Zombie apocalypse

[superbygk]

If a zombie apocalypse were to happen, what would you do? How would you prepare?

Me, I live on the 2nd floor of a three story apartment building, so I already have a bit of an advantage. I already regularly buy groceries and cook at home, so I think I would have food enough for maybe about a week (less if it's not just me). Canned goods are a must. In terms of scavanging for food and supplies, I think that a bicycle might work well. It's less noisy and smaller than a car so it won't draw as much attention, but you can still outpace zombies easily. I'd also fill my bathtub, sinks, and other containers with water just in case.

I don't know how to work firearms, but I may have some things I can turn into improvised weapons, like knifes, screwdrivers, wooden beams and things if need be. Of course I'd keep the lights off during the night so as not to draw attention, board up the windows and monitor all entry points into the apartment regularly, even if they are secure, just to be sure no zombie is snooping around them in case I need to make a quick getaway.

The one thing I am not so sure of is this: If I needed to flee my home, I don't know if keeping to major roads and cities is better, or going on back roads and attempting to traveling rurally. I suppose both have their advantages, but which is better? What do you think?

[koolherc]

if you think that you'll be able to ride your bike around while the zombies are on the loose, you're a fool. they would just have one run out into your way on purpose on some kamikaze ish and you'd be done.

you need to learn how to fire a gun.

how're you gonna make a getaway if you're living in an apt building? do you have roof access and accordant access to other buildings? are those buildings secure?

forget about trying to flee. you're screwed. make sure you have a rope with which to hang yourself for when you hear them coming up the stairs

Edited February 15, 2012 by koolherc

[Spriteling]

My flatmate is an archer. Our plan is to blockades ourselves in our flat, because our doors are all quite strong, and we normally have quite a bit of food, and to defend ourselves with my flatemate's bows and arrows. If necessary, we plan to escape over the roofs to safer area.

The real question is, do you have a plan for a raptor attack?

Edited February 15, 2012 by Spriteling

[MonkeyPants]

My parents have a farm. Our plan is to get in my giant truck and barrel through the 'burbs, sticking to smaller highways with few bridges (wouldn't want to get stranded on one!) and using the snowplow attachment to push whatever out of our way. Truck seats 7 and we have one archer, plus three people who own and use guns.

Once we hit the farm: fence it off, perimeter patrols, and tons of ammunition. The place is on geotherm and has its own well, plus a river on the property, so as long as we can keep the walking dead out, we might be okay.

Our place in the 'burbs is screwed. First floor with tons of glass. We wouldn't last a day there.

[domnulsl]

" I know Kung Fu" - Neo

[Triple Tall Cappuccino]

Read The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. A lively book... lol

[dizzid]

This a pressing concern of mine as well.

Presently I live in basement apartment, with only two ways out. The front door and up the stairs into the empty house above. A good part of mine feels like being in the basement of an empty house may be an advantage as long as we keep the windows and doors barricaded.

Also, my apartment is on the corner of a VERY busy intersection at our college. I feel like the others would all be eaten and the place was be deserted by the time we'd have to venture from our apartment.

I'm not sure we have enough food in the apartment right now but 7-11 is 30 second walk away.

The ideal place for me to head would be my father's estate in South Carolina, very private, very self sustainable HOWEVER getting there requires major highways. I'm not sure I95 south for 7 hours will be a viable option.

I need to think on this more. Sorry.

[DorindaAfterThyrsis]

I am beyond unprepared for this. The only weapons in my apartment are two plastic lightsabers, which I don't think will do me much good. I'm too cheap to own the awesome glass replica ones, so I can't even break them and then hope to fend off the zombies by inflicting them with many tiny cuts from shattered glass.

Damn you, Canadian gun control laws! I'm doomed.

[superbygk]

Do you guys think it's a good idea to try to maintain multiple safe houses? If you're out scavanging for supplies and find that your safe house is surrounded, maybe it's a good idea to have another one (or two)? Sure, it might take a good deal of work to initially set them up, but it might also save your life.

