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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
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| Oct 1 2010, 5:14 PM EDT | Comrade_47 | 15 words added, 37 words deleted |
| Sep 12 2010, 2:25 PM EDT | Comrade_47 | 2 words added, 2 words deleted |
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Your Name: Comrade 47
Your Location: Orangeville, Ontario
Radio Handle: Comrade Forty-Seven
Involved Persons: Myself, mother, father, brother, best friend, best friend's mother, best friend's sistermother (seven(six total).
FAQ
Will you be staying in your home or headed somewhere else?
I will be staying in my home until the food runs out, in an attempt to avoid the initial panic and chaos of the first week or so of the infection. When both the confusion and food start to run low, I will head out into town, using the local high school as a permanent shelter.
But 'School Will Kill You'! Haven't you heard?
As stated no less than a million times during this plan, I'm waiting out the initial panic for at least a week. I'm counting on Darwin's theory that the others may mess up and die, leaving the shelter for me. Plus, it's hardly a supply-rich building, so hopefully few other people will consider it.
If you're heading out, how do you plan to get there?
It's a 10 kilometer stretch of highway into town, so we will take my dad's Crown Victoria (can take a beating, lots of room). If the car decides to die out on us during the worst conceivable moment, we will hope that our superior mobility and speed will allow us to out-maneuver the dead.
Got anyone you want to take with you?
My best friend lives very close to my planned final location, so grabbing her and bringing her back to survive the initial chaos is the first thing I'll do. My mother will almost definitely be home, and it's likely so will my brother (if my father is home from work, then it's his lucky day).
How will you communicate with the outside world?
CB and ham radio equipment, constantly scanning the airwaves for information: evacuation sites, military activity, warning of possible air-strikes against cities. Other than that, we maintain radio silence, lest we attract raiders.
How are you planning to get food and water?
A medium-sized potato farm, supplemented with other crops, and food taken from raids on supermarkets. Water would be supplied by collecting rain, distilling urine, and any nearby wells (as well as bottled water from supermarkets).
What's your weapon of choice?
A hunting rifle for engaging long-range targets, and a handgun for close-range protection. These common weapons could be found in any hunting store or Canadian Tire. Best bet for finding a handgun would be to take it from somebody it failed to protect (deceased police officers and the like). Assuming the military has tried (and failed) to operate in my area, some larger hardware could be acquired from the bodies of soldiers left behind (M2 Browning machine guns, M4 assault rifles). The best bet for a person with my weapons experience (or rather lack of) would be a handgun or shotgun. If I end up moving from town to town, I could find myself in the United States, where gun shops are more common and have more powerful weaponry.
Are you willing to hook up with other survivors?
Yes. I am considering the feasibility of meeting up with several other ZSDW members from the States, and moving north from there.
Loosely, what's your overall plan?
Stay quiet, hidden away, and self-sustaining. Thin out the zombie ranks as much as possible. Amass as many supplies as possible, as quickly as possible.
A lot of your contingency plans involve committing suicide when things go wrong. Isn't that a little extreme?
Taking my own life will be the absolute last resort. It would be preferable to starving to death, being ripped apart by a dozen pairs of hands, or turning into one of the undead and trying to kill my friends. My religious beliefs are that committing suicide will not affect where I go in the afterlife, especially in a situation as extreme as this.
Contents Of My Bug Out Bag
This is a list of the items and supplies I currently have ready in my B.O.B, ready to go right this minute, if I needed to.
Current Bag Contents (As Of 03/09/10)01/10/10)
500 Redbird strike anywhere matches
Fourteen 500ml bottles of water (13 liters total)
66 inches of vinyl electrical tape
20 yards of duct tape
Items (and quantities) I am currently aiming to add:
Two pump-action 12 gauge shotguns
Three Mosin-Nagant rifles (cheapest, and probably first, firearm to be added)
Binoculars
Road flares
Camouflage or dark green jackets
Crowbar
12 gauge shotgun shells and rifle ammunition (quantities will be dependent on cost and weight)
Blanket
Lighters
Overview Of Group
Myself: The self-imposed leader of the group. I would definitely be the most knowledgeable of the situation (ie. zombies), and the details of this survival plan. My position (as well as my pathetic physical strength) will likely be challenged by my male relatives, larger than I am. I would reason with them that I have a very detailed plan, which I more than they have. If it comes down to a physical confrontation, I'll probably cheat.
Brother: Currently a Canadian Army Cadet, and holds a blue belt in karate (although he takes classes irregularly now). He is highly physically active, runs every day, and does numerous upper body strength exercises. He is no doubt the fastest and most capable runner of the group, and would likely be used to great effect scouting the area and other matters that will require speed. My only concern is that he is the one mostly likely to attempt to usurp my unofficial (and not exactly prestigious) position as group leader.
Father: Group weapons expert, and the only one with any real world firearms experience. My father was an army reservist, and as such has the training for the rifles, shotguns, and pistols we may come across. Additionally, should we encounter any sub-machine guns, assault rifles, or grenades, he's the only one who can use them safely and effectively. My father is also a truck driver, having driven transport trucks for a living, and currently driving cement trucks. This will allow us to use trucks to move large amount of cargo at a time.
Best friend: Small framed, no fighting or weapons experience. Poor physical shape.Best friend's sister: Large framed girl, will have problems following instructions. Smoker, probably bad physical condition. I have serious reservations about giving her a weapon.
Best friend's mother: Older woman, reasonably slow, also smoker. Non-combatant, designated gardener.
Mother: Slowest and weakest of the group. Non-combatant, designated cook.
Of the seven, five of us are capable of combat and running, two of us will have some firearms experience, and one of us will excel at running. The physically weaker two of the group will put some minor additional strain on the others when it comes to guard shifts, but will ensure that at least two people are available to tend to non-combat/scavenging matters (such as gardening).
The fact that our group is made up of two families, linked together by close friends, will make trusting one another with our safety far easier, even to the point of making internal distrust an non-issue. I'm not saying that everyone will get along like best friends. When the medication supply runs out for some of the group members with issues (almost immediately after Z Day), we have have a serious problem regarding what would be otherwise minor disputes.
A sizable number of the group suffers from some form of mental illness, mostly depression related. Obviously, prescription medicine will be non existent, so I may heavily reconsider the decision to provide firearms to certain people. Securing the weapons, keeping them out of depressed and angry hands, but still rapidly available during a break-in or ambush may serve difficult.
Equipment
A large portion of this list will be possible at best, impossible at worse. Many of these supplies will be locked away in military armories, or taken by other survivors long before I can get to them. Maybe the places I'm counting on getting them will be blocked by zombies or raiders, or maybe even burnt down. Therefore, my list contains many backups, in case my first choice is unavailable. Many equipment choices may have to be improvised (cloth and vinegar in place of a gas mask, for instance). Again, it's very likely I won't be able to find a working AK-47 or Claymore mine, I'm just being optimistic.
The only way to ensure that I'll have any of these is by stashing supplies ahead of time. After then, I find what I find, and get what I deserve for being under-prepared.
Mosin-Nagant/Winchester/Rifles: For downing enemies at long range, before they become a threat.
Mossberg 500 Cruiser: Ammo is abundant, and weapon can be found in hunting stores. Compact.
AK-47: Could be found in the US, 120 miles south. Heavy weight and recoil. Will last for a long time.
M1911/Beretta/Glock: Useful backup/confined space weapons. Easy to use.
M2 Browning: Static weapon for defending fortified positions. Ammo and weapon would be sparse.
Molotov Cocktails: Useful for signaling, destroying buildings, and creating diversions.
Claymores/Land Mines: Rare to find, likely to cripple zombies. Good defense against criminals.
Crowbar: Found in any hardware store, useful for clearing obstructions. Also a close-quarters weapon.
Fire Axe: Useful for clearing light obstructions and as a weapon. Common, but heavy.
Water Purifier: Prevents us from getting ill, which in the new world, could mean death.
Bicycle Generator: Keeps us in shape, and could power some lights or radios, and charge batteries.
Seeds: Necessary for growing crops to supplement food supplies.
Gas Mask/Air Filter: Can protect us from fumes from fires, and stave off bacteria from dead bodies.
Goggles: Keeps blood/dust out of eyes.
Binoculars/Monocular: Useful for scouting for danger ahead.
CB Radio: For picking up nearby transmissions (raiders, military).
Rope: A million uses, which escape me at the moment.
Walkie-talkies: For contact with other guards, raiding parties.
MRE Rations: Last for up to ten years, nutritious. Can be found in surplus stores.
Vitamins/Nutritional Supplements: For keeping up good health.
First Aid Kit: For surviving injuries and promoting recovery.
Cocaine: Useful for trading for food, fuel. Could also be used as an absolute last resort for a burst of energy.
Antidepressants/Anti-psychotics: Useful for staving off the mental illnesses a world of death can bring.
Ideally, I would want each combatant to be dressed in dark green or camouflage pattern clothes (like any hunting clothes, excluding 'blaze orange'). These clothes are to be as tight as possible, to avoid giving the stenches anything to grab onto. Also, a cloth, scarf, mask (not covering the eyes), or keffiyeh should be over everyone's mouth whenever they are on the ground, to prevent the possibility of infected blood entering the mouth. The ear on their dominant side (right ear for right-handed people, left ear for lefties) should be plugged to avoid damage from gunfire while not inhibiting hearing. Everyone's first name should be somehow marked on the back of their jacket (marker, paint, tape) for reducing the likelihood of friendly-fire on the ground.
I'd also prefer each combat capable person to have at least one firearm and one hand-to-hand weapon. The men should be armed with the rifles, due to their marginally better experience with firearms. The women would be given the shotguns, as they are more of a 'point and shoot' weapon than a rifle is. Handguns will be issued to whoever can use them (probably only my father). If burning down a building will be an objective, a Molotov cocktail (along with at least three means to light it, ie. a book of matches and two different lighters) will be entrusted to the man with the best throwing arm (likely my brother).
Overlooked Threats
The most basic (and obvious) threats during the zombie apocalypse will be the zombies, starvation, and raiders. But what about your teeth falling out from lack of brushing? Where will you put your human waste? What will you do about the bacteria piles of dead bodies littering the streets? Ever the planner, I have come up with solutions to issues that may be as deadly as the zombies themselves.
Airstrikes/Nuclear Attack:
In the earlier stages of the outbreak, the military may take drastic measure in an attempt to control the spread of the infection. This may include bombing cities or areas considered lost. If supplies permit, I would transform an inner room, like a closet, into a fallout shelter: pre-stocked food and water, shielded walls, limited airflow to the outside. Hopefully, my distance from major cities will protect me from the main blast, while the shelter will minimize the chances of me dying a slow and painful death from radiation poisoning. Obviously, my makeshift closet isn't going to do anything against anything nuclear even remotely close to us, but it'd give us the best chance against fallout.
