A survey has revealed the US states that would be the safest places to hide if aliens invaded Earth.
The analysis couldn't come at a better time as public concern over the threat of an alien invasion has skyrocketed.
'Gone are the days when it was regarded as part fringe, part-science fiction, and part conspiracy theory,' said former UK Ministry of Defense UFO investigator Nick Pope.
'UFOs are now being treated as a defense and national security issue, discussed in the United States Congress, and attracting attention from the Head of NASA.'
Nearly two thirds of Americans now believe that aliens exist, and roughly one third consider UFO sightings to be proof - a significant increase from 20 percent in 1996.
And internet searches for 'what would happen if aliens came to Earth' have increased a 2,850 percent in recent months.
Safety officials are prepping for an extra-terrestrial emergency too. In June, the first ever police handbook on UFOs was released, offering guidance to law enforcement on how to respond to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena.
If you're wondering where you should flee in the event that aliens attack, this survey should point you in the right direction.
Rant Casino pulled data on the number of UFO sightings and the average duration of 'UFO visits' from the National UFO Reporting Centre Database and aggregated it per US state.
The number of sightings could suggest that aliens have been circling and planning the invasion, and thus the number and duration of sightings in each state may be linked to the odds of an invasion starting there.
Therefore, states with the lowest number of UFO sightings were ranked safest.
Additionally, one of the first things people should due to survive an alien attack is to hide.
Because of this, Rant Casino decided that states with lower population densities may be safer during an invasion, as they would provide more space for people to take cover, evacuate or organize a counter attack.
This means that rural states or those with large uninhabited regions were given an edge over more densely populated states.
Each state received a score on the zero to 10 alien survival index scale.
Virginia came out on top as the safest US state to flee to during an alien invasion, scoring 8.03 out of 10.
This state has the highest per capita military presence in the nation, which means it would be well-equipped to defend itself against extra-terrestrial invaders.
Additionally, this state's landscape boasts some strong natural defenses, including 29 caves and 63 percent forest cover that could make it easier to hide from the skyward threat.
Alabama came in second place, scoring 7.9 out of 10.
This state is home to 35 caves and the highest forest coverage among the top safest states. It also has a strong per capita law-enforcement presence, which positions it well for coordinated defense efforts.
What's more, Alabama's relatively low UFO sighting rate of 2.76 per 10,000 people suggests that extra-terrestrials aren't eyeing this state for a potential invasion.
The rest of the top 10 safest states, ranked in order of most safe to least safe, were Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York, Florida, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Alaska and Georgia.
As for the states least likely to survive an alien invasion, it will come as no surprise that Nevada was ranked number one with a score of 5.31 out of 10.
This state, which is home to the infamous Area 51, has a high UFO sighting rate of of 5.41 per 10,000 residents.
Nevada is also mostly desert. The lack of natural cover and water sources would make it a challenging place to hide out if aliens invaded.
Idaho was ranked the second most vulnerable state in part due to its remarkably high number of UFO sightings: 6.95 per 10,000 people.
Plus, this state has the lowest per-capita healthcare workforce in the nation at just lowest per capita healthcare workforce, which would make it difficult to treat people injured during a violent alien attack.
The rest of the top 10 most vulnerable states, ranked in order of most vulnerable to least vulnerable, were Arizona, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Wyoming.
