Fixed survival is surviving in a set location, as opposed to Mobile Survival. Fixed Survival can be challenging, dangerous, and time-consuming, but the rewards can be many. A place to call home, somewhere safe to sleep at night, somewhere to reunite, storage, and more await those with architectural inclinations.


Stage 1- Selection

Unless you are just that paranoid, avoid building your own shelter from the ground-up. Thousands of years of civilization have been creating structures, and the newly decimated world population will leave many choices. How you choose should depend on your location, but here are some general pointers:

• Cold Locations = more insulation
• Wet Locations = intact roof
• High population center = avoid at all costs
• rural area = better choice
  

The ideal location would have long, flat, open lines of sight (like a farm, but with no crops planted), a few exits but not so many as to be compromising. The sturdier, the better, but avoid obvious choices (I.E., please don't go to Walmart, as EVERYONE will want go to the Walmart) and avoid single story buildings as well as skyscrapers. On a single floor, it will be harder to deny access, and on a skyscraper floors 1-8 could become saturated with undead before you even know, trapping you on floors 9 and up to die, or forcing a dangerous escape. Stone or metal walls will provide ample protection, where as drywall will not. With wood, you take a gamble, but then again you must use what you can find. Try for a two or maybe three story with few 1st floor windows and many on the higher floors.

Stage 2- Internal Fortification

This stage is highly dependent on what materials and Tools you have or can forage. If supplies are limited, try to use them conservativley,conservatively, and that way you don't run out with one window left to block. Screws/nails are a necessity, as are wooden planks (like 2x4's). These can be used to barricade doors/windows, although make sure to always leave at least two entrances openable- always have a plan B! If possible, destroy the stairs and replace them with a rope or ladder that can be pulled up. Sheet metal, may seem like a good choice, but under the weight of zombiesZombies won't hold. It is good for roofing and reinforcing other barricades. If you can manage it without cutting yourself, break all the windows on the ground floor and board them up on the inside and the out. As a weak point, the double protection will come in handy. Try not to use furniture as a barricade unless you have no other choice, or can break it apart into more useful peices.pieces.

Stage 3- External Fortification

(Traps, alarms, defenses, and the like)

Stage 4- Supplies

(what, where, how, and why)

Stage 5- Expansion

(cities, towns, settlements, etc., and connecting your safehouse to another building)

Stage 6- Longevity, a.k.a. Your Safehouse And You

(farming, maintenance, and the like)

More to come. I plan to fill in the blank stages later, as well as add to the two existing ones, but feel free to add/edit whatever you feel belongs.