5 Reasons to Avoid Public Safety Facilities During a Zombie Outbreak
When situations go sour, public safety is called to run toward the problem while others run away. Public Safety facilities are viewed by many as a safe haven, where they will not be harmed. During a zombie outbreak, this is not necessarily so.
Here are five reasons why you should avoid a public safety facility during a zombie outbreak.
- Lock-Down – More than likely, getting anywhere near a police department, fire station, or other emergency facility will be difficult at best. Those facilities will be placed on lock-down until some type of order can be established. I would venture a guess that they are also trying to figure out what is happening, and even if they do, you are not going to get a ton of details during the thick of things.
- Mobile Command – Now that disaster preparedness and emergency management are labeled as hot topics, more and more, if not all, public safety departments are planning and drilling for major events. A mobile command unit made up of representatives from community leaders as well as ranking officials with local public safety departments. If you think you will get some type of answer from the police station, chances are, you won’t. Those in the know will be attempting to control the situation via a remote location anyway.
- Chaos – If you thought about going down to the fire station for help, imagine how many others would have thought about it as well. This is a good rule before heading to any location, unless directed to do so and you are sure that the location is secured. There were some excellent arguments about avoiding super shopping centers during an outbreak and chaos is one of them.
- Nobody there to help – You are not going to get an officer to come outside and help you at the police department during a zombie outbreak. They will all be on the road, flooded with calls and not be at the station unless they cannot avoid it. This is why you need a plan. Do not count on anyone else to help you unless you have discussed your plan with them and they are involved.
- Risk of Infection – Just because a facility is labeled secure or associated with public safety does not make it secure or safe. You need to always be cautious before blindly running to any location that you deem a safe-haven unless you have it on good authority that the location is indeed safe and void of infection. The last thing you want to do is run toward a building full of zombie cops!
Your best bet is to create a mobile and stationary plan and couple those plans with your Mobile Zombie Preparedness Kit (MZPK). Being prepared to defend yourself and sustain you and yours will be of far greater value than running to someone for help. They might have fallen victim to the ghouls!
Stay safe. Stay informed. Stay alive.
Comments (41)
ZzDeuceX on 10 Sep 2008 at 9:25 pm #
Wow…I think anybody on this site would have thought about this subject at one time or another, but this article does bring the issues to light. I never planned on going near the police/fire stations, but now I know to acctually make an effort to avoid them. Where there’s people, there could be zombies… The only time to come back to the police station would be when the outbreak was in its waiting phase and you were hunting for weapons, although you would probably have better luck at your local gun store. ((Walmart after the outbreak is a fine place to make a stop!)) Yeah, I think that were I a police man during an outbreak, I would drop that uniform in a hurry…looters don’t like the police too much, and everyone would be looking for your help. Any police officers care to comment?
3ID on 10 Sep 2008 at 9:29 pm #
i live on an army base as most of you guys know well read my latest post on the suppressor post and you would under stand going any were near an army base is just stupid that’s were there going to bring infected civilians or the might go rouge and set up an perimeter with a 200 to 300 m kill zone and just hold it out so military bases are probably a no go if the crap hit the fan i would leave in a heart beat grab ammo and weapons of course then high tale it out of doge
Kain - ZAC Weapon Consultant on 11 Sep 2008 at 12:52 am #
This subject has occasional come up, I think it just might not have been as blunt. Remember the supermarket comment? Any way I know several cops, most of the ones I know are older and wiser than your average steroid babies. Truthfully I don’t think that the cops need to be abandoning their posts at the first signs. Yes help your families but you still have a job to do and you don’t know that this is an outbreak of apocalyptic proportions. If it is, well we had to smooth out the rough spots anyway. As for army bases, I have a feeling the term scorched earth is going to be appropriate, though we will finally get to test out all those strategies with heavy mgs and landmines, so it might not all be bad, though I’m sure some nut job will take out a lone zombie with an AT4. Overkill, Thy name is Army(and Marines, and Navy)
Anyway back on topic, what we should also consider is after the first phase of the outbreak, assuming that it is a major, possible world ending one, after panic has died down and those who realize what is going on have banded together to fight that a hospital and fire station might be a legit target for supplies and even a base. Though clearing a hospital would be a stone cold bitch, what with those corridors and rooms. A fire station not as much, less likely hood of people going straight for it, though I’m thinking like me and not someone looking for help so I could be wrong. Nonetheless a fire station should be easier to clear. Anyway, like I said they could, work, at least the fire station by me, heavy concrete and three stories with only one flight of stair up and basically only two ways in, one man door and another larger door for the engine. Even got a flat roof, could field a small garden. To feed a small group, no more than a dozen, though that number there would be the need to forage, i.e. raid the local area, a larger group greater need to raid, though it is not far from a walley world and three other shopping centers
“They won’t get me they won’t get me thought they never cease to try
they won’t get me they won’t get me I would rather fight and die
they won’t get me they won’t get me well my friend will they get you?