Bacteria From Dead Bodies: The simplest way to eliminate the risk of disease from rotting corpse is to simply not produce any. Any acts to thin the collective zombie ranks will be planned ahead, and precautions will be taken .The bodies will be burned where they fall as soon as possible. Logically, the blaze should be unable to set fire to the entire building, as it is concrete and metal. If burning is impossible, I'll take reasonable measures to quarantine myself from the infected area (ie. sealed doors). Bleach will be used to clean pools of blood.
Bacteria From Human Waste: Urine will be distilled for water. Feces will be stored in sealed containers until they are ready to be burned, or fertilizer for growing food.
Depression: The isolation from other people, plus the lingering threat of death will likely cause even the strongest of us to eventually suffer from clinical depression. Entertainment (books, music, a journal) will keep me busy and keep my mind off the fact that I'm surrounded by death and will never see my loved ones again.
Raiders/Criminals: There is the likely possibility that greedy or desperate people will try to take my supplies. My risk of being attacked and robbed will be minimized by remaining radio silent, and hiding any markers of my presence in the area (disguising hideout, cleaning up bodies when feasible). Should the passive measures fail, I will fight to the death to protect myself and my safety.
Rodents/Insects: I'm fortunate enough to live in an area that is devoid of poisonous insects such as scorpions, and most snakes. However, rats, mice, and other insects can still pose a threat to me and my food. Rats crawling through seas of rotting bodies, and then onto my food is obviously unhealthy. Insects landing on fecal matter, and then taking a swim in our drinking water is also a threat. All water will be either in closed containers, or covered well. Loose food (fruit, for example) will be placed in containers, eaten, or discarded. Similar to the decoy open can of beer kept away from the patio party, a rotting corpse may be left far from our compound, to attract insects and rats to it and lure them away from us.
Tooth Decay: Tooth decay will start off with discomfort, and later lead to infection. Toothpaste will be among the top priorities when salvaging supplies. Carbonated, sugary drinks will be keep for trading to other survivors (as they can be traded for more nutritious food).
The Panic
The first week of the outbreak will be the most chaotic, with other people being as great a danger as the undead. As soon as I know that it's happening right f*cking now, I will grab a blunt object, gather my family members and calmly tell them that the world may be ending (in gentler words). I would speak firmly
"I need you to listen to be very carefully. Something terrible has happened. Mom, go upstairs, turn on the bathtub, then go in your bedroom and close the door. Dad and Michael, take as much non-perishable food and bottles of water upstairs as you can. The instant you hear anything trying to get in the house, run upstairs and block off the stairs with the bookcases and mattresses. Leave a space for me, I'm coming back. Use this [MAG-LITE FLASHLIGHT KEPT IN KITCHEN] if anything comes through. Hit them on the head, and do not let them bite you."
I will then demand the car keys from my father. If he protests, which wouldn't be unreasonable, I would explain to him that I am taking the car to go pick up a friend. If he protests further, I will take them from him using force (the order of force which will be used is as follows: ask kindly, ask firmly, demand, threaten with Mag-Lite, strike with Mag-Lite). Next, I call my best friend. If she's home, and picks up, I would tell her to stay put, that I'm coming for her. If she's not home, I will assume she is already dead and proceed to assist my family in preparing for the first week after Z-day.
"[BEST FRIEND], listen carefully. It's finally happened, the dead are walking [SHE AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THE MATTER BEFORE]. Get your mom and sister,mom, go to the kitchen closet, and do not make a sound. I'm coming for you. Do not make a single sound."
Logic dictates that during the initial panic, I should stay put at home, and ride out the chaos. I'm not doing that, not when my best friend is still out there, afraid and vulnerable to the undead, rapists, and thieves. I will take my dad's Crown Victoria, down the ten kilometer highway into town. It's a wide highway, but in the event a portion is blocked, I will take a side road. After pulling up in front of her house, I will quickly grab her, run back to the car, and drive back home. If the area around her house is crawling with stenches, then I would attempt to thin the numbers by crushing a few under the wheels of the car, and pray that we can out-maneuver the rest.
Back home, I'll park the car close to the house, and shout to my family. This can end in a number of ways.
A) Every Works Out Perfectly
"Yeah?" Somebody shouts back from upstairs. I would reply, "Is anything in the house?" "No." I would shout back, "We're coming up!" A quick run inside, and a climb through the barricade in the stairway, and we're safe for the moment.
B) A Slight Hiccup
"Help! There's something in the house!" Assuming a small number of undead are inside the house, I would tell my friend to stay in the car. I would then try to out-move and bash in the brains of any undead inside. After making sure the path is clear, I would retrieve my friend, climb up the barricades, and all is reasonably well for now.
C) Second-Worst Case Scenario
A larger group of stenches are outside or in the house. I would sound the horn of the car, trying to lure as many towards me as possible. I would then try to crush as many as possible with the car, before quickly exiting to finish off the crippled but still dangerous 'biters'. A careful trip inside, and upstairs and we're good (for now).
D) Worst Case Scenario
My family's barricades have failed, and there are too many undead to fight. At this point, I would jump ahead about a week's schedule, and give up on riding out the initial week at home. I would drive straight for the high-school, and proceed as planned (with major alterations, of course).
Holding The Fort
Great, we made it to the local high-school, our new home for an unknown amount of time. Assuming the doors are already locked (as they should be), we will gain access to the building by breaking in through the chain-link back gate. Around the back of the school is a walled-off portion, with a chain-link gate. This will be our entry point. We will drive the Crown Vic inside, breaking the Master Lock and/or chain as necessary. We would then park inside, and press the car up against the gate as a temporary barricade (we will come back to lock the gate and secure our makeshift garage later). A broken window later, we are inside the school. Internal locked doors will be broken door as necessary with tools from the shop class we enter from.
Hopefully, there will be no undead inside, but if there is, we would out-maneuver and destroy them. We would then go on to close and lock all doors leading both outside, and closing the non-destroyed inner doors. The reasoning behind closing the doors inside is that should there be a breech in outer defenses, the threat would be contained.
Once the building is secure, we will then spend as much time as needed moving all of the non-perishable food and water to the roof, which will serve as our main living area. The time both securing the building and moving the food and water will likely take no more than a day. After the security and food situation are taken care of, the school greenhouse's doors will be barricaded, and whatever edible seeds that are available will be planted. After this, as a group, we will discuss trimming the hair of the men and of the women who will be in combat positions (to give less for the undead to grab for, as well as preventing lice).
Shelter From The Elements
Once we are safe from the threat of being attacked or starving to death, we will focus on preparing shelter from the elements. While sleeping inside is attractive for many reasons (roof over our heads, walls, etc.), there is still the possibility, however unlikely, of a breech occurring during the night. Sleeping on the roof gives us the maximum amount of time and defensibility possible during an attack.
A more durable and visually-appealing shelter will be built later, but there is no time for that now. We will be using the massive air-conditioning units mounted on the roof as the frame of our shelter. We will form crude walls and a roof with it by using sheets of plywood and/or locker doors. These materials, as well as nails and tools, could be found in the construction class room or auto shop. Unpleasant, yes, but it protect us from the elements for the time being.
Manning The Perimeter
During the day, I would want two people watching the two major ways towards our compound: the football field on the west side, and the three streets leading in from the south-east. Someone should be walking (on the roof) the respective side of the building of each major area. In addition, one guy walking along the roof to the east to north side will cover the entire perimeter. There will be two guard shifts, one from wake-up/dawn to midday, and the midday to sundown shift. This will leave four people at any given time to deal with matters within the school (repairs, gardening, etc.), two of them being combat-ready. The guards and their respective shifts will be picked at random ahead of time.
At night, two people at a time will circle the entirety of the perimeter (on the roof). The shifts will be broken into two, allowing the guards to get some sleep. The first shift goes from lights out to approximately midnight, and the second shift goes from midnight to dawn, when the day guard takes over. There are ten guard spots to fill, and only five people to fill them with, so accommodations will have to be made, such as the two taking the second night shift being allowed to go to sleep earlier before their shift. Everyone capable takes two shifts a day, nonconsecutive whenever possible. The nature of the night shifts will also mean someone (who it is will be mixed up to ensure good morale and health) will have a longer day.
To avoid the inevitable tall grass which may obstruct a crippled zombie or allow thugs to get in close, at the earliest convenience, the football field and lawns surrounding the school are to be salted or burned. This will allow a constant and clear line of sight for the sentries.
Guard Protocol
The sentries will be armed with the most effective long-range weapons we have, and if circumstances and supplies allow it, a whistle. This way should they need arise, the guards can discharge their firearms or blow to the whistle to alert the others of the danger. That said, the sentries will be given very clear instructions regarding engaging and sounding the alarm. Everyone will be instructed to not fire upon zombie groups of less than ten within five minutes, but rather to call over an off-duty person (not another other guard) to dispose of the undead quietly as they resume their patrol. Suspicious noises or movements should also be immediately reported to another person, armed if possible. The acceptable call for assistance (day or night), to avoid causing alarm, will be a loud, stern, and repeated until results, "Michael (for example), Michael, come here. Michael, Michael come here."
The main purpose of watching the perimeter is not to keep an eye for stenches. A lone zombie can easily be dealt with long before it causes any damage. A human being, however, can outwit, deceive, trick, sneak around, and use weapons to gain access to our shelter. That is why it is important to always be on the outlook for people attempting to trespass to cause us harm, as well as be ready for people wishing to peacefully seek shelter.
Those on sentry duty will follow to a strict protocol when it comes to anyone armed, or anyone looking like they are sneaking around. As soon as any person is noticed, the guards draw their weapons and shout "hands up, don't move." If the person in question makes a sudden movement, or attempts to flee, the guard is to try to the best of their ability to shoot to kill that person. We can take no risks with a possible raider scout reporting back to base with the details of our defenses. Regardless of whether or not said person escapes, the guard is to be doubled immediately (ie. all able bodied persons take posts).
Those currently on guard duty will refrain from smoking (I'm looking at you, best friend's sister and mother), loitering in one spot and chatting with other guards or 'off-duty' persons. Slow, lumbering motions (the undead) are to raise awareness, but not raise the alarm (call one other for assistance). Deliberate, quick movements (a human being) are an immediate reason for alarm (likewise, call one immediately for confirmation of threat). Any sound which may be running, weapons being loaded or cocked, or talking is to be immediately reported for the maximum possible response (these noises are only possible by humans, possible raiders). Extreme vigilance is to be maintained through the shift, but especially so during the night, when we are at our most vulnerable.
