Can you survive a zombie apocalypse?

Based on the book The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete protection from the living dead by Max Brooks

How are zombies created? Zombies are caused by a virus Solanum

which is 100% communicable and 100% fatal.

Transmission is through direct fluid contact, i.e. bites, open wounds, permeable membranes, etc.

Death occurs within 20 hours; reanimation within an additional 5 hours.

What’s a zombie like? Essentially, they’re human; if you couldn’t

do it as a human, you can’t do it as a zombie.

The big difference is that they can’t feel pain so stopping them is difficult.

The only way to kill a zombie is to destroy the brain.

So what is the same as humans? Sight, sound, and smell capabilities Strength (they are as strong as the original

human body)

What’s different? There’s no healing, respiration, digestion, sexual

reproduction, circulation, etc. The “natural” decomposition life span of a zombie

is 3-5 years Zombies don’t feel pain; they will continue to act

and move until the muscle literally disintegrates They are slow and lack fine coordination skills;

however they don’t ever get tired They can’t remember, they can’t think, they can’t

feel emotion, and they can’t learn

There’s been a class 3 event!! Zombies number in the thousands They cover several hundred miles of area Duration of attacks and mop-up can last several

months State of emergency declared: martial law,

restricted travel, rationed supplies, and monitored communication All of this takes time to implement so be prepared for

chaos as you wait for the government to get organized.

Question 1: What’s your philosophy?

On the defense On the run On the attack

On the defense: location, location, location

Private Residence Public Spaces

Private Residences How many floors are in your house

(excluding the basement)? One Two More than three

Private Residences One floor

Oooohhh…not a good choice There are too many windows and most likely you

don’t have enough secure, solid wood furniture/boards to seal them effectively

Try Again

Private Residences Two or more floors

A good choice; you can Stockpile supplies (food, weaponry, etc) on an

upper floor Destroy the staircase to the first floor (zombies

can’t climb so you’ll be relatively safe until your supplies run out)

Weaponry

Public Spaces Bank Church Hospital Mall

Office building Police station Warehouse

Bank Whoops… it would seem like a good choice

but The majority of “security” features require police

intervention; they’ll be a little too busy trying to control the hordes to worry about an alarm

The vault…how are you surviving with no food, no water, and precious little oxygen? And even if you do manage to survive, how are you getting out? Try Again

Church There are some positives like heavy doors,

windows being high off the ground, and wrought-iron fences, but… Too many people will flock to places of worship People praying loudly for their souls attract

zombies (they may be slow but they can hear)

Try Again

Hospital Ouch…a really deadly choice

Yes they’ll have: food, medical supplies, and an expert staff. Yes the structures may be sturdy and there may even be security, but…

Where do people go when they’re injured (like being bitten)? Where do the police bring the bodies of murder victims?

Try Again

Mall Good for shopping…bad for survival

Nearly unlimited points of entry and access including service hallways most people are unaware of

Try Again

Office Building Not a bad choice if there’s more than one

floor. Abandon the first floor for an upper level and

destroy the staircase (zombies can’t climb so you’ll be relatively safe until your supplies run out)

Weaponry

Police Station Seems like a good choice, but no.

Many people will storm the police stations looking for protection from the hordes; it will be packed.

Imagine a crowd of frightened people, too many to control, all trying to force their way into a building that represents safety to them…forget the zombies, humans will turn on one another.

Try Again

Warehouse An ideal choice

There’s a lack of windows, and entrances are easily secured.

Most warehouses have an office which is likely to have a bathroom and therefore a supply of water.

Merchandise crates can be used to create a secondary defensive “fort” in case the zombies somehow get in. Weaponry

Weaponry: What’s your primary weapon?

Blunt instruments Bladed weapons Long bow/crossbow Semi-Automatic Rifle Shotgun Handgun

Blunt Instruments Close quarter combat should be avoided at

all costs!! The only way to kill a zombie is to destroy

the brain, so unless you’ve got the upper body strength of a body-builder this isn’t for you

Try Again

Bladed Weapons Close quarter combat should be avoided at

all costs!! Slightly better than a bludgeon but not

much. Additionally, blades sharp enough to get

through the human skull rarely stand up to multiple attacks.

Try Again

Long bow/crossbow While this has the advantage of letting you

attack from a distance, the odds that you have the marksmanship skills are minimal.

