We all know it's going to happen.
There's (probably) scientists working on it right now.
Zombies will come and try to kill us; it's only a matter of time.
Time which will be spent preparing.
Read on and survive...
Step 1: Preparation
Make sure you're well prepared for the zombie invasion. No shops, no electricity, no water, no food, no anything. Zombie invasion = you're pretty fucked. So prepare well. If you are currently experiencing a zombie invasion it's a bit late for this section. If not prepare well and make your plan.
Useful skills
Keep fit! It sounds basic and most people are gonna say "Oh sure, I'm fit anyways." How fit are you when you're being chased by hordes of bloodthirsty zombies? Probably not fit enough, especially since more zombies will join in. Make sure you can run. Also learning some basic parkour might help. I'm not saying you should be the next David Belle but learning to wallrun, roll, vault and catpass/kong vault would be useful. Google them! In the words of Tool, learn to swim. It's not known if zombies can swim, so learn to swim in case they can't!
Learn to use any weapons you're gonna bring!
Learn to drive. Try and make sure you're able to drive as many different vehicles as possible. Motorbikes aren't really recommended because it's so easy to fall off compared to a car/van etc. Remember if you crash you're on your own.
So learn some first aid and be able to fix your car. Hotwiring could also come in handy. The car's owner is probably dead/a zombie anyways. Being able to run an electrical generator and do basic electrical things will be very useful in the later stages of the zombie invasion.
Of course you may not be able to learn all these things, which brings me on to the next section.
Your group
Make sure to plan out your group well. First of all the other members of your group should also be willing to plan for the zombie invasion, otherwise it's kinda pointless really. Group size is very important. If you seriously intend having a big group of ten or more people you're going to need lots of food, a few vehicles, some way to remain in contact and a lot of petrol. Smaller groups are easier to manage, feed and transport but with larger groups you can bring more stuff if you have more people that can drive and you can always find one or two people to keep watch.
Try and have as many of the skills above as possible iin your group, especially have someone who knows how to drive and someone who knows first aid. There can be no one useless in a group - everyone has to do something, even if its just carrying the food.
Try and make sure your group is psychologically stable as everyone will need a weapon and anyone who's unbalanced to begin with isn't gonna react well to the zombie invasion.
Zombie Packs
Have a zombie pack ready in an easy to reach place. This should include: weapons(discussed later); a small radio; a torch(if its a long metal one this can also be a weapon); batteries; a small medical kit; some form of armour/really thick clothing to stop zombies from biting you and finally some form of helmet that protects your face. Any other small useful items like a lighter, swiss army knife etc would also be good.
Don't pack so much stuff that you can't run. Make sure you can carry everything easily - theres no point in carrying your shotgun, baseball bat, torch, radio and medical kit around in your hands when fifty zombies are gonna pop out and swarm you. Bring a lot of ammo if you have a gun.
If you have a car/van leave another zombie pack in there, including extra petrol. Remember you can carry much more stuff in your vehicle! Non-perishable food (food that doesnt go off) is a great idea, tinned foods are good. Sugary foods aren't great for a zombie invasion: you don't wanna be crashing when you need to run. If you've made your zombie plan with a friend pack enough for two. Bring heavy weapons for use from the vehicle and lighter weapons for when you have to go outside.
Step 2: The first few days
So the zombie invasion's beginning and everyone is running around panicking. Time to put your plan into action. Note: If you have no plan remain calm and await a) rescue b) death or c) zombie infection.
Grab your zombie pack and get your group and go. If you're in a vehicle that's anything other than a tank or APC you're gonna have to avoid towns and cities as people will be driving everywhere and getting stuck in traffic means gettin swarmed by hundreds of zombies. Some people may try to steal your vehicle/supplies and you don't really have many options here so it's really best to avoid other people.
If anyone gets infected kill them immediately. Keep all protection on at all times unless absolutely necessary, the zombies coukd come from any direction. Don't take unneccesary risks, such as trying to save someone surrounded by hundreds of zombies or driving too fast: there may be huge pile ups and random wreckage across the whole road.
If your on foot you need to find somewhere to hole up immediately whereas in a car you can probably drive for a few days. If the zombie invasion is local to your area waste no time in contacting people in another area to get help, supplies and maybe even somewhere to run to.
If the zombie invasion is widespread just try and find somewhere good to hole up.
Step 3: Hiding out
So you've survived the first day or two. Well done. Now the services are all coming offline and you need somewhere to find somewhere to hole up.