Full Alert (In progress)
Night or day, if the presence of unknown persons is confirmed in the immediate area (human noises, visual confirmation), they are to be regarded as hostile unless proven otherwise. If an alert goes out (shots fired, shouting 'alert', 'contact', or 'I got something'.), all sentries currently on duty are to remain at their posts. Those incapable of combat (the old people, to the put it bluntly) are to be moved inside and accompanied by one of the off duty guards. The other is to rush to the site of the alarm. All of this (taking the old and splitting up) is expected to be done within a matter of seconds. Anyone sighted or heard by the guards at this point is given one, and only one call to come out/identify themselves. No response means they are considered hostile, and deadly force is to be used. If anyone hears gunfire from the other sentries or gunfire from an unknown source, they are to completely ignore the warning before firing, and are to fire immediately. The alert will consist of five stages:
Stage One: The first ten minutes of the sighting. Everybody stays on guard. If at absolutely any point during the later stages gunfire is heard, or movement or noise is detected, the alert is go back to the first stage.
Stage Two: Ten minutes after last sighting/shot. The one guard who is not guarding a post from his shift (the 'first responder') is to check on the other guards, relaying what the other guards know ("Chantal saw a guy with a shotgun," "Michael saw at least two people to the south," "Peter thinks he hit one of them," etc.) After relaying all the information to all of the guards (including the one watching over the older ones), he is to walk the entire perimeter until the end of the alert. (If radios are available, the relaying of information is to be done on the radio, and the guard is to immediately begin his patrol.)
Stage Three: An hour after last sighting. Under cover of the posted guards, the man without a fixed post searches the ground near the original sighting, and where any possible reports of wounding or hitting a possible target is. Any traces (shell casings, magazines, blood) is to be brought back inside for estimating the enemy's armament. If shooting a zombie is necessary by the searcher, immediately after the gunshot, he is to shout 'zed', to denote to the others that the shot is not cause for alarm. If enemy contact is made, the searcher is to retreat back to the school, shouting 'contact' if they are already detected. The alert will start over after the possible resulting firefight.
Stage Four: The rest of the day and the night after the sighting. The guard is to be doubled, even during the night. The guard watching the elderly is to join the roof guard.
Stage Five: The next day. All capable persons not on guard duty will search the surrounding area again for signs of the enemy. The search team will be reminded again to shoot to kill when provoked, but to not start fights if possible. Enemy numbers, weapons, organization, and threat level are to be estimated upon returning to the compound by evaluating the possible shell casings and magazines left behind, blood found from injured hostiles, recent dead bodies killed by non-head shots, weapons actually seen, fresh footprints, spotted persons, and overheard yelling ("Go get so-and-so" heard shouted would indicate at least three people, for example). After the search party returns, the enemy strength and threat will be factored in when regarding preparing for a possible second attack or even amassing a counter-attack by our own numbers.
Once again, the entire group is not to immediately go into panic mode every time a stench wanders into range, or an animal makes noise in the trees. Those instances call for one other person to come along and either deal with the zombie, or take a closer look while the posted guard continues their job.
Daily Routine
A psychical inspection of the barricades will be conducted first thing each morning, for peace of mind and security. The various procedures involved with operating the greenhouse will be done after breakfast. After that, the 'odd-jobs' around the compound (something needs to be straightened/painted/etc) will be taken care of. Around midday (at which, to conserve rations, lunch will not served), we will then proceed to either; plan a future raid, conduct a planned raid, thin the numbers of undead in the immediate area, or have free time (all four discussed later in greater detail). Before sundown, there will be another check of the defenses, then dinner, and then sleep.
Raids (Discussed In Greater Detail Below)
All supply raids will be planned. For safety reasons, we will absolutely never 'wing it'. During the planning stages, we will consider what information we have from scouting (which stores still exist, which are locked), the number of undead in the area (may be hard to estimate), the supplies we will be specially looking for (antibiotics, toiletries, ammunition, etc), and the estimated time it will take. The risks of the raid will be weighed against the benefits, for example, we won't be risking our lives by going up against anything more than a minimal zombie presence for soap. However, if water is badly needed, we would take greater risks for such a necessity.
Each raid will also have a codeword for the sentries to identify incoming friendlies. The codeword will change with each raid, to prevent enemies from listening in and learning them. The codewords for each run are to be made absolutely clear, because the guards will have orders to fire immediately on armed persons with incorrect or non-existent codeword. Scouts and runners coming back to the compound are to raise their weapons above their heads and declare the codeword repeatedly, until the sentry tells them they are identified as friendly and are clear to enter. The codewords will be changed randomly, avoiding patterns that may help enemies listening in (one day the challenge may be 'November', the next day 'taco', and the next day 'Gothic'). Each codeword will be sure to not be confusable with any other meaning (for instance, 'gun' can be confused for a warning about a firearm being drawn, names can be confused with calls for a person, etc.).
Destroying The Zombies Banging On The Windows
To avoid using firearms, which are loud and may be in short supply, destroying stenches will consist of the following: one takes a cinder-block or larger brick, attaches a chain or rope to it, and then hurls the heavy brick at full force from the roof onto the undead below. The heavy brick will crush skulls and snap necks, with the precision of a rifle (eh, almost), and the silence of a blunt weapon, all without all the dangerous close combat it would usually involve. A strong/well aimed throw may kill a zombie with one blow, but if it doesn't, I can just pull my weapon back up with the rope and go at it again. At no point am I exposed to danger. Obviously, this weapon will be a static one, fitted for attacking from the roof or upper-story window. The only disadvantages that come to find are finding the bricks and chain, and wearing oneself out.
Long Term Projects
Barricade reinforcement: Tacking on and securing to the doors sheets of metal and wood.
Distilling alcohol: Serves two purposes, the most important being fending off boredom. The second, which is a rather nice bonus, is being able to produce moonshine for personal consumption or trade.
Running water: Running water in some form of poor man's plumbing will improve comfort and hygiene. We will need to acquire an electric pump.
Supply Raids
Hopefully, between the dug wells, and the green house, it won't be necessary to raid the surrounding houses and businesses for supplies. But there are many vital supplies things we won't be able to grow or otherwise manufacturer/improvise, things like antidepressants, ammunition, and fuel. This will require raids of near-by abandoned houses and stores.
"Hey dumb-ass, read The Panic! There won't be anything left at Walmart, and the place will be crawling with the undead!"
Quiet, you. For one thing, we're not raiding the first sign zombie's are a real threat. We'll probably be raiding a month or so into our occupation of the school, long after the rioters and violently desperate are gone or dead. Secondly, I'm aware attempting to raid a large building with as many entries, blind corners, and choke points like a Walmart is a tactically unsound decision. Thirdly, we're talking about carefully deciding where and when to raid a building for supplies. No "hey, let's all go to Canadian Tire and see what there's left".
Before even proposing a raid, the following questions will be asked:
1) Do we absolutely need what we are looking for?
2) Are we sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that we will find what we're looking for?
3) Will going out for them pose any risk beyond the usual?
4) What stands in our way and how quickly can we circumvent it?
5) List one suitable available alternative to item we are seeking.
First question speaks for itself: if we don't need it to survive, we do not go out for it. Second question relies heavily on information gathered by our scouts, for example knowing that the nearest Shopper's Drug Market burnt down with the rest of the mall, but the one on Broadway stands intact, and also that it looks untouched, unlike the location on Centennial Line, which has smashed windows and stuff strewn all over the place. Third question regards passing through unavoidable choke points, nearing unmaintained industrial plants, and moving through possible sniper alleys (wide, open space with plenty of hiding spots). Fourth one includes gates down on pharmacies and hunting stores, a noticeable obstruction but also a sign that the wares within are still there. As for the fifth question, if anyone can name a single available alternative to the item we're seeking, we use the alternative we have on hand. If anyone names such an alternative that is clever or resourceful, said person gets to take one guard shift off tomorrow. This is to encourage resourceful thinking and to discourage thoughts similar to "I guess we could just wipe yourselves with book paper or leaves, but f*ck that".
Human Contact
It's dangerous to assume that other people will not come across our shelter, either by accident or intent. Therefore, having a detailed plan for dealing with other survivors will help prevent unpreparedness that may result in injury and/or death. For the purposes of this plan, we're refer to any one coming into our perimeter 'outsiders'.
It's likely that every once in a while, either a lone wanderer or a group may pass across the football field or down the streets. These people aren't our problem. As long as we keep low and refrain from screaming to them, these people will pass by, and let us know that at least someone else is out there (for now).
Now, if someone appeared to be walking directly for us, that's when we start worrying. We make sure everyone is on their toes, at maximum alertness. From the moment we notice them in the distance, we will be looking for numbers and armament of the outsiders, as well as looking out for motions towards visible weapons, and possible hidden ones (tucked in waistbands and what-not). People will remain at their posts, but two of us (me and one of the other men) will deal with the interlopers. We'll lay low until they get close enough to be positive they intend to enter the school. That's when we initiate contact, careful to neither startle, scare, or intimidate the outsiders, but at the same time, come off as organized, professional, and able to defend ourselves should any of them be rocked by the sudden urge to start shooting.
One man steps out, another staying almost entirely behind cover, but letting the outsiders know he's there. I would then call out to the outsiders, now within ten feet of the building. "Hey there, you folks alright?" We then gauge their response, be it friendly, hostile, or scared/confused/disoriented.
"You guys looking for shelter?" We'd ask, and assuming they are, we tell them the following quarantine procedures. They will be stripped of their weapons in the gated-off makeshift garage. We will then have a member of the same sex strip them and inspect them for bites. They will then be allowed to dress, and held for seven days, with food and shelter, in the pen. This will allow not only the zombie infection to show itself before it is within our ranks, but other illnesses as well. Someone is to be watching the quarantined area at all times, including at night. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL WE BREAK QUARANTINE. If the undead break into the quarantined area, there is nothing we can do for the people down there. After the week is over, and assuming that no one is ill, they will be allowed entry to the school, and given their weapons back. We will have one of our own with the outsiders at all times, and watch them closer than close.
Three notes about the quarantine: the outsiders may refuse to be quarantined, an outsider may turn whilst under quarantine, and rearming them after the week may seem ill-advised. Firstly, if they repeatably refuse to be voluntarily and peacefully quarantined, we will deny them access, and tell them to move along. They may result in violence, but it is preferable to allowing possibly infected persons within our walls.
Secondly, if an outsider is found with a wound, they will be asked of the injury's origin. If it is a zombie bite, we will separate that person from the others, explain to the others that said person will turn, and shoot the infected in the back of the head to avoid a confrontation with them or having to look them in the eye as we kill them. The other outsiders will remain in quarantine after we bury the body. If the wound is claimed to be say, a stab wound, we allow them to remain with the others in quarantine, but keep an eye on the wounded person especially.