when they get you when they get you tell me what are you gonna do?”
Dropkick Murphys – The Gauntlet
splint.chesthair on 11 Sep 2008 at 8:39 am #
Premise:
1. Public facilities are places that normally purport to provide safety.
2. Most uninformed/ill-prepared people believe these are the best places to seek safety.
3. Most uninformed/ill-prepared people will seek out safety at public facilities.
4. Groups of people will attract groups of zombies.
5. Public officials have no official obligation to provide protection (See Castle Rock v. Gonzales)
6. Public officials can become zombies just as quick as anyone else. (Many people have the cops/robbers mindset where the cops will always fight the robbers for you but this isn’t your normal good/bad dichotomy. Good can become bad in the blink of an eye.)
7. Public officials may have their self-interest at heart which could include shooting any approaching individuals.
We can therefore infer that public facilities will:
a. Attract uninformed/ill-prepared people (a hindrance to your own safety and resource suckers)
b. Attract Zombies (all around bad)
c. Have no legal duty to provide protection (so why are you there again?)
d. May in fact be seeking their own protection at the expense of your life.
Conclusion:
Therefore, for the zed-prepared, it is proper to avoid public safety facilties.
Anyone care to poke holes in this argument?
sean on 11 Sep 2008 at 6:38 pm #
“when the dead rise locate your local police station-and head the other way”
-zsg-
3ID on 12 Sep 2008 at 10:03 am #
the best place to go during a zombie outbreak is to all most stay home and build up your defensiveness because the first couple of days its going to get relay crazy people looting pillaging there will be anarchy in the streets so wait about a week to venture out by then all the dumb ass will be zombie food and supplies will be easier to gab or if your house is not suited for a zombie outbreak or you and a bunch of other ZAC followers want to tough it out in a more remote place then that would work to i would try to stay away from public facilties for at least a week then do a little recon to make sure they are some what safe and grab what you may need
splint.chesthair has great points no one can protect you better than your self
We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.
George Orwell
Avakar on 12 Sep 2008 at 8:02 pm #
Public Safety Facilities are a definite death trap, and the only good they will serve is when everyone is dead and the zeds have wandered out of them. At that point in time they will make a great scavenging location.
Another place to avoid like the plague is churches, the righteous children of God will gather in-mass to pray for their own spiritual salvation and redemption…. You might as well ring the dinner bell. Many churches in fact will set them selves up as a make shift public safety facility as a community outreach service to help people. Yes their intentions may be good, but it will backfire in the worst way. Let the religious go their maker, you need to survive. I am in a tight spot when it comes to family and religion, my father is a Catholic deacon, yes I want him to live but I don’t know what he will do. Will he choose his family or faith? I have to consider him a wild card.
Many people forget about a wonderful potential recourse for equipment: Emergency Vehicles. The closest you might want to get to a police station for is to scavenge a patrol car. All cop cars have a first aid kit, your larger cities may equip their cops with heavy secondary weapons like a shot gun or rifle and body armor, while you’re in there see if you can steal the police ban radio. Don’t forget to raid ambulances and fire trucks. The fire truck will have heavy duty axes and hooked spears; GREAT weapons! Also fire trucks, specifically a tanker truck, have a little secret that they carry…. Water! The ambulances are self explanatory. Milk these resources for all their worth! Now here is the downside, these treasure troves of goodies are most likely to be found at the Public Safety Facilities so weigh your options and risks carefully. If you can find your local ambulance dispatch garage you may find other useful items so keep an open mind to other options.