In choosing somewhere to hole up you have to think about security and supplies. For example; a top floor apartment may be easy to defend but how are you going to get supplies? If you have a safehouse planned out, so much the better. Choose somewhere with one or two or three (at the most) easily defended and barricaded entrances. Two entrances is good if you can defend them both as you can escape out of one of them if you are beseiged at the other. A way out that can't be accessed from the outside would be good. A way to barricade the entrances is deadly important. A bonus would be a way to reach the vehicles without going outside. Somewhere with an electrical generator would be excellent.
When you arrive have a quick look around to make sure the place doesnt have a huge horde of zombies but leave some of your group to guard the entrances. Once you've looked around barricade the entrances, making sure they are easy to open from the inside in case a zombie gets in. Have another, more thorough look around to make sure there are no zombies hiding in odd corners. If at all possible make it so each entrance has two barricades before you enter your base, so anyone entering shuts the outer barrier before you open the inner one. Try and make inner barriers that could be closed in the event of zombie(s) getting in, so you have somewhere to fall back if your outer barriers fall. Block up the windows with something more solid than curtains.
Letting other people know you are there would be a good idea once you are established. Make sure there is always someone on the entrances but avoid too much unnecessary movement as you don't want to find yourself beseiged by a horde of zombies. Don't waste energy, batteries, food or weapons. For example, if a zombie is walking past and has not discovered you there is no point in shooting it. It is impossible to kill all the zombies without a full army - you have to outlast them.
As soon as possible make your plans for the possibility of zombies getting in. Some form of alarm system would be great but a working alarm system is too much to hope for. For examole, giving everyone a really loud whistle and agreeing a code; eg one long blast for zombies inside, two short blasts for medical emergency, would be a good idea. Also try and plan your places to go in the event of being overrun. Leaving some food and extra fuel in each car is a good idea.
Learn any important skills you can while you are hiding out; keep your mind busy; avoid pointless disagreements - arguements while everyone is stuck in an enclosed space all holding weapons are not a great idea.
NOTE: If you don't drive your car every so often the battery goes flat!
Step 4: Venturing out again
So you've survived for a while now. The electricity and water are likely gone. You need to leave your base because:
-you have need of supplies/medicine etc
-you are going to see what the situation outside is
-you are on a rescue mission
-you have received news of rescue/another survivors base but you need to reach them
-your base was only ever temporary and you have plans for another base somewhere else
-the zombies have all died and you need to find/contact other people/countries
-your base has been overrun.
Leaving for another reason, eg boredom, is pointless and stupid.
If you are planning to move out completely then its the same idea as before except make sure to take enough supplies with you; try and plan your route and stop offs and alternate routes and stop offs before you leave. Leave a clearly visible message for other survivors detailing where you have gone; what route and why. Make sure you have all essential supplies. Make sure each vehicle of people can get along on it's own if the others are gone.
If you need supplies, are rescuing people or are going on a recon mission to check out whats happening you will only need a raiding party. These raiding parties should be small, anything you only have one of should be left behind, eg radio, and anyone you only have one of should also be left behind, eg you may have only one medic.
If you don't already have any vehicles that should be the first thing you go looking for. Useful vehicles are those that are small and manuverable such as a mini (old version!) or that can hold lots of people/supplies easily and safely eg paddywagon. The next should be weapons and ammo for guns. All neccessities must be gotten and additional barricade equipment is always good. Another good thing to find is a library: you can get books on medecine/fixing cars and so on.
The raiding parties should be equipped to suit their objective. For supplies such as food and medicine two or maybe three people in a small vehicle is sufficient. They should be fully outfitted with weapons and protective clothing. They should take note of anything unusual or important eg overlooked food/weapons supply but should only stop if it is safe, even if it is not entirely necessary. They should go by the safest route and go straight back to base afterwards.
For a recon mission the same is true but they should have binoculars and should only pick up supplies if the supplies are neccessary and it is safe. If they see people in need of rescue they check out the situation but take no action.
For a rescue mission more people may needed along with heavier weapons along with a larger vehicle and a small vehicle or maybe two small vehicles. Do not send out too many people/vehicles. The one/two smaller vehicle(s) should hang back while the larger vehicle actually rescues the other survivors. Once again they should return to base immediately at a safe speed by a safe route, this time not stopping for any supplies.
If you have been overrun you should have planned for this with multiple emergency meeting points, preferably written on a sheet in each vehicle, and so on. Move on to another base following the same rules as before. If essential supplies are left behind then it may be possible to return at a later time to retrieve them with a raiding party - do not risk too many people at once!