Thirdly, giving back the weapons to people we don't know and are inside our walls. My reasoning is that if these people will consent to a strip search and week long quarantine, that they are peaceful enough to not kill us the first chance they get. We will also be watching them at all times with our own people. If they were looking for a fight, they would have fired at us long before the invasive strip search. If I'm wrong, I plan on repeating these words to myself as I kneel waiting to be executed by our new raider overlords.
Mental Health
The number one factor determining how long it'll take for us to snap (commit suicide, turn on each other, and so on) will be being surrounded by family and fire-forged friends (ie. the other family). Sure, the loss of most of our friends and extended family will be horrible, but at least we'll still have family (assuming hiding out during The Panic works out as well as I hope). But after months, maybe years of being cooped up in an abandoned school, unable to go outside without arming ourselves for war against cannibalistic monsters or thieves, uncertain of what the future will hold, uncertain of how much more hardship, pain, and loss will be ahead, will finally take their toll.
As mentioned earlier, several members of the group will already have some form of depression or anxiety even before shambling monsters come to murder us. Aside from the whole basic 'keep us out of zombie tummies, while keeping food in ours' thing, our top priority will be: A) keep the already unstable members from snapping, and B) prevent the other, healthier group members from developing similar issues. We will be fighting an attrition war, each sides waiting for the other to weaken and collapse first. It may be years before it's considered reasonably safe outside, years of paranoia and having a literal siege mentality.
Any group member acting more depressed than rational (this is the zombie apocalypse, after all, feelings are to be expected) or increasing hostile toward others will be watched by the more 'sane' members of the group. Who's 'crazy' and who's not is to be decided by the group as a whole, obviously excluding the person in question. Try telling a disturbed armed person that you think they might be unstable and need help, and all they hear is "You'll crazy, we're against you, the lines are drawn!" Not to say that at the tiniest provocation somebody will start shooting, but it's a possibility. Hell, even I might completely lose it one day. But I'm going to worry about the known and diagnosed schizophrenics and manic-depressives first. In short, keep everyone talking about feelings, disarm those who maybe shouldn't have weapons, try damnedest to help however we can.
Needless to say, I'd like as few people turning their weapons on themselves or going postal as possible. Which is why it's vital for us to, as Woody Harrelson's character in Zombieland said, 'enjoy the little things', to distract us from how crappy the world may be. Little things such as:
Dramatic Arts: A fancy and unnecessary way to say writing and acting. It could be anything from writing a daily journal (what we ate, how many Zeds so-and-so killed, personal 'drama'), to painting, to a fancy and elaborate drama showcase of sorts. Others agree, and others certainly disagree as well, that I'm a funny person. Humor serves well in times of trouble. Hell, anything to keep our minds off how terrifying the world will seem.
Personalization: Within reason (nothing hot pink, or with easily-grabbed straps), it would behoove the entire group if each member was allowed, even encouraged, to be unique. I'd feel far more comfortable if each of us was in their own separate and comfortable identity, rather than each person wearing a similar jacket, our faces barely identifiable under the dirt and sweat. Examples would be modifications to the limited style of clothing available, such as removing sleeves, painting or drawing on some sort of insignia (a bear, a face, a sword), perhaps even 'Frankensteining' several spare articles into something unique. Prison inmates do same, some roll up their sleeves, some open their fronts, some wear just the pants. Again, I will do anything to dissipate the crippling sense of being screwed and alone. (Well, not anything. Improvised 'prison style' tattoos don't seem worth the risk of infection, nor does sporting a tactically-unsound, although unique and cool-looking beard or hair-cut.)
Reading: Fiction is escapist, and what better time for some Harry Potter or Tom Clancy then the end of the world? Non-fiction, such as manuals, medical journals, and survival guides, will serve to further our admittedly-limited skill. And yeah, maybe learning to write in somewhat grammatically correct Italian or Russian will prevent the boredom and feelings of uselessness?
Ultraviolence: For the lack of a better term, anything involving any number of sports, contests, dares, or the like, involving a stench or two getting eliminated. I can easily see myself and my brother engaging causally in seeing who can make a longer shot, or seeing who can brain more undead with rocks from the roof, or seeing if one can line up two zombies for a 'double kill' with a rifle. Such acts would be foolish and distracting, potentially leading to death if we were to do so 'in the field', or on the ground, off the safety of our roof. That is why such contests are to only be done in complete safety, and only if doing so would not endanger or screw the group in anyway (frivolous use of ammunition, ignoring sentry duties). The only reason I would even consider this is to blow off steam and tension, and to promote interaction between families, all whilst killing a few stenches. I imagine it's easier for two strangers to bet who takes the night shift regarding something involving attacking the symbol of a shared enemy (hurling bricks at the undead, for example), then breaking the ice 'the old fashioned way' (ie, awkward initial conversation).
What Happens If X Happens?
What if your hideout is surrounded by overwhelming amounts of the undead?
Assuming there are too many to utilize my brick-on-chain contraption, and that there is no chance of escape, I would hold up, remain silent, and pray that the hoard outside will get distracted and seek new prey. In the likely event that they don't simply go away, I would wait until the food is exhausted, and then use the remainder of my weapon supplies to take out as many of them as possible, before taking my own life to avoid the pain of starving.
What if the school is lost to the undead?
Should the school become overrun, we will attempt to evacuate back to my home. On the way out, if timing and supplies allow it, we will try to set the building on fire to destroy the large number of undead concentrated in the one building .If gasoline is the only available flammable liquid, we will preserve the gasoline, as now that our shelter will be ten kilometers from town, the car will be more important than ever.
What if the school is already overrun/burnt down?
We make a U-turn, escape back to the house, and formulate a better plan.
What if both your house and the school are unavailable?
Then it looks like we're f*cked. We'll grab what we can and head north in the Crown Vic. North meaning far up north, where the towns are small and spread out. We'll look for an abandoned house or something like that, and hold up. We'll basically make something up as we go along.
What if you get bitten?
I would kill myself, careful to prevent myself from turning into one of the undead. Depending on the situation, I might decide to do one last bit of help for my still-living companions. Grabbing a shotgun or handgun, running off into the distance, drawing as many away from my friends as possible, and being sure to save the last bullet for myself seems logical.
What if a companion is bitten?
I would do what is necessary to prevent them from coming back. I would give them every second until they turn, and then bury them in the garden. I will be hit hard by such as loss, and may never fully recover. Should I find myself, by some cruel combination of luck and misfortune, to be alone, having lost all companionship, I would turn the weapon on myself and join them.
What if a military evacuation/convoy of survivors appears on the horizon?
Depends, if it's an evacuation, and can get me somewhere safe (ie. uninfected), then I would immediately jump at the chance to go with them. But if it's just another group of survivors, and going with them would mean trading one hideout for another, I would stay to live and die by my own (not their) choices. But let me reiterate: 100% of all situations, I would evacuate to safe ground (uninfected Europe, maybe) if possible.
What if the military is seeking out and destroying all 'possible infected', including yourself?
My supply of scavenged weapons would be no match against even one solider, let alone a platoon. I would hide, and make every effort to avoid contact with the military. If they are razing buildings, or searching through all of them, I would make an effort to make a run for it, understanding that I probably would not survive.
What if the undead appear to be growing more powerful/intelligent?
Then I guess I'd be in trouble. I would continue hiding and fighting and surviving, until either me or them are no more. Intelligence would imply that I would be able to attempt reasoning with them. Increased strength is iffy. Anything short of the dead suddenly gaining the ability to tear down solid concrete, and I think I can manage as usual (barricades).
What if, during the Panic, a group member refuses to accompany you?
A likely situation will be my brother or father deciding to make a run for it, or my friend's family refusing to come ride out the Panic with us. I will very firm with the following words: "You can [stay here/come with us] where it's safe, or you can take your chances out there alone!" For maximum effect, I'll put considerable strain on 'alone'. If said person still refuses to join us, I'll say, like I don't care, "Fine, you can die out here! Do whatever the hell you want, because you won't last a week out here!" If that doesn't work, it's unfortunate for them, because there will be over matters I will have to attend to, either moving the food upstairs and blocking the stairs, or getting back home.
Assorted Rules/Mantras/Stratagems
Yes, I stole this idea from Zombieland. Yes, I'm comfortable with that, in fact, I am enlightened. Most of these are common sense, some are my own, and all them will (hopefully) keep me alive.
Rule #1: Never fight when you can run.
Rule #2: He doesn't need to tie his boots or pull up his fly, shoot anyone who tries this on you.
Rule #3: If you don't need it to survive, leave it, and save space for the things you do.
Rule #4: Reuse everything as many times as you can.
Rule #5: When your life depends on it, fight like a girl.
Rule #6: Always have somewhere to run to.
Rule #7: Plan everything.
Rule #8: Even the best plans fall apart on you.
Rule #9: Panicking accomplishes nothing, thinking accomplishes everything.
Rule #10: Never pull your pants down to your ankles unless someone is covering you.
Rule #11: In fact, never do anything without someone covering you.
Rule #12: If it looks like a trap, it is.
Rule #13: Never push your luck.
Rule #14: If you've thought of it, so have the raiders.
Rule #15: Don't go picking fights, be it fellow survivors, raiders, or the undead.
Rule #16: Always assume the guy watching the door is dead.
Rule #17: Never have a plan B that's better than your plan A.
Rule #18: Never sleep unless someone else is awake.
Rule #19: Give the stenches as little to grab onto as possible.
Rule #20: If it's important, say it twice.
Rule #21: Double check everything.
Rule #22: Assume no one is coming to save you. Chances are, no one is.
Rule #23: If there's something better for you to do, do that instead.
Rule #24: Every scrap of food, every second of battery life, every round, and every second is precious.
Rule #25: Nobody fights fair when they're fighting for a meal.
Rule #26: If nothing else, greed and ignorance will survive Z-Day.
Top Fifteen Songs For The Zombie Apocalypse
Eventually my iPod will run out of juice, and that every second spent listening to music is a second spent distracted. But if I had the opportunity to somehow bring ten tracks with me (cassette tapes, perhaps?), here are the ones I would:
1) The Life - Dope
2) Still Alive - Jonathan Coulton ("When you're dead, I'll be still alive...")