Should Public Safety Facilities be avoided, yes, but don’t count their uses out, all you need is patience and you can reap great rewards. Now it should be said that these options should only be resorted to if all support efforts have failed and the locations have been abandoned. There is a difference between looting and scavenging, know it!
“Its kinda scary knowing when one part of you falls asleep, another wakes up.” – unknown
jjc on 14 Sep 2008 at 1:46 am #
Guy’s I understand what your saying but you need to realize that if your going to survive, the thing you need the most is people. If you avoid all the places people are fleeing to early on in the epidemic your only going to find zombies when you go looking for survivors. Sure you may run into a couple hard asses that survived like you, but there is no guarantee they will join up with you. A bunch of morons early on may be annoying to look after but down the road your life is going to suck unless you have a crew to work with. Admittedly if the zombie bit is only a small isolated incident there’s no need to go out of your way for anyone. In which case feel free not to help anyone, they’ll just slow you down anyway.
Another thing is that if your going to hold up in a city the best place to do it is in a public building. Most have concrete walls and metal doors making them virtually impenetrable. Admittedly you could go there after a day or two, but this is no less dicey than to go there at the very start as instead of finding an encroaching mob of zombies their will be a garrison of zombies. Zombies follow humans, in the absence of humans they just mill about. Meaning their not going anywhere. More importantly where are you going to stay for these couple days while you pray the city drains of zombies, your house? Your home is likely a one floor wooden building. Let me put it bluntly, your doomed. At best you’ll climb on top of your roof and two days later (provided weather is good) find your self surrounded by more zombies than you have bullets.
In my opinion the best thing to do is drive/bike/run past your local public buildings check them out as you pass, make as many passes as you need, if things look good go check it out if not keep on moving. Ultimately though your going to have to stop somewhere as staying on the road will eventually get you killed.
On other thing, what do you guys think about library’s as safe houses, especially older ones (stone work).
Sam on 16 Sep 2008 at 11:42 am #
Agreed. The thing to remember during the Panic is: DON’T TRUST ANYONE. Public buildings will be overfilled with the unplannned, scared, and infected. Hospitals, cop shops, fire departments to a lesser extent. The thing you need to do is MOVE. People will be shooting like crazy (even more so here in Chicago), firing wildly and blindly, and will think everyone is infected. You want to be away from people. You can survive without a firearm or weapon for three days. Make a good polearm and sharpen some pool cues if you have to.
When the deaths start mounting up, that’s a good time to go exploring. More dead = less people.
Goldfish on 17 Sep 2008 at 9:45 pm #
I like Avakar’s idea of emergency vehicles, but I just think that’s a risk I’m willing to take. 90% of these vehicles are going to be on the road during the initial hours of the outbreak putting out fires, dragging infected back to the hospital (by far the worst place to wind up, even more so than a church), or attempting to fix the situation with mace pellets, bean bag guns, and tear gas. My reccomendation is, in your zombie plan, have a good knowledge of your local public safety facilities and churches and try to find a location that is secure and a decent way away from those, because once the food has run out in the hospitals, schools, police stations, fire stations, churches, and whatever else our friendly neighborhood zeds are going to begin a secondary migration, their first targets being the ancillary locations around these public safety buildings. This will, at least in urban areas with which I’m more familiar with can be anything, but usually it’s either homes or businesses (in the case of my hometown, project housing or surburban areas). Now, after the situation has calmed down, however, these public safety locations become ideal. The chances of a Zed getting trapped in a hospital are slim (lots of sick in rolling beds, doors gotta be easy to open), and a hospital can be secured quite easily. Same goes for fire houses, police stations, and especially churches. The key here is to wait as long as you can before venturing out to any of these locations to secure them. Just remember when you’re going into these locations (if that is something your plan would include), treat it as you would any other outing into unknown territory. Let people know you’re going, don’t go alone, bring a flashlight, bring a weapon, bring supplies, and bring communication.
For all his bluster, it is the sad province of Man that he cannot choose his triumph. He can only choose how he will stand when the call of destiny comes.
-Mohinder Suresh
instruisto on 23 Sep 2008 at 8:56 pm #
Finally, we agree.
Goldfish on 23 Sep 2008 at 9:23 pm #
I agree Instruisto, it is a scary time when we are in agreement for anything!
For all his bluster, it is the sad province of Man that he cannot choose his triumph. He can only choose how he will stand when the call of destiny comes.
