?

How to Ride Out a Crisis in NY

If you’re planning to ride out a crisis in New York, especially in New York City, you have to think seriously about prepping. One of the main things you need to take care of is your property. You must ensure that your resources, of any kind, are protected, along with your family. To be confident that you’re truly ready to face what’s coming, start researching. Get informed through credible sources that offer real, practical solutions you can actually implement.

The Bug-In Guide comes straight from former Navy SEAL Joel Lambert – a battle-tested expert who’s been on the front lines when the lights go out and chaos takes over. He’s lived through real-world system breakdowns and knows exactly how to keep your critical gear safe, powered, and fully functional when it matters most.

Inside, you’ll get a clear, no-fluff plan to protect your electronics from EMPs using EMP Cloth, grid failures, and the unpredictable aftermath of a full-blown crisis. No guesswork. Just proven tactics to keep you one step ahead of disaster.

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s inside:

• A forgotten military grounding hack that drains excess voltage before it destroys your gear
• The critical 10-second window after blackout – what you do right then makes all the difference
• One everyday item hiding in plain sight that could sabotage your Faraday setup
• The best (and worst) places to store shielded devices in your house
• The 3 unexpected tools you must protect to maintain long-term survival
• Smart tactics to outfox FEMA once things fall apart
• A DIY booster that can turn any weak radio signal into a lifeline
• How to tap into a car battery to keep your comms alive off-grid

This is the kind of knowledge you’ll wish you had before the blackout hits. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Hurry up and get 68% OFF now!

Illinois: Crime and Control in One of the Worst States to Bug In

In Illinois, especially in Chicago, the danger isn’t hypothetical. High crime rates already plague the city, but when the systems we rely on fail, things won’t just get worse. They’ll spiral out of control. Picture a city where fear reigns, where the sound of sirens fades and survival becomes a street-by-street battle. Are you prepared for that?

The state of Illinois lacks vital natural resources, and its crowded cities are tethered to fragile, overworked supply chains. When those break down, you won’t just be inconvenienced. You’ll be trapped. No gas. No clean water. Empty shelves. Desperation sets in fast. The only way out? Cut the cord. Go off-grid. Because when the system fails, survival belongs to those who’ve stopped depending on it.

Florida: The Hurricane Hellhole

In Florida, bugging in can quickly become a death sentence. Hurricanes don’t just knock down trees. They wipe out entire regions, leaving destruction in their wake. Roads vanish under floodwater. Power grids fail. Clean water disappears. And all the while, the heat and humidity grow unbearable. Could you survive for without electricity, without help, with no way out?

Even with Florida’s looser gun laws, self-defense won’t save you from the chaos a storm unleashes. Storm surges don’t care how well-armed you are. Neither do 150-mph winds tearing your home apart. And when the storm passes, that’s when things get worse. Looting. Desperation. Isolation. Hurricanes can shift paths in hours. By the time the warning comes, you may already be trapped. That’s why you have to stay informed, and always ready to pack your bags and leave.

New Jersey: Crowded and Costly

New Jersey is a ticking time bomb for anyone planning to bug in. Overcrowded cities. Fragile supply lines. Brutal winters. When disaster hits, shelves will empty in hours, streets will gridlock, and panic will spread faster than any response can contain it. How do you survive when millions of others are just as desperate, and just as unprepared?

Then there’s the economic squeeze. New Jersey is one of the most heavily taxed states in America. Sky-high property taxes and cost of living already push many to the brink. If you’re living pay-check to pay-check, how do you stockpile food, water, medical gear?

Most won’t. However, you can, if you’re smart and calculated. There are many canned goods you can find for under $1. From corn, beans, and peas to potatoes, cabbage, spinach, or asparagus – you can stock up on valuable foods you can truly rely on.

Stockpiling is one thing – but knowing how to manage and prepare food the right way is what truly makes the difference when every calorie counts. To get the most nutrition and shelf life out of your supplies, you need more than instincts: you need knowledge. That’s why you should keep a complete guide at home, packed with survival recipes and practical tips for when times get really tough.

Massachusetts: Strict Regulations and Cold Winters

Massachusetts may look peaceful, but for preppers… Not really. In a prolonged crisis, when law enforcement is stretched to the breaking point, your ability to defend your home shrinks to near zero, considering the strict gun laws. And with high population density, you won’t be alone for long. Everyone will be hungry. Everyone will be desperate.

Now add in the cold. New England winters are relentless. Blizzards, ice storms, and sub-zero nights can shut down entire regions. What happens when the power grid fails and doesn’t come back for days… or weeks? No heat, hot water, or safety net. Could you keep your family alive in a frozen home, cut off from help? It’s not all doom and gloom, though. There are things that you can do to prepare for when SHTF.