3) Psychosocial - Slipknot
4) Minerva - The Deftones
5) Rosenrot - Rammstein
6) Sonne - Rammstein
7) River Below - Billy Talent
8) Eradicate The Masses - Sencit
9) Down With The Sickness - Disturbed
10) The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash
11) Don't Stop Believing - Journey
12) More Than A Feeling - Boston
13) Ich Will - Rammstein
14) Stars - Hum
15) The Dead Can't Testify - Billy Talent
Your Location: Orangeville, Ontario
Radio Handle: Comrade Forty-Seven
Involved Persons: Myself, mother, father, brother, best friend, best friend's mother, best friend's sistermother (seven(six total).
FAQ
Will you be staying in your home or headed somewhere else?
I will be staying in my home until the food runs out, in an attempt to avoid the initial panic and chaos of the first week or so of the infection. When both the confusion and food start to run low, I will head out into town, using the local high school as a permanent shelter.
But 'School Will Kill You'! Haven't you heard?
As stated no less than a million times during this plan, I'm waiting out the initial panic for at least a week. I'm counting on Darwin's theory that the others may mess up and die, leaving the shelter for me. Plus, it's hardly a supply-rich building, so hopefully few other people will consider it.
If you're heading out, how do you plan to get there?
It's a 10 kilometer stretch of highway into town, so we will take my dad's Crown Victoria (can take a beating, lots of room). If the car decides to die out on us during the worst conceivable moment, we will hope that our superior mobility and speed will allow us to out-maneuver the dead.
Got anyone you want to take with you?
My best friend lives very close to my planned final location, so grabbing her and bringing her back to survive the initial chaos is the first thing I'll do. My mother will almost definitely be home, and it's likely so will my brother (if my father is home from work, then it's his lucky day).
How will you communicate with the outside world?
CB and ham radio equipment, constantly scanning the airwaves for information: evacuation sites, military activity, warning of possible air-strikes against cities. Other than that, we maintain radio silence, lest we attract raiders.
How are you planning to get food and water?
A medium-sized potato farm, supplemented with other crops, and food taken from raids on supermarkets. Water would be supplied by collecting rain, distilling urine, and any nearby wells (as well as bottled water from supermarkets).
What's your weapon of choice?
A hunting rifle for engaging long-range targets, and a handgun for close-range protection. These common weapons could be found in any hunting store or Canadian Tire. Best bet for finding a handgun would be to take it from somebody it failed to protect (deceased police officers and the like). Assuming the military has tried (and failed) to operate in my area, some larger hardware could be acquired from the bodies of soldiers left behind (M2 Browning machine guns, M4 assault rifles). The best bet for a person with my weapons experience (or rather lack of) would be a handgun or shotgun. If I end up moving from town to town, I could find myself in the United States, where gun shops are more common and have more powerful weaponry.
Are you willing to hook up with other survivors?
Yes. I am considering the feasibility of meeting up with several other ZSDW members from the States, and moving north from there.
Loosely, what's your overall plan?
Stay quiet, hidden away, and self-sustaining. Thin out the zombie ranks as much as possible. Amass as many supplies as possible, as quickly as possible.
A lot of your contingency plans involve committing suicide when things go wrong. Isn't that a little extreme?
Taking my own life will be the absolute last resort. It would be preferable to starving to death, being ripped apart by a dozen pairs of hands, or turning into one of the undead and trying to kill my friends. My religious beliefs are that committing suicide will not affect where I go in the afterlife, especially in a situation as extreme as this.
Contents Of My Bug Out Bag
This is a list of the items and supplies I currently have ready in my B.O.B, ready to go right this minute, if I needed to.
Current Bag Contents (As Of 03/09/10)01/10/10)
500 Redbird strike anywhere matches
Fourteen 500ml bottles of water (13 liters total)
66 inches of vinyl electrical tape
20 yards of duct tape
Items (and quantities) I am currently aiming to add:
Two pump-action 12 gauge shotguns
Three Mosin-Nagant rifles (cheapest, and probably first, firearm to be added)
Binoculars
Road flares
Camouflage or dark green jackets
Crowbar
12 gauge shotgun shells and rifle ammunition (quantities will be dependent on cost and weight)
Blanket
Lighters
Overview Of Group
Myself: The self-imposed leader of the group. I would definitely be the most knowledgeable of the situation (ie. zombies), and the details of this survival plan. My position (as well as my pathetic physical strength) will likely be challenged by my male relatives, larger than I am. I would reason with them that I have a very detailed plan, which I more than they have. If it comes down to a physical confrontation, I'll probably cheat.
Brother: Currently a Canadian Army Cadet, and holds a blue belt in karate (although he takes classes irregularly now). He is highly physically active, runs every day, and does numerous upper body strength exercises. He is no doubt the fastest and most capable runner of the group, and would likely be used to great effect scouting the area and other matters that will require speed. My only concern is that he is the one mostly likely to attempt to usurp my unofficial (and not exactly prestigious) position as group leader.
Father: Group weapons expert, and the only one with any real world firearms experience. My father was an army reservist, and as such has the training for the rifles, shotguns, and pistols we may come across. Additionally, should we encounter any sub-machine guns, assault rifles, or grenades, he's the only one who can use them safely and effectively. My father is also a truck driver, having driven transport trucks for a living, and currently driving cement trucks. This will allow us to use trucks to move large amount of cargo at a time.
Best friend: Small framed, no fighting or weapons experience. Poor physical shape.Best friend's sister: Large framed girl, will have problems following instructions. Smoker, probably bad physical condition. I have serious reservations about giving her a weapon.
Best friend's mother: Older woman, reasonably slow, also smoker. Non-combatant, designated gardener.
Mother: Slowest and weakest of the group. Non-combatant, designated cook.
Of the seven, five of us are capable of combat and running, two of us will have some firearms experience, and one of us will excel at running. The physically weaker two of the group will put some minor additional strain on the others when it comes to guard shifts, but will ensure that at least two people are available to tend to non-combat/scavenging matters (such as gardening).
The fact that our group is made up of two families, linked together by close friends, will make trusting one another with our safety far easier, even to the point of making internal distrust an non-issue. I'm not saying that everyone will get along like best friends. When the medication supply runs out for some of the group members with issues (almost immediately after Z Day), we have have a serious problem regarding what would be otherwise minor disputes.
A sizable number of the group suffers from some form of mental illness, mostly depression related. Obviously, prescription medicine will be non existent, so I may heavily reconsider the decision to provide firearms to certain people. Securing the weapons, keeping them out of depressed and angry hands, but still rapidly available during a break-in or ambush may serve difficult.
Equipment
A large portion of this list will be possible at best, impossible at worse. Many of these supplies will be locked away in military armories, or taken by other survivors long before I can get to them. Maybe the places I'm counting on getting them will be blocked by zombies or raiders, or maybe even burnt down. Therefore, my list contains many backups, in case my first choice is unavailable. Many equipment choices may have to be improvised (cloth and vinegar in place of a gas mask, for instance). Again, it's very likely I won't be able to find a working AK-47 or Claymore mine, I'm just being optimistic.
The only way to ensure that I'll have any of these is by stashing supplies ahead of time. After then, I find what I find, and get what I deserve for being under-prepared.
Mosin-Nagant/Winchester/Rifles: For downing enemies at long range, before they become a threat.
Mossberg 500 Cruiser: Ammo is abundant, and weapon can be found in hunting stores. Compact.
AK-47: Could be found in the US, 120 miles south. Heavy weight and recoil. Will last for a long time.
M1911/Beretta/Glock: Useful backup/confined space weapons. Easy to use.
M2 Browning: Static weapon for defending fortified positions. Ammo and weapon would be sparse.
Molotov Cocktails: Useful for signaling, destroying buildings, and creating diversions.
Claymores/Land Mines: Rare to find, likely to cripple zombies. Good defense against criminals.
Crowbar: Found in any hardware store, useful for clearing obstructions. Also a close-quarters weapon.
Fire Axe: Useful for clearing light obstructions and as a weapon. Common, but heavy.
Water Purifier: Prevents us from getting ill, which in the new world, could mean death.
Bicycle Generator: Keeps us in shape, and could power some lights or radios, and charge batteries.
Seeds: Necessary for growing crops to supplement food supplies.
Gas Mask/Air Filter: Can protect us from fumes from fires, and stave off bacteria from dead bodies.
Goggles: Keeps blood/dust out of eyes.
Binoculars/Monocular: Useful for scouting for danger ahead.
CB Radio: For picking up nearby transmissions (raiders, military).
Rope: A million uses, which escape me at the moment.
Walkie-talkies: For contact with other guards, raiding parties.
MRE Rations: Last for up to ten years, nutritious. Can be found in surplus stores.
Vitamins/Nutritional Supplements: For keeping up good health.
First Aid Kit: For surviving injuries and promoting recovery.
Cocaine: Useful for trading for food, fuel. Could also be used as an absolute last resort for a burst of energy.
Antidepressants/Anti-psychotics: Useful for staving off the mental illnesses a world of death can bring.
Ideally, I would want each combatant to be dressed in dark green or camouflage pattern clothes (like any hunting clothes, excluding 'blaze orange'). These clothes are to be as tight as possible, to avoid giving the stenches anything to grab onto. Also, a cloth, scarf, mask (not covering the eyes), or keffiyeh should be over everyone's mouth whenever they are on the ground, to prevent the possibility of infected blood entering the mouth. The ear on their dominant side (right ear for right-handed people, left ear for lefties) should be plugged to avoid damage from gunfire while not inhibiting hearing. Everyone's first name should be somehow marked on the back of their jacket (marker, paint, tape) for reducing the likelihood of friendly-fire on the ground.
I'd also prefer each combat capable person to have at least one firearm and one hand-to-hand weapon. The men should be armed with the rifles, due to their marginally better experience with firearms. The women would be given the shotguns, as they are more of a 'point and shoot' weapon than a rifle is. Handguns will be issued to whoever can use them (probably only my father). If burning down a building will be an objective, a Molotov cocktail (along with at least three means to light it, ie. a book of matches and two different lighters) will be entrusted to the man with the best throwing arm (likely my brother).
Overlooked Threats
The most basic (and obvious) threats during the zombie apocalypse will be the zombies, starvation, and raiders. But what about your teeth falling out from lack of brushing? Where will you put your human waste? What will you do about the bacteria piles of dead bodies littering the streets? Ever the planner, I have come up with solutions to issues that may be as deadly as the zombies themselves.
Airstrikes/Nuclear Attack:
In the earlier stages of the outbreak, the military may take drastic measure in an attempt to control the spread of the infection. This may include bombing cities or areas considered lost. If supplies permit, I would transform an inner room, like a closet, into a fallout shelter: pre-stocked food and water, shielded walls, limited airflow to the outside. Hopefully, my distance from major cities will protect me from the main blast, while the shelter will minimize the chances of me dying a slow and painful death from radiation poisoning. Obviously, my makeshift closet isn't going to do anything against anything nuclear even remotely close to us, but it'd give us the best chance against fallout.