-Mohinder Suresh
Kasper on 30 Sep 2008 at 5:34 am #
Generally agreed. After the initial chaos, it might be an idea to raid some of the public sites though. Fortified survivors can then hopefully be greeted. Many of us probably don’t live in a true fortress, so we might have to move, even in the early rush.
The police station might have some people locked up, in addition to spare equipment, and maybe some riot gear.
Hopefully the cops tossed any prisoners at the station some rations when it started looking like things were going to drag out. You might want to check their paperwork before unlocking the cells, graffiti painters can probably be useful somehow, junkies and gang-bangers are more of a risk.
Libraries are unlikely to be the first go-to point, but given their content of DIY-books and more or less mobile shelf units, they might not be a bad go-to place, though you have to bring food along somehow.
The big entrance to fire stations is just that, big. And the doors are usually made in a relatively light material, to enable speedy opening. Assuming that you don’t have enough trucks to block all doors, or haven’t got the power/key/whatever to close them, fire station is a no-go fortification.
Axes/tools, high-power vehicles, probably a fair amount of water stored, and some foodstuffs allowing for quick cooking and relatively long storage. Likely an eventual loot-run.
Hospitals… Just no, too traficked. If you need antibiotics, drop by the local pharmacist, if they’re still alive there, trade, otherwise loot. Physicians’ offices might hold small amounts of useful med-kits, and are easier to control than a whole hospital. Let’s be honest, most of us won’t have the energy to do kidney-transplants during the zompocalypse anyway, so stacking up easy-use meds is probably for the best.
Nobody mentioned bunkers? Haven’t most cities got some sort of public fall-out shelters left over from the Cold War (or WWII, though most of those were renovated for the CW)? I don’t know how many of those bunkers are still stocked with anything edible, but in DK, they’re maintained in at least functional order. There’s plenty of fence systems to insure hobos don’t sleep in them, but with a bolt cutter and some steel wire for mending the worst damage, it might be a fairly well protected site. I don’t know how many people in the modern day society still have their minds on it, but most major cities are standing on top of an amazing amount of air. Add manual ventilation and generators, combined with the many miles of hall-ways, and a somewhat difficult accesibility, and you might be able live for a long time down there. Plus, there’s a hundred exits, all boarded up on the outside, but usually with a means for opening inside. Hard to keep track of what goes on outside the tunnel system, though. And the local subway/hospital basement might be connected to it, since both are high-risk areas, this could pose a problem. Your thoughts?
angela on 06 Oct 2008 at 7:30 am #
I live in a medium sized city and on my “travels” through one of our industrial parks, I found the perfect place for an outbreak. There’s a wholesaler warehouse, it’s not in a high populated area and it’s surrounded with a gated fence and barb wire. There’s a small office that has windows but the rest of the building other than 2 truck docks is all metal. There’s one large door and a small back and side door, metal and I’m sure bolted from the inside too. The doors wouldn’t be an issue though, (my store has account with this wholesaler so I’ve been inside.), ton’s of food,bottles water/ beverages, heavy duty shelves, wood pallets, smokes, toilet paper (lol) and pretty much anything else you’d need to survive for at least a while. There’s no weapons that I’m aware of but I’m sure there’d be something to “mickey” into one. This warehouse is also about 2 minutes off the highway and about 10 into the city (through the industrial park). The delivery trucks are kept there too. I know my house isn’t strong enough to with stand an outbreak but I never gave it a second thought until I had my son. Since then I’ve had a minor obsession with how to keep him alive during an outbreak. That’s when this place came to me.
Dreamornaut on 18 Oct 2008 at 3:56 am #
All things considered, since none of us can be absolutely sure where, when, how WWZ will go down I think it might be a good idea to have multiple safe locations that can be used as a temporary fortress if you can’t make it to your chosen longterm fortress for what ever reason. Roads may be blocked, massive zed congregation in your path, or possibly a group that’s better armed with meaner dispositions took over while you were out. Also, maybe a few ‘safehouses’ scouted out as rest periods or supply caches in the event that travel time is hampered or something else goes wrong.
Vehicles will break down, roads could be impeded, chaos could lume. In case you can’t make it to your destination in a timely manner you might have a safehouse or two. This could be someone you know who would be willing to let you crash for the night or two. It could be an unused building or maybe even a water tower. Basicly a location you know or even own, that could be a safe place to rest.
