What a Zombie Outbreak in Odessa Would Look Like

Straight out of a Hollywood movie, if a zombie apocalypse were to ever happen in West Texas, Odessa might be the last place where the undead could flourish.

Why?

It's not just because of the heat. With its harsh climate, sparse population, and heavily armed residents, Odessa presents a uniquely unwelcoming environment for the walking dead.

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First Obstacle: The Terrain

The first challenge zombies would face upon entering Odessa, Texas, is the terrain.

Odessa is located in the heart of the Permian Basin, a region characterized by its arid conditions, intense sun, and expansive open spaces.

Zombies, usually slow and decaying, would struggle to move through the dusty plains and oilfield infrastructure.

With few trees and minimal cover available, they would be easy targets for the locals, who, let's be honest, would likely take pleasure in gunning them down.

Second Obstacle: The Population

The population density in Odessa actually works in the residents' favor. Unlike big cities where zombies could spread quickly, Odessa’s layout and the nearby rural areas would help slow down any outbreak.

One Redditor humorously pointed out in a Texas Monthly thread that "a zombie outbreak that turns Austin into a nightmare could go largely unnoticed on the outskirts of a place like Amarillo."

The same idea applies to Odessa: with fewer people around, there would be fewer initial infections, giving everyone more time to react effectively.

Third Obstacle: The Oilfields

The third obstacle for the zombies to overcome would be the oilfields themselves.  It poses a threat to zombies that many people may overlook. The region is dotted with, ironically enough, “zombie wells.”

These are abandoned oil wells that leak methane and other toxic gases into the environment.  It is just a coincidence that they are called "zombie wells" in case the irony escaped you.

While these wells are a serious environmental concern for humans, they’d likely be even worse for decomposing bodies.

Exposure to methane, fracking fluids, and other pollutants could accelerate decay or even neutralize the undead threat altogether.

Some of these structures can be used as traps to lure them in and then ignite them in an attempt to eliminate many of them at once.

Read More: Can People Who Bury Family on Their Property Skip Paying Taxes?

Final Obstacle: The Community

In 2025, while some may seem disingenuous or outright mean, a zombie apocalypse would likely unite the community in the region.

Individuals from diverse backgrounds, including varying social statuses, financial situations, races, and religions, would unite as a community for the sake of mutual protection.