Bacteria From Dead Bodies: The simplest way to eliminate the risk of disease from rotting corpse is to simply not produce any. Any acts to thin the collective zombie ranks will be planned ahead, and precautions will be taken .The bodies will be burned where they fall as soon as possible. Logically, the blaze should be unable to set fire to the entire building, as it is concrete and metal. If burning is impossible, I'll take reasonable measures to quarantine myself from the infected area (ie. sealed doors). Bleach will be used to clean pools of blood.
Bacteria From Human Waste: Urine will be distilled for water. Feces will be stored in sealed containers until they are ready to be burned, or fertilizer for growing food.
Depression: The isolation from other people, plus the lingering threat of death will likely cause even the strongest of us to eventually suffer from clinical depression. Entertainment (books, music, a journal) will keep me busy and keep my mind off the fact that I'm surrounded by death and will never see my loved ones again.
Raiders/Criminals: There is the likely possibility that greedy or desperate people will try to take my supplies. My risk of being attacked and robbed will be minimized by remaining radio silent, and hiding any markers of my presence in the area (disguising hideout, cleaning up bodies when feasible). Should the passive measures fail, I will fight to the death to protect myself and my safety.
Rodents/Insects: I'm fortunate enough to live in an area that is devoid of poisonous insects such as scorpions, and most snakes. However, rats, mice, and other insects can still pose a threat to me and my food. Rats crawling through seas of rotting bodies, and then onto my food is obviously unhealthy. Insects landing on fecal matter, and then taking a swim in our drinking water is also a threat. All water will be either in closed containers, or covered well. Loose food (fruit, for example) will be placed in containers, eaten, or discarded. Similar to the decoy open can of beer kept away from the patio party, a rotting corpse may be left far from our compound, to attract insects and rats to it and lure them away from us.
Tooth Decay: Tooth decay will start off with discomfort, and later lead to infection. Toothpaste will be among the top priorities when salvaging supplies. Carbonated, sugary drinks will be keep for trading to other survivors (as they can be traded for more nutritious food).
The Panic
The first week of the outbreak will be the most chaotic, with other people being as great a danger as the undead. As soon as I know that it's happening right f*cking now, I will grab a blunt object, gather my family members and calmly tell them that the world may be ending (in gentler words). I would speak firmly
"I need you to listen to be very carefully. Something terrible has happened. Mom, go upstairs, turn on the bathtub, then go in your bedroom and close the door. Dad and Michael, take as much non-perishable food and bottles of water upstairs as you can. The instant you hear anything trying to get in the house, run upstairs and block off the stairs with the bookcases and mattresses. Leave a space for me, I'm coming back. Use this [MAG-LITE FLASHLIGHT KEPT IN KITCHEN] if anything comes through. Hit them on the head, and do not let them bite you."
I will then demand the car keys from my father. If he protests, which wouldn't be unreasonable, I would explain to him that I am taking the car to go pick up a friend. If he protests further, I will take them from him using force (the order of force which will be used is as follows: ask kindly, ask firmly, demand, threaten with Mag-Lite, strike with Mag-Lite). Next, I call my best friend. If she's home, and picks up, I would tell her to stay put, that I'm coming for her. If she's not home, I will assume she is already dead and proceed to assist my family in preparing for the first week after Z-day.
"[BEST FRIEND], listen carefully. It's finally happened, the dead are walking [SHE AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THE MATTER BEFORE]. Get your mom and sister,mom, go to the kitchen closet, and do not make a sound. I'm coming for you. Do not make a single sound."
Logic dictates that during the initial panic, I should stay put at home, and ride out the chaos. I'm not doing that, not when my best friend is still out there, afraid and vulnerable to the undead, rapists, and thieves. I will take my dad's Crown Victoria, down the ten kilometer highway into town. It's a wide highway, but in the event a portion is blocked, I will take a side road. After pulling up in front of her house, I will quickly grab her, run back to the car, and drive back home. If the area around her house is crawling with stenches, then I would attempt to thin the numbers by crushing a few under the wheels of the car, and pray that we can out-maneuver the rest.
Back home, I'll park the car close to the house, and shout to my family. This can end in a number of ways.
A) Every Works Out Perfectly
"Yeah?" Somebody shouts back from upstairs. I would reply, "Is anything in the house?" "No." I would shout back, "We're coming up!" A quick run inside, and a climb through the barricade in the stairway, and we're safe for the moment.
B) A Slight Hiccup
"Help! There's something in the house!" Assuming a small number of undead are inside the house, I would tell my friend to stay in the car. I would then try to out-move and bash in the brains of any undead inside. After making sure the path is clear, I would retrieve my friend, climb up the barricades, and all is reasonably well for now.
C) Second-Worst Case Scenario
A larger group of stenches are outside or in the house. I would sound the horn of the car, trying to lure as many towards me as possible. I would then try to crush as many as possible with the car, before quickly exiting to finish off the crippled but still dangerous 'biters'. A careful trip inside, and upstairs and we're good (for now).
D) Worst Case Scenario
My family's barricades have failed, and there are too many undead to fight. At this point, I would jump ahead about a week's schedule, and give up on riding out the initial week at home. I would drive straight for the high-school, and proceed as planned (with major alterations, of course).
Holding The Fort
Great, we made it to the local high-school, our new home for an unknown amount of time. Assuming the doors are already locked (as they should be), we will gain access to the building by breaking in through the chain-link back gate. Around the back of the school is a walled-off portion, with a chain-link gate. This will be our entry point. We will drive the Crown Vic inside, breaking the Master Lock and/or chain as necessary. We would then park inside, and press the car up against the gate as a temporary barricade (we will come back to lock the gate and secure our makeshift garage later). A broken window later, we are inside the school. Internal locked doors will be broken door as necessary with tools from the shop class we enter from.
Hopefully, there will be no undead inside, but if there is, we would out-maneuver and destroy them. We would then go on to close and lock all doors leading both outside, and closing the non-destroyed inner doors. The reasoning behind closing the doors inside is that should there be a breech in outer defenses, the threat would be contained.
Once the building is secure, we will then spend as much time as needed moving all of the non-perishable food and water to the roof, which will serve as our main living area. The time both securing the building and moving the food and water will likely take no more than a day. After the security and food situation are taken care of, the school greenhouse's doors will be barricaded, and whatever edible seeds that are available will be planted. After this, as a group, we will discuss trimming the hair of the men and of the women who will be in combat positions (to give less for the undead to grab for, as well as preventing lice).
Shelter From The Elements
Once we are safe from the threat of being attacked or starving to death, we will focus on preparing shelter from the elements. While sleeping inside is attractive for many reasons (roof over our heads, walls, etc.), there is still the possibility, however unlikely, of a breech occurring during the night. Sleeping on the roof gives us the maximum amount of time and defensibility possible during an attack.
A more durable and visually-appealing shelter will be built later, but there is no time for that now. We will be using the massive air-conditioning units mounted on the roof as the frame of our shelter. We will form crude walls and a roof with it by using sheets of plywood and/or locker doors. These materials, as well as nails and tools, could be found in the construction class room or auto shop. Unpleasant, yes, but it protect us from the elements for the time being.
Manning The Perimeter
During the day, I would want two people watching the two major ways towards our compound: the football field on the west side, and the three streets leading in from the south-east. Someone should be walking (on the roof) the respective side of the building of each major area. In addition, one guy walking along the roof to the east to north side will cover the entire perimeter. There will be two guard shifts, one from wake-up/dawn to midday, and the midday to sundown shift. This will leave four people at any given time to deal with matters within the school (repairs, gardening, etc.), two of them being combat-ready. The guards and their respective shifts will be picked at random ahead of time.
At night, two people at a time will circle the entirety of the perimeter (on the roof). The shifts will be broken into two, allowing the guards to get some sleep. The first shift goes from lights out to approximately midnight, and the second shift goes from midnight to dawn, when the day guard takes over. There are ten guard spots to fill, and only five people to fill them with, so accommodations will have to be made, such as the two taking the second night shift being allowed to go to sleep earlier before their shift. Everyone capable takes two shifts a day, nonconsecutive whenever possible. The nature of the night shifts will also mean someone (who it is will be mixed up to ensure good morale and health) will have a longer day.
To avoid the inevitable tall grass which may obstruct a crippled zombie or allow thugs to get in close, at the earliest convenience, the football field and lawns surrounding the school are to be salted or burned. This will allow a constant and clear line of sight for the sentries.
Guard Protocol
The sentries will be armed with the most effective long-range weapons we have, and if circumstances and supplies allow it, a whistle. This way should they need arise, the guards can discharge their firearms or blow to the whistle to alert the others of the danger. That said, the sentries will be given very clear instructions regarding engaging and sounding the alarm. Everyone will be instructed to not fire upon zombie groups of less than ten within five minutes, but rather to call over an off-duty person (not another other guard) to dispose of the undead quietly as they resume their patrol. Suspicious noises or movements should also be immediately reported to another person, armed if possible. The acceptable call for assistance (day or night), to avoid causing alarm, will be a loud, stern, and repeated until results, "Michael (for example), Michael, come here. Michael, Michael come here."
The main purpose of watching the perimeter is not to keep an eye for stenches. A lone zombie can easily be dealt with long before it causes any damage. A human being, however, can outwit, deceive, trick, sneak around, and use weapons to gain access to our shelter. That is why it is important to always be on the outlook for people attempting to trespass to cause us harm, as well as be ready for people wishing to peacefully seek shelter.
Those on sentry duty will follow to a strict protocol when it comes to anyone armed, or anyone looking like they are sneaking around. As soon as any person is noticed, the guards draw their weapons and shout "hands up, don't move." If the person in question makes a sudden movement, or attempts to flee, the guard is to try to the best of their ability to shoot to kill that person. We can take no risks with a possible raider scout reporting back to base with the details of our defenses. Regardless of whether or not said person escapes, the guard is to be doubled immediately (ie. all able bodied persons take posts).
Those currently on guard duty will refrain from smoking (I'm looking at you, best friend's sister and mother), loitering in one spot and chatting with other guards or 'off-duty' persons. Slow, lumbering motions (the undead) are to raise awareness, but not raise the alarm (call one other for assistance). Deliberate, quick movements (a human being) are an immediate reason for alarm (likewise, call one immediately for confirmation of threat). Any sound which may be running, weapons being loaded or cocked, or talking is to be immediately reported for the maximum possible response (these noises are only possible by humans, possible raiders). Extreme vigilance is to be maintained through the shift, but especially so during the night, when we are at our most vulnerable.