“One of the smartest moves you can make right now, if you live in Massachusetts, is to reduce your dependence on conventional sources of food, heat, and water. Study trusted survival resources and turn your property into a self-sustaining stronghold capable of keeping you and your family alive and well when things go South everywhere else.

Hawaii: Isolation Isn’t Always Good

Hawaii might look like a dream, but in a real crisis, you wouldn’t want to live off grid there. Everything has to be shipped in. Food, fuel, medicine. The moment supply chains break, the islands become isolated and vulnerable. Shelves go empty. Gas dries up. Panic sets in. How long do you think your neighbors will stay calm when there’s nothing left to eat?

Then there’s the cost. Prepping in Hawaii isn’t just difficult. It’s nearly impossible for the average person. The high cost of living makes stockpiling supplies a luxury few can afford. But perhaps the most terrifying threat is the land itself. Volcanoes, tsunamis, hurricanes. Hawaii is surrounded by danger. When disaster strikes, evacuation is nearly impossible. You’re not driving to safety. You’re stuck on an island… hoping the next wave, eruption, or storm doesn’t take everything.

👉 Learn about surviving in the wild here in the Wilderness Long-Term Survival Guide — before the current stock runs out.

Alaska: The Harsh Wilderness

Alaska might seem like a prepper’s paradise from many point of views. It is vast, remote, resource-rich. But don’t be fooled. In a crisis, Alaska doesn’t forgive mistakes. It buries them. The winters are long, dark, and lethal. Temperatures plunge far below zero, and when the power fails – and it will – you’re not just uncomfortable. You’re fighting to survive every hour. Without heat, every breath is a countdown.

And isolation? It cuts both ways. Sure, there are fewer people, but that also means no quick help, no restocking, no easy fixes. If you run out of fuel, food, medicine—you’re out. No roads. No resupply. Just you, the wilderness, and a problem you’d better have already solved. Unless you’re highly trained, fully equipped, and mentally hardened, Alaska will chew you up. This isn’t survival theory. Tt’s survival reality.

Connecticut: Laws and Limitations

Connecticut may look orderly on the surface, but in a crisis, it becomes a pressure cooker. As desperation starts to rise in a state with high population density, you won’t be the only one scrambling for food, water, and fuel. The competition will be fierce, and not everyone will play fair.

Then there’s the cold. New England winters aren’t just inconvenient. They’re deadly when the power goes out. Could you keep your family warm when the grid fails, with no heat and no backup?

And don’t forget the financial strain. With some of the highest taxes in the country, many families are already stretched thin. Connecticut also leans hard on external supply chains. When they collapse, so does your access to the essentials. Unless you prepare well, and avoid doing silly mistakes.

One huge mistake you should avoid is relying on conventional electricity sources and paying big amounts of money for energy, when you can easily cut your power bills by up to 65%.

What Can You Do If You Live in One of The Worst States to Bug In?

If you find yourself living in one of these less-than-ideal bug-in states, all hope is not lost. The key is preparation and knowing your surroundings. Here are a few steps you can take:

1. Know Your Neighbors: In a crisis, trust is rare and danger is close. If you’re surrounded by strangers, you’re surrounded by risks. Build alliances now. In high-density areas, having even a few reliable people could be the only thing keeping you from being overrun.
2. Stock Wisely: In a collapse, resupply won’t be an option. Focus on what your area will lose first. Cold state? No power means no heat and no second chances. Hurricane zone? Water rises fast.
3. Get Creative with Defense: If you’re in a state that disarms you, you’ll need to think like a survivor, not a victim. Crossbows, blades, pepper spray – whatever keeps danger out and you alive. Reinforce your home. Plan chokepoints. Prepare to defend it.
4. Practice Self-Reliance: When the grid fails and stores are looted, your survival depends on what you already know. Can you grow food? Purify water? Stay warm without power? If not, learn now. The moment the system breaks, it’s every man for himself.
5. Have a Bug-Out Plan: No matter how secure you feel, you may be forced to run. Know your exits. Have your destination ready. Keep a go-bag by the door. Because when it’s time to go, you won’t get a warning.

Final Thoughts

Bugging in sounds like a solid plan—until your surroundings turn against you. If you live in one of the wrong states, and don’t prepare well, it could be fatal. Harsh laws leave you vulnerable. Natural disasters can drive you out with no warning. And once chaos starts, it moves fast. Will you be trapped… or prepared?

Survival isn’t just about having gear. It’s about knowing the threats creeping closer every day.  Your future may hinge on what you do now. Because when the time comes to act, hesitation is the first step toward becoming a statistic.  What other challenges do you expect if you’re living in one of these states? Do you think there are other regions that are just as vulnerable? Let’s talk about it in the comments below!