"Now none of these will stop a determined foe, but it will make you a tougher nut to crack."

"A lot of people forget that there are ways to secure an area. For being at Wally World the fire sprinkler lines that run though the entire building can be shut off at site and the steel pipes dismantled and used to create barricades. It's icky smelly work, but it can be done. Some Wally Worlds sell welders and if so, there are back up generators on site that run the fire pumps that provide water pressure for the fire line. Some of these are even diesel ! ( Boil a pig anyone? ) One generator, some steel and a welder and you're set ! There is enough room on the roof to set up a water collection basin, a small farm and a heli pad for a light sport helicopter. ( I suggest a R44) Take out a sky light and run your hose down to your inflated swimming pool and you've got water. ( if it rains) Pile the shopping carts at the glass doors and reinforce them with steel sprinkler pipe. Secure the fire doors and emergency exits with the pallets and stock racks that should still be there or just weld the doors shut. A couple of car batteries lined up in series can create a poor mans welder. Now none of these will stop a determined foe, but it will make you a tougher nut to crack."

"For Walmart to work you would have to have a lot of time before the dissasters effects actually hit you. You would need lots of people and a lot more food then is actually in Wal-mart. You would also have to build fortifications on the inside of the building because if one of your doors fails then you are srewd."

"Lol maybe I should make a article about what conditions would make a large building a viable structure to bug in. It would disourage more people than the "why not wal-mart" page."

"I see that I struck a chord with some of you, so let me entertain more of the idea. Even after the panic stricken masses have decimated the original design of the store, what we're after is not the local creature comforts. First, the building is made from reinforced concrete so just shy of a semi-truck plowing through it, you've got four really solid walls. Second, you will need space to set up your water purification area and your garden. Third, all the wiring in the building should still be intact so that even the alternator from a Chevy can be converted to put out AC current. All you have to do is take it off of the main panel. If the is no fire pump, a rudimentary windmill can be constructed with ten speed bike parts to turn out mediocre power. The space itself is not made to house a lot of people, maybe five, if you're all real cozy. Within a month, maybe two, you should be self sufficient. The hard part is all the cleaning and modifications, not to mention the fun field trips outside to bring in dirt and necessary materials."

"The roof is strong enough to support a small garden say 50' x 100' "

"The reason for so much space is so that other things can be brought into a closed and secure area. Say a water purification plant that you would have to construct. "