Full Alert (In progress)
Night or day, if the presence of unknown persons is confirmed in the immediate area (human noises, visual confirmation), they are to be regarded as hostile unless proven otherwise. If an alert goes out (shots fired, shouting 'alert', 'contact', or 'I got something'.), all sentries currently on duty are to remain at their posts. Those incapable of combat (the old people, to the put it bluntly) are to be moved inside and accompanied by one of the off duty guards. The other is to rush to the site of the alarm. All of this (taking the old and splitting up) is expected to be done within a matter of seconds. Anyone sighted or heard by the guards at this point is given one, and only one call to come out/identify themselves. No response means they are considered hostile, and deadly force is to be used. If anyone hears gunfire from the other sentries or gunfire from an unknown source, they are to completely ignore the warning before firing, and are to fire immediately. The alert will consist of five stages:
Stage One: The first ten minutes of the sighting. Everybody stays on guard. If at absolutely any point during the later stages gunfire is heard, or movement or noise is detected, the alert is go back to the first stage.
Stage Two: Ten minutes after last sighting/shot. The one guard who is not guarding a post from his shift (the 'first responder') is to check on the other guards, relaying what the other guards know ("Chantal saw a guy with a shotgun," "Michael saw at least two people to the south," "Peter thinks he hit one of them," etc.) After relaying all the information to all of the guards (including the one watching over the older ones), he is to walk the entire perimeter until the end of the alert. (If radios are available, the relaying of information is to be done on the radio, and the guard is to immediately begin his patrol.)
Stage Three: An hour after last sighting. Under cover of the posted guards, the man without a fixed post searches the ground near the original sighting, and where any possible reports of wounding or hitting a possible target is. Any traces (shell casings, magazines, blood) is to be brought back inside for estimating the enemy's armament. If shooting a zombie is necessary by the searcher, immediately after the gunshot, he is to shout 'zed', to denote to the others that the shot is not cause for alarm. If enemy contact is made, the searcher is to retreat back to the school, shouting 'contact' if they are already detected. The alert will start over after the possible resulting firefight.
Stage Four: The rest of the day and the night after the sighting. The guard is to be doubled, even during the night. The guard watching the elderly is to join the roof guard.
Stage Five: The next day. All capable persons not on guard duty will search the surrounding area again for signs of the enemy. The search team will be reminded again to shoot to kill when provoked, but to not start fights if possible. Enemy numbers, weapons, organization, and threat level are to be estimated upon returning to the compound by evaluating the possible shell casings and magazines left behind, blood found from injured hostiles, recent dead bodies killed by non-head shots, weapons actually seen, fresh footprints, spotted persons, and overheard yelling ("Go get so-and-so" heard shouted would indicate at least three people, for example). After the search party returns, the enemy strength and threat will be factored in when regarding preparing for a possible second attack or even amassing a counter-attack by our own numbers.
Once again, the entire group is not to immediately go into panic mode every time a stench wanders into range, or an animal makes noise in the trees. Those instances call for one other person to come along and either deal with the zombie, or take a closer look while the posted guard continues their job.
Daily Routine
A psychical inspection of the barricades will be conducted first thing each morning, for peace of mind and security. The various procedures involved with operating the greenhouse will be done after breakfast. After that, the 'odd-jobs' around the compound (something needs to be straightened/painted/etc) will be taken care of. Around midday (at which, to conserve rations, lunch will not served), we will then proceed to either; plan a future raid, conduct a planned raid, thin the numbers of undead in the immediate area, or have free time (all four discussed later in greater detail). Before sundown, there will be another check of the defenses, then dinner, and then sleep.
Raids (Discussed In Greater Detail Below)
All supply raids will be planned. For safety reasons, we will absolutely never 'wing it'. During the planning stages, we will consider what information we have from scouting (which stores still exist, which are locked), the number of undead in the area (may be hard to estimate), the supplies we will be specially looking for (antibiotics, toiletries, ammunition, etc), and the estimated time it will take. The risks of the raid will be weighed against the benefits, for example, we won't be risking our lives by going up against anything more than a minimal zombie presence for soap. However, if water is badly needed, we would take greater risks for such a necessity.
Each raid will also have a codeword for the sentries to identify incoming friendlies. The codeword will change with each raid, to prevent enemies from listening in and learning them. The codewords for each run are to be made absolutely clear, because the guards will have orders to fire immediately on armed persons with incorrect or non-existent codeword. Scouts and runners coming back to the compound are to raise their weapons above their heads and declare the codeword repeatedly, until the sentry tells them they are identified as friendly and are clear to enter. The codewords will be changed randomly, avoiding patterns that may help enemies listening in (one day the challenge may be 'November', the next day 'taco', and the next day 'Gothic'). Each codeword will be sure to not be confusable with any other meaning (for instance, 'gun' can be confused for a warning about a firearm being drawn, names can be confused with calls for a person, etc.).
Destroying The Zombies Banging On The Windows
To avoid using firearms, which are loud and may be in short supply, destroying stenches will consist of the following: one takes a cinder-block or larger brick, attaches a chain or rope to it, and then hurls the heavy brick at full force from the roof onto the undead below. The heavy brick will crush skulls and snap necks, with the precision of a rifle (eh, almost), and the silence of a blunt weapon, all without all the dangerous close combat it would usually involve. A strong/well aimed throw may kill a zombie with one blow, but if it doesn't, I can just pull my weapon back up with the rope and go at it again. At no point am I exposed to danger. Obviously, this weapon will be a static one, fitted for attacking from the roof or upper-story window. The only disadvantages that come to find are finding the bricks and chain, and wearing oneself out.
Long Term Projects
Barricade reinforcement: Tacking on and securing to the doors sheets of metal and wood.
Distilling alcohol: Serves two purposes, the most important being fending off boredom. The second, which is a rather nice bonus, is being able to produce moonshine for personal consumption or trade.
Running water: Running water in some form of poor man's plumbing will improve comfort and hygiene. We will need to acquire an electric pump.
Supply Raids
Hopefully, between the dug wells, and the green house, it won't be necessary to raid the surrounding houses and businesses for supplies. But there are many vital supplies things we won't be able to grow or otherwise manufacturer/improvise, things like antidepressants, ammunition, and fuel. This will require raids of near-by abandoned houses and stores.
"Hey dumb-ass, read The Panic! There won't be anything left at Walmart, and the place will be crawling with the undead!"
Quiet, you. For one thing, we're not raiding the first sign zombie's are a real threat. We'll probably be raiding a month or so into our occupation of the school, long after the rioters and violently desperate are gone or dead. Secondly, I'm aware attempting to raid a large building with as many entries, blind corners, and choke points like a Walmart is a tactically unsound decision. Thirdly, we're talking about carefully deciding where and when to raid a building for supplies. No "hey, let's all go to Canadian Tire and see what there's left".
Before even proposing a raid, the following questions will be asked:
1) Do we absolutely need what we are looking for?
2) Are we sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that we will find what we're looking for?
3) Will going out for them pose any risk beyond the usual?
4) What stands in our way and how quickly can we circumvent it?
5) List one suitable available alternative to item we are seeking.
First question speaks for itself: if we don't need it to survive, we do not go out for it. Second question relies heavily on information gathered by our scouts, for example knowing that the nearest Shopper's Drug Market burnt down with the rest of the mall, but the one on Broadway stands intact, and also that it looks untouched, unlike the location on Centennial Line, which has smashed windows and stuff strewn all over the place. Third question regards passing through unavoidable choke points, nearing unmaintained industrial plants, and moving through possible sniper alleys (wide, open space with plenty of hiding spots). Fourth one includes gates down on pharmacies and hunting stores, a noticeable obstruction but also a sign that the wares within are still there. As for the fifth question, if anyone can name a single available alternative to the item we're seeking, we use the alternative we have on hand. If anyone names such an alternative that is clever or resourceful, said person gets to take one guard shift off tomorrow. This is to encourage resourceful thinking and to discourage thoughts similar to "I guess we could just wipe yourselves with book paper or leaves, but f*ck that".
Human Contact
It's dangerous to assume that other people will not come across our shelter, either by accident or intent. Therefore, having a detailed plan for dealing with other survivors will help prevent unpreparedness that may result in injury and/or death. For the purposes of this plan, we're refer to any one coming into our perimeter 'outsiders'.
It's likely that every once in a while, either a lone wanderer or a group may pass across the football field or down the streets. These people aren't our problem. As long as we keep low and refrain from screaming to them, these people will pass by, and let us know that at least someone else is out there (for now).
Now, if someone appeared to be walking directly for us, that's when we start worrying. We make sure everyone is on their toes, at maximum alertness. From the moment we notice them in the distance, we will be looking for numbers and armament of the outsiders, as well as looking out for motions towards visible weapons, and possible hidden ones (tucked in waistbands and what-not). People will remain at their posts, but two of us (me and one of the other men) will deal with the interlopers. We'll lay low until they get close enough to be positive they intend to enter the school. That's when we initiate contact, careful to neither startle, scare, or intimidate the outsiders, but at the same time, come off as organized, professional, and able to defend ourselves should any of them be rocked by the sudden urge to start shooting.
One man steps out, another staying almost entirely behind cover, but letting the outsiders know he's there. I would then call out to the outsiders, now within ten feet of the building. "Hey there, you folks alright?" We then gauge their response, be it friendly, hostile, or scared/confused/disoriented.
"You guys looking for shelter?" We'd ask, and assuming they are, we tell them the following quarantine procedures. They will be stripped of their weapons in the gated-off makeshift garage. We will then have a member of the same sex strip them and inspect them for bites. They will then be allowed to dress, and held for seven days, with food and shelter, in the pen. This will allow not only the zombie infection to show itself before it is within our ranks, but other illnesses as well. Someone is to be watching the quarantined area at all times, including at night. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL WE BREAK QUARANTINE. If the undead break into the quarantined area, there is nothing we can do for the people down there. After the week is over, and assuming that no one is ill, they will be allowed entry to the school, and given their weapons back. We will have one of our own with the outsiders at all times, and watch them closer than close.
Three notes about the quarantine: the outsiders may refuse to be quarantined, an outsider may turn whilst under quarantine, and rearming them after the week may seem ill-advised. Firstly, if they repeatably refuse to be voluntarily and peacefully quarantined, we will deny them access, and tell them to move along. They may result in violence, but it is preferable to allowing possibly infected persons within our walls.
Secondly, if an outsider is found with a wound, they will be asked of the injury's origin. If it is a zombie bite, we will separate that person from the others, explain to the others that said person will turn, and shoot the infected in the back of the head to avoid a confrontation with them or having to look them in the eye as we kill them. The other outsiders will remain in quarantine after we bury the body. If the wound is claimed to be say, a stab wound, we allow them to remain with the others in quarantine, but keep an eye on the wounded person especially.