Weapons
Useful melée weapons: baton, baseball bat and similar, top prize is a riot shield!
Not so useful: skateboard or other things that can be hard to swing, edged weapons - zombie blood could infect you but knives are a weapon of last resort + useful tool.
If zombies swarm you, you may have to pick up whatever you find. Anything that can be easily swung and fits in your hand can make a good melée weapon.
Useful ranged weapons: Rocks. Yup, that's right: rocks or bricks or similar make a useful ranged weapon from a height. Most guns (discussed later).
Not so useful: Flamethrowers; very short range, so then a flaming zombie will jump on you. Nice. Maybe useful if you are burning something between yourself and the zombies to slow them down. Throwing knives; you have to be really good to actually stop the zombie and most people aren't. If you are genuinely good don't hestiate to use them but I'd keep a pistol; in my other hand just in case. The same goes for a longbow/crossbow and other thrown blades. Petrol bombs/molotov cocktails; very easy to get wrong and burn yourself. Also the old flaming zombie problem. Possibly useful from a great height onto a group of zombies or if you are 100% sure you can use them properly.
Guns: Remember the higher the power the heavier the gun. Get as many guns as you can comfortably bring, and a lot of ammo. If your using pistols I recommend fairly heavy ones: .38s or maybe .45s but don't bother with the .50 desert eagle unless you can actually use pistols expertly and are quite strong to deal with the recoil. Shotguns provide great stopping power at short range but be careful as they aren't always the fastest. Sniper rifles are brilliant long range weapons - useful for rescue and recon missions and also to cover your friends. Have a short range weapon handy though. A great all-round weapon is any mid range carbine such as the M4 or M16. A heavy machine gun is good for base defence.
Make sure you can use the gun and it is in good condition. You don't want it to jam!
General Advice
-Animals may be carrying the virus but not affected by it: be careful of meat
-You can't save everyone
-Anyone who is infected is a lost cause
-Wear protective gear at all times when outside base + when alarm sounds unless necessary
-Plaster over all cuts
-Don't take unneccesary risks
-Don't give up
-Stay alert
-Be wary of other people until you are sure they mean no harm
-Don't panic when you see a zombie: screaming results in EPIC FAIL as other zombies will be attracted to the noise
-Constantly check + reinforce all barricades
-Good luck
Motorbikes aren't recommended? They are speedy and fast and are much more easy to maneuver than a car. They can go to places cars can't and can steer you far far away from the zombie hordes. Who has time to carefully steer your car away from obstacles when their are zombies? Though there is a risk of falling of, If your good at riding a motorbike, you won't fall of.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't recommend automatic guns, only semi. I would use a hunting rifle, since they are more accurate and are better at picking off one zombie at a time. I'd bring an a rifle from the AK-47 class or an M16 for hordes, which are rarer than individuals. Silenced weapons are a big yes for picking of zombies from afar.
Zombie blood is mostly just jellied, so using edged weapons doesn't make you prone for infection. If I had to pick a melee weapon, it would be a machete or a short handed ax. Short range, so they are good for close combat.
A good base hidden against the zombie hordes should be established. I would say a good temporary base would be the upstairs of your house. Remember, destroy the stair case, so zombies can't come.
Best bet is to get infected as soon as possible to avoid the unpleasantness.
ReplyDeleteIf you have a normal will to live, all you need is knowlege and luck. There will be weapons, vehicles, and food aplenty as society collapses. Any large battlefield is covered with dead bodies and weapons/ ammo. The stores will have plenty of bottled water and food and no customers except survivors and the bigger the threat the fewer survivors.
This also applies for much more likely non-zombie apocolypses.
Educate yourself and be lucky.
Hey, clueless, motorbikes are recommended if you're good.
ReplyDeleteAs in, pro stunt biker good.
Because the zombies probably can throw things, and it is very easy to knock a dude off a bike.
Also, there is a greatly increased risk of crashes blocking an entire road and in a car you won't die if you hit it at slow speed.
You can't armour up a motorbike like you could a car, nor carry so much stuff.
I'm trading manouverability and speed for armour and ease of use.
Not my usual tactics for anything and yours are valid too.
Also, I'm planning for a group..
In other apocalyptic situations where there are no zombies I would say bikes are good.
If you are moving across country with a large group moving in a convony with motorbikers as scouts could indeed be good.