Surviving the zombie apocalypse
Most of us have seem at least one zombie movie. The plot lines typically follow the usual pattern. Someone gets infected becoming a zombie, the infection spreads and a group of survivors band together to fight their way to safety. So how would you fair if a zombie outbreak occurred? For the sack of this exercise let us assume that the zombies have been infected by some sort of virus that can be transmitted via a bite.
There is really only one rule that all zombie preparation must be based around, and that rule is: DON'T GET BITTEN. Although this sounds blindingly obvious this rule should always be in the back of your mind. Also remember that if you are with a group of people and are attacked by zombies you don't need to outrun them. You just need to outrun the slowest member of your group.
Zombies can be broken down into two main types, slow or fast. Slow zombies are the best type to deal with as it is easy to outrun them. Just remember that although they lack speed they make up for it in sheer numbers. The second type are the fast zombies and these are the ones that will cause you the most problems. Traveling on foot is out of the question so it is imperative that you get access to some form of transport as soon as possible.
Regardless of whether the zombies are slow or fast there are several characteristics that you should note:
- Strength
- Intelligence
- Survival skills
Strength
Zombies with increased strength should be avoided at all costs. Not only are they likely to overpower you at close range they could potentially smash their way through any improvised barricades you have.
Intelligence
Zombies may still possess some form of intelligence. The level of it will dictate what defenses and barricades you need. If they can't even open a door then simply shutting one may very well save your life. The more intelligent they are the more dangerous they are.
Survival skills
What are the zombies survival skills like? Will they eat the prey they kill, drink from water puddles in the street or are they just hell bent in infecting others? Needless to say that zombies with low survival skills are the best type. Even when the human body is turned into a zombie it will still need water and food to keep it going. It may be possible to barricade yourself in and simply wait for the zombies to die of dehydration or starvation.
Weapons
Remembering the primary rule of not being bitten it is better to avoid confrontation rather than getting into a fight. However if you must fight some weapons are better than others. Unless there are no alternatives melee weapons should be avoided. As zombies are unlikely to feel pain then crowbars and baseball bats are out. Likewise it is inadvisable to use a sword as this could potentially result in your infection due to contaminated blood splatters. When dealing with zombies ranged weapons are the best weapons. Shotguns, rifles and handguns are all good for self defense. Just remember to aim for the head and hopefully this will put the zombie out of action permanently.
Run or hide?
So the question now remains do you run or hide? The answer to that depends on what type of zombie you are up against. If they are slow moving with no survival skills then hiding and waiting for them to die of dehydration is the best plan. If you have sufficient food and water supplies then barricading yourself at home is a good idea. Just remember that zombies are likely to break through glass windows so these will have to be boarded up. If they are exhibiting signs of increased strength then the home barricade option may not be feasible. If you live in or have access to a multistory building then occupying the upper floors while barricading or destroying the stairwells would offer better protection. Another option is to take over the local supermarket. This has the added advantage of a large source of supplies. Just remember that in the ensuring chaos it may take some time to successfully barricade yourself into a large location like this. Unfortunately time is working against you.
If the zombies are fast moving and intelligent then the best plan is to get out of town and hopefully find a safe remote haven. The main goal is to load up as many supplies as possible and then evacuate the city. Unfortunately most remote houses and farmsteads are unlikely to be infected and the owners will be less than thrilled to see some stranger turn up on the doorstep. One option is to drive deep into an unpopulated region, find a good defensible spot and step up a base-camp.
Long term plan
If it's a worldwide outbreak with a high infection rate there is unlikely to be anyone coming to the rescue. At this point you need to consider your options. If the zombies lack survival skills then it will merely be a case of waiting for them to slowly die. This could take a month or two so be prepared with sufficient food and water. However if they look like they won't be dying anytime soon then a remote defensible location such as an island may be an option. For the very long term it may be necessary to start planting and farming crops in order to survive. So with a little forethought and planning you too can survive the zombie apocalypse.
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