Thirdly, giving back the weapons to people we don't know and are inside our walls. My reasoning is that if these people will consent to a strip search and week long quarantine, that they are peaceful enough to not kill us the first chance they get. We will also be watching them at all times with our own people. If they were looking for a fight, they would have fired at us long before the invasive strip search. If I'm wrong, I plan on repeating these words to myself as I kneel waiting to be executed by our new raider overlords.
Mental Health
The number one factor determining how long it'll take for us to snap (commit suicide, turn on each other, and so on) will be being surrounded by family and fire-forged friends (ie. the other family). Sure, the loss of most of our friends and extended family will be horrible, but at least we'll still have family (assuming hiding out during The Panic works out as well as I hope). But after months, maybe years of being cooped up in an abandoned school, unable to go outside without arming ourselves for war against cannibalistic monsters or thieves, uncertain of what the future will hold, uncertain of how much more hardship, pain, and loss will be ahead, will finally take their toll.
As mentioned earlier, several members of the group will already have some form of depression or anxiety even before shambling monsters come to murder us. Aside from the whole basic 'keep us out of zombie tummies, while keeping food in ours' thing, our top priority will be: A) keep the already unstable members from snapping, and B) prevent the other, healthier group members from developing similar issues. We will be fighting an attrition war, each sides waiting for the other to weaken and collapse first. It may be years before it's considered reasonably safe outside, years of paranoia and having a literal siege mentality.
Any group member acting more depressed than rational (this is the zombie apocalypse, after all, feelings are to be expected) or increasing hostile toward others will be watched by the more 'sane' members of the group. Who's 'crazy' and who's not is to be decided by the group as a whole, obviously excluding the person in question. Try telling a disturbed armed person that you think they might be unstable and need help, and all they hear is "You'll crazy, we're against you, the lines are drawn!" Not to say that at the tiniest provocation somebody will start shooting, but it's a possibility. Hell, even I might completely lose it one day. But I'm going to worry about the known and diagnosed schizophrenics and manic-depressives first. In short, keep everyone talking about feelings, disarm those who maybe shouldn't have weapons, try damnedest to help however we can.
Needless to say, I'd like as few people turning their weapons on themselves or going postal as possible. Which is why it's vital for us to, as Woody Harrelson's character in Zombieland said, 'enjoy the little things', to distract us from how crappy the world may be. Little things such as:
Dramatic Arts: A fancy and unnecessary way to say writing and acting. It could be anything from writing a daily journal (what we ate, how many Zeds so-and-so killed, personal 'drama'), to painting, to a fancy and elaborate drama showcase of sorts. Others agree, and others certainly disagree as well, that I'm a funny person. Humor serves well in times of trouble. Hell, anything to keep our minds off how terrifying the world will seem.
Personalization: Within reason (nothing hot pink, or with easily-grabbed straps), it would behoove the entire group if each member was allowed, even encouraged, to be unique. I'd feel far more comfortable if each of us was in their own separate and comfortable identity, rather than each person wearing a similar jacket, our faces barely identifiable under the dirt and sweat. Examples would be modifications to the limited style of clothing available, such as removing sleeves, painting or drawing on some sort of insignia (a bear, a face, a sword), perhaps even 'Frankensteining' several spare articles into something unique. Prison inmates do same, some roll up their sleeves, some open their fronts, some wear just the pants. Again, I will do anything to dissipate the crippling sense of being screwed and alone. (Well, not anything. Improvised 'prison style' tattoos don't seem worth the risk of infection, nor does sporting a tactically-unsound, although unique and cool-looking beard or hair-cut.)
Reading: Fiction is escapist, and what better time for some Harry Potter or Tom Clancy then the end of the world? Non-fiction, such as manuals, medical journals, and survival guides, will serve to further our admittedly-limited skill. And yeah, maybe learning to write in somewhat grammatically correct Italian or Russian will prevent the boredom and feelings of uselessness?
Ultraviolence: For the lack of a better term, anything involving any number of sports, contests, dares, or the like, involving a stench or two getting eliminated. I can easily see myself and my brother engaging causally in seeing who can make a longer shot, or seeing who can brain more undead with rocks from the roof, or seeing if one can line up two zombies for a 'double kill' with a rifle. Such acts would be foolish and distracting, potentially leading to death if we were to do so 'in the field', or on the ground, off the safety of our roof. That is why such contests are to only be done in complete safety, and only if doing so would not endanger or screw the group in anyway (frivolous use of ammunition, ignoring sentry duties). The only reason I would even consider this is to blow off steam and tension, and to promote interaction between families, all whilst killing a few stenches. I imagine it's easier for two strangers to bet who takes the night shift regarding something involving attacking the symbol of a shared enemy (hurling bricks at the undead, for example), then breaking the ice 'the old fashioned way' (ie, awkward initial conversation).
What Happens If X Happens?
What if your hideout is surrounded by overwhelming amounts of the undead?
Assuming there are too many to utilize my brick-on-chain contraption, and that there is no chance of escape, I would hold up, remain silent, and pray that the hoard outside will get distracted and seek new prey. In the likely event that they don't simply go away, I would wait until the food is exhausted, and then use the remainder of my weapon supplies to take out as many of them as possible, before taking my own life to avoid the pain of starving.
What if the school is lost to the undead?
Should the school become overrun, we will attempt to evacuate back to my home. On the way out, if timing and supplies allow it, we will try to set the building on fire to destroy the large number of undead concentrated in the one building .If gasoline is the only available flammable liquid, we will preserve the gasoline, as now that our shelter will be ten kilometers from town, the car will be more important than ever.
What if the school is already overrun/burnt down?
We make a U-turn, escape back to the house, and formulate a better plan.
What if both your house and the school are unavailable?
Then it looks like we're f*cked. We'll grab what we can and head north in the Crown Vic. North meaning far up north, where the towns are small and spread out. We'll look for an abandoned house or something like that, and hold up. We'll basically make something up as we go along.
What if you get bitten?
I would kill myself, careful to prevent myself from turning into one of the undead. Depending on the situation, I might decide to do one last bit of help for my still-living companions. Grabbing a shotgun or handgun, running off into the distance, drawing as many away from my friends as possible, and being sure to save the last bullet for myself seems logical.
What if a companion is bitten?
I would do what is necessary to prevent them from coming back. I would give them every second until they turn, and then bury them in the garden. I will be hit hard by such as loss, and may never fully recover. Should I find myself, by some cruel combination of luck and misfortune, to be alone, having lost all companionship, I would turn the weapon on myself and join them.
What if a military evacuation/convoy of survivors appears on the horizon?
Depends, if it's an evacuation, and can get me somewhere safe (ie. uninfected), then I would immediately jump at the chance to go with them. But if it's just another group of survivors, and going with them would mean trading one hideout for another, I would stay to live and die by my own (not their) choices. But let me reiterate: 100% of all situations, I would evacuate to safe ground (uninfected Europe, maybe) if possible.
What if the military is seeking out and destroying all 'possible infected', including yourself?
My supply of scavenged weapons would be no match against even one solider, let alone a platoon. I would hide, and make every effort to avoid contact with the military. If they are razing buildings, or searching through all of them, I would make an effort to make a run for it, understanding that I probably would not survive.
What if the undead appear to be growing more powerful/intelligent?
Then I guess I'd be in trouble. I would continue hiding and fighting and surviving, until either me or them are no more. Intelligence would imply that I would be able to attempt reasoning with them. Increased strength is iffy. Anything short of the dead suddenly gaining the ability to tear down solid concrete, and I think I can manage as usual (barricades).
What if, during the Panic, a group member refuses to accompany you?
A likely situation will be my brother or father deciding to make a run for it, or my friend's family refusing to come ride out the Panic with us. I will very firm with the following words: "You can [stay here/come with us] where it's safe, or you can take your chances out there alone!" For maximum effect, I'll put considerable strain on 'alone'. If said person still refuses to join us, I'll say, like I don't care, "Fine, you can die out here! Do whatever the hell you want, because you won't last a week out here!" If that doesn't work, it's unfortunate for them, because there will be over matters I will have to attend to, either moving the food upstairs and blocking the stairs, or getting back home.
Assorted Rules/Mantras/Stratagems
Yes, I stole this idea from Zombieland. Yes, I'm comfortable with that, in fact, I am enlightened. Most of these are common sense, some are my own, and all them will (hopefully) keep me alive.
Rule #1: Never fight when you can run.
Rule #2: He doesn't need to tie his boots or pull up his fly, shoot anyone who tries this on you.
Rule #3: If you don't need it to survive, leave it, and save space for the things you do.
Rule #4: Reuse everything as many times as you can.
Rule #5: When your life depends on it, fight like a girl.
Rule #6: Always have somewhere to run to.
Rule #7: Plan everything.
Rule #8: Even the best plans fall apart on you.
Rule #9: Panicking accomplishes nothing, thinking accomplishes everything.
Rule #10: Never pull your pants down to your ankles unless someone is covering you.
Rule #11: In fact, never do anything without someone covering you.
Rule #12: If it looks like a trap, it is.
Rule #13: Never push your luck.
Rule #14: If you've thought of it, so have the raiders.
Rule #15: Don't go picking fights, be it fellow survivors, raiders, or the undead.
Rule #16: Always assume the guy watching the door is dead.
Rule #17: Never have a plan B that's better than your plan A.
Rule #18: Never sleep unless someone else is awake.
Rule #19: Give the stenches as little to grab onto as possible.
Rule #20: If it's important, say it twice.
Rule #21: Double check everything.
Rule #22: Assume no one is coming to save you. Chances are, no one is.
Rule #23: If there's something better for you to do, do that instead.
Rule #24: Every scrap of food, every second of battery life, every round, and every second is precious.
Rule #25: Nobody fights fair when they're fighting for a meal.
Rule #26: If nothing else, greed and ignorance will survive Z-Day.
Top Fifteen Songs For The Zombie Apocalypse
Eventually my iPod will run out of juice, and that every second spent listening to music is a second spent distracted. But if I had the opportunity to somehow bring ten tracks with me (cassette tapes, perhaps?), here are the ones I would:
1) The Life - Dope
2) Still Alive - Jonathan Coulton ("When you're dead, I'll be still alive...")
3) Psychosocial - Slipknot
4) Minerva - The Deftones
5) Rosenrot - Rammstein
6) Sonne - Rammstein
7) River Below - Billy Talent
8) Eradicate The Masses - Sencit
9) Down With The Sickness - Disturbed
10) The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash
11) Don't Stop Believing - Journey
12) More Than A Feeling - Boston
13) Ich Will - Rammstein
14) Stars - Hum
15) The Dead Can't Testify - Billy Talent