If you’re a marksman click on the secondary weapon link, otherwise try again

Secondary Weapon Try Again

Semi-automatic Rifle A superior zombie killing machine

They’re relatively easy to clean, maintain, and operate

Ammunition is widely available A relatively light-weight weapon

Secondary Weapon

Shotgun Great against humans, bad against

zombies. The further away you are, the wider the dispersal

pattern of the pellets. Wide dispersal makes a skull shot unlikely and zombies don’t feel pain so you’re not even going to slow them down.

Try Again

Handgun The effectiveness of this weapon depends

on your marksmanship skills. Have you ever fired a gun? Have you ever fired one in a stressful situation?

This is better as your backup.

Try Again

Weaponry: What’s your secondary weapon?

Blunt instruments Bladed weapons Long bow/crossbow Shotgun Handgun

Blunt Instruments Close quarter combat should be avoided at

all costs!! The only way to kill a zombie is to destroy

the brain, so unless you’ve got the upper body strength of a body-builder this isn’t for you

Try Again

Bladed Weapons Close quarter combat should be avoided at all

costs!! Additionally, blades sharp enough to get

through the human skull rarely stand up to multiple attacks.

Rely on this only if you have no other skills; if you can’t use any of the other weapons click on provisions, otherwise try again.

Provisions Try Again

Long bow/crossbow While this has the advantage of letting you

attack from a distance, the odds that you have the marksmanship skills are minimal.

If you’re a marksman click on the provisions link, otherwise try again

Try AgainProvisions

Shotgun Great against humans, bad against

zombies. The further away you are, the wider the dispersal

pattern of the pellets. Wide dispersal makes a skull shot unlikely and zombies don’t feel pain so you’re not even going to slow them down.

Try Again

Handgun The effectiveness of this weapon depends

on your marksmanship skills. This is better as your backup.

Provisions

Provisions Extra ammunition is a given, but what about

supplies. Are you on the defense or on the move?

Provisions: On the defense For long term survival and endurance, how

much water is necessary per person per day? 2 quarts 3 quarts 1 gallon 1.5 gallons

Provisions: On the defense For long term survival and endurance, how

much food is necessary per person per day? 2 cans 3 cans 5 cans 8 cans

Provisions: On the defense

Cistern Electric stove Emergency Flares Fire extinguisher Flashlights

Generator Medical kit Radio Telescope Tool kit

Click on your top 5 choices. If you remain on this page, then you’ve chosen a critical component. If you go elsewhere, you chose incorrectly. Once you’ve chosen five correctly, click here.

Provisions: On the move For long term survival and endurance, how

much water is it necessary to carry per day? 1 quart 2 quarts 1 gallon 1.5 gallons

Provisions: On the move For long term survival and endurance, how

much food is it necessary to carry per person per day? 1 can 2 cans 3 cans 5 cans

Provisions: On the move

Binoculars Compass Flashlight Hiking Boots Matches Map

Medical kit Radio Tool kit Water purification tabl

ets

Click on your top 5 choices. If you remain on this page, then you’ve chosen a critical component. If you go elsewhere, you chose incorrectly. Once you’ve chosen five correctly, click here.

On the run: what kind of vehicle are you taking? Sedan SUV Truck Motorcycle

Bus Horse Bicycle

The Sedan Whoops…

Most roads are going to be blocked, jammed, or destroyed—this is a class three level attack after all

Gas is going to become an issue sooner or later.

Try Again

The SUV They look like they would be good but it’s

all appearance Very few SUVs are actually equipped for all-

terrain driving Most SUVs actually are less sturdy/crush

resistant than the typical sedan Gas is going to become an issue sooner rather

than later.Try Again

The truck (pickups, vans, RVs, small delivery trucks, etc)

Nope; this is the worst choice possible Poor gas mileage Limited off-road capability Massive, ungainly, and bulky

Try Again

The bus Ouch…another really bad choice

Horrible gas mileage No maneuverability No off-road capabilities No stealth

Try Again

The motorcycle A reasonably good choice especially if it’s a

dirt bike Can reach places four wheeled vehicles can’t Good speed Good maneuverability Light weight in case you run out of gas and need

to push the bike

Weaponry

The horse A good choice

No worries about gas Terrain options increase

Weaponry

The bicycle The best of all worlds

Fast Quiet No gas, feed, or other muscles required Easy to maintain Can be picked up and carried if the terrain gets

too rough

Weaponry

On the attack Ummm…you’re dead. You cannot

overcome thousands of zombies without a huge, coordinated, multi-pronged response

You’re dead…so sad.

Try Again

You’ve got a chance at survival

Play Again

You’ll never be 100% safe again.

Pleasant dreams.