Thank you mods/admins who moved this!
NOTE TO ANY CONTENT ADDERS:Please make your additions in a separate color (such as red or blue) and put your name and color you edited in at the bottom. This will make managing the page easier, thank you!We've hopefully learned about the Panic's effects from the main page. However, that is not the point of this article. The point is to analyze what will happen during the Panic in a large-scale zombie attack scenario.
Unlike it is stereotype in common fiction, the Panic will not be an instantaneous, entropic event of chaos. The main Panic page touched upon what will happen to build up to the event, but this page will go in-depth to the logical stages and cause/effects of the various stages -- an anatomy of the Panic, if you will.
So, with that note aside, let's continue.
Stage 1 - NormalityThis is the stage where people are doing buisiness as usual, before there's even a hint of a zombie attack. Since everybody lives it every day, it's pointless to go into detail.
Stage 2 - CuriosityIn stage 2, people have heard the news reports trickling into the common media. In today's society, a drug-fueled unprovoked attack is not exactly rare -- but many of the reports in a short period (as little as 2 reports in a week will trip people's sensors) will make the public curious.
Stage 3 - UneaseIf the reports have not decreased in a few weeks or months, the public will get unnerved. The unarmed attacks are now mixing with riots, disappearances, and other zombie attack effects.This is where people will unconciously start filling up their gas tanks and start stockpiling groceries when they don't need to.
Stage 4 - Quiet QuarantineQuarantines have been started and are being quietly executed. Look for cover-ups such as swine flu.
Stage 5 - Slight PanicA threat - not zombies, but simply an unknown threat - has been confirmed by unofficial sources. This is the stereotypical Panic at a small scale. Grocery stores, weapon stores, and other high-value-item stores will be noticing an increase in sales, but you won't see tramplings to get into Wal-Mart.
Stage 6 - Total Panic andIt's the same as the above - but the threat has been officially confirmed. Now you see the tramplings, reckless driving, and other stereotypical Panic elements. This stage may continue for anywhere from hours to days depending on the size of the designated city or town.
Stage 7 - AftermathAfter the Panic, there would be an Aftermath -- essentailly a retread of Stage 5. This might be a good time to stay inside with a shotgun on your lap.
Stage 8 - After AftermathStage 8 is finally where one could get some peace and quiet. Zombies might walk the street, disorganized humans still may exist in small groups, but there is no more anarchy. Now would be an excellent time to do some light looting in your nearby homes or stores.
Stage 9 - Standard TimeNot quite as chaotic as Stage 7, but not as peaceful as Stage 8. This is the usual time of zombie survival. Zombie mobs roam urban areas and some places hold nests of raiders.