[Sociograd]

If a zombie apocalypse were to happen, what would you do? How would you prepare?

Me, I live on the 2nd floor of a three story apartment building, so I already have a bit of an advantage. I already regularly buy groceries and cook at home, so I think I would have food enough for maybe about a week (less if it's not just me). Canned goods are a must. In terms of scavanging for food and supplies, I think that a bicycle might work well. It's less noisy and smaller than a car so it won't draw as much attention, but you can still outpace zombies easily. I'd also fill my bathtub, sinks, and other containers with water just in case.

I don't know how to work firearms, but I may have some things I can turn into improvised weapons, like knifes, screwdrivers, wooden beams and things if need be. Of course I'd keep the lights off during the night so as not to draw attention, board up the windows and monitor all entry points into the apartment regularly, even if they are secure, just to be sure no zombie is snooping around them in case I need to make a quick getaway.

The one thing I am not so sure of is this: If I needed to flee my home, I don't know if keeping to major roads and cities is better, or going on back roads and attempting to traveling rurally. I suppose both have their advantages, but which is better? What do you think?

I guess it depends upon what kind of zombies were talking about. If the zombies were like Dawn of the Dead original, I guess I bike would be okay. Dawn of the Dead remake where all the zombies are sprinting and super aggressive, I think a car would be better.

[EdaxFlamma]

I think realistically everyone would be fine if they could survive until either a cold winter hits or a warm summer. Now for my reasoning...

Worst case scenario, you are in caught in either spring or fall, or in an area with a very mild climate. Here you might have to wait a bit longer. But, if you could wait until it got cold (night temps around 32F) I feel like your chances improve. Humans really aren't meant to be aimlessly wandering around out in the cold with little to no protection. Even with protection the extremities and any other exposed areas of skin would quickly lose feeling, inhibiting the zombies ability to walk, crawl bite etc. Unless all the cells are dead and being animated by some force other than the biological this would give us would be survivors a serious advantage. Even if a zombie was getting sufficient nourishment, I don't think even the combined heat from digestion and decomposition would provide enough warmth as the temperatures dropped.

The other alternative is to wait until temperatures reach the mid 80's (F). As I'm sure most of you have experienced, when driving on busy country roads or even along highways there is often an unfortunate animal who has met with 2 or so tons of metal screaming down the road at 45mph or more. These animals in such heat begin to rapidly decay. Often, if there are no serious puncture wounds, the animal can be seen to grow larger as the days go by. This is because as the body decomposes, it fills with CO2 and other not so pleasant gases as the internal organs are often the first to go. After a while, these gases exit the body through the path of least resistance which is often times the skin. I fear our undead counterparts would most likely suffer the same fate. After the human immune system fails either through sever starvation or via opportunistic infection via massive lacerations to the body these shamblers are as good as re-dead.

Now there are some loopholes in these theories. Bokors, genetic engineering, super sentient microbes, etc potentially blow a few points out of the water but regardless of whether we have super fast Dawn of the Dead/Left4Dead zombies or whether we have Night of the living dead/Resident Evil zombies, I think the majority of the threats (ignoring the special mutated ones of course) will die off relatively quickly.

Either way, a crowd of people unable to talk and banging on my door with terrible flesh wounds, forgiving some horrible accident which requires me to call 911, will all either stand outside until they drop or get a shovel to the face.

[MonkeyPants]

Do you guys think it's a good idea to try to maintain multiple safe houses? If you're out scavanging for supplies and find that your safe house is surrounded, maybe it's a good idea to have another one (or two)? Sure, it might take a good deal of work to initially set them up, but it might also save your life.

I think this depends on your location. In an urban environment with many groups of survivors, your stash houses are likely to be taken over/pillaged. In a more rural/suburban area this might be a good idea, particularly if you have to travel more than a mile or so to scavenge. With night coming on and a broken-down vehicle, it would be good to know that you have a stash of food/ammunition and shelter fairly nearby.