I don’t think having a few caches would be a bad idea. Maybe you know someone who’s willing to store a couple boxes (filled with, MREs, first aid supplies, and some ammunition) in there garage or storage shed. Maybe there’s a spot of wilderness on one of your routes you could bury the supplies (as long as you’ll remember the exact location) where they won’t be found by accident. Even if you don’t need them in route to your fortress, you might need to head that way again later, and you’ll know where to find it if you need it.
Dr Who on 19 Oct 2008 at 1:48 am #
Immediately after an outbreak in an urban/sub-urban area the real danger lies in what has plagued humanities cities since the start of cities: FIRE. What fire crews actually make it out will be quickly overwhelmed with zombies and fires. With everything quickly spiralling out of control fire will spread as quick as the plague of zombies. All it takes is one housewife leaving the stove on to feast on flesh. Fires will quickly engulf whole nieghboorhoods and cities with all the people losing their minds at seeing little Joey eat his playmate. Have you ever watched how hard it is for alot of firecrews to contain ONE apartment building fire? Now imagine that happening at every apartment complex. Ever see on tv fires spread from one house to another in a sub-urban nieghboorhood WITH the fire department there? Most areas don’t have enough local crews to handle more than two fires in their serviced areas without calling in help from other areas. This time it will be alot more than two fires and the help will be overwhelmed with more fires than THEY can handle. You can easily imagine whole cities burning. Get out of these densely populated and packed areas. Let the fires burn out and hopefully take most of the zeds with them. You can come back after the fires are done smoldering and scavenge the stores and homes that are left.
Dreamornaut on 19 Oct 2008 at 11:06 am #
True that Dr. Who.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it doesn’t happen and go up fast. People throwing molotovs or using fires against our new undead friends. People panicking and ramming there cars at high speed into houses or even worse, gas stations.
Dr Who on 19 Oct 2008 at 12:22 pm #
The cities would be a toxic fumed hell even a week after the last fire died out. Winds would stir the ashes and allow air to the smoldering fuel underneath and fires would spring back to life occasionally. Look into what we did to Dresden, Germany during WWII. With all the plastic and chemicals in todays society you’ld be in serious trouble if you’re downwind from one of these funeral pyres of civilization. Thinking about it I think adding a Military NBC (Nuclear-Biological-Chemical) suit would be a must. And lots of spare filters for your mask, an often neglected neccesity. The activated charcoal in a filter is only good for 24-48 hours, or even less under heavy useage.
Dreamornaut on 20 Oct 2008 at 1:44 am #
Some police forces will also have a limited supply of NBC equipment. At least pior to 2002 the police had a larger supply then the NG base near by over here. I wouldn’t know if that has changed atm. Failing that just general protection against biological and chemical agents could help. Hospitals and more then a few factories (especially manufacturers that deal with micro and nano technologies) and research labs will have suits of one sort or another.
I think the best plan would be just to get out of these areas ASAP and have something like a CEDAP chemical detection kit, since you wouldn’t want to be stuck running around in a MOPP suit or something simular for extended periods of time. Like Dr. Who mentioned, charcoal filters do not have the longest lifespan, vision sucks (same with hearing, touch and smell) and sometimes your mobility (especially using something like a firefighters gear) will be hindered.
Part of your longterm plan should included conciderations of general weather patterns. If talking about a class three or even a class four outbreak it could be a long time before population centers are cleaned out. Because of this, your fortress (or what ever you want to call it) shouldn’t be down wind of these firetrap areas. Also taking soil air and water samples on a at least simi-regular bases should be a consideration.
Dr Who on 20 Oct 2008 at 11:55 am #
As for National Guard units, forget going to these for weapons. The rifles and machineguns are kept in large safes similar to bank vaults. Other than weapons these are a treasure trove of equipment. Most guatd units won’t be staffed as the outbreak will happen to quick and by the time the authorities get around to calling them up, it will be too late. The military vehicles at an armoury don’t use keys like normal cars and trucks. The security on them consists of padlocks at best. Some even have a large store of diesel fuel available in the motorpool. By simply breaking into the building (not any more secure than a normal office) you have a buffet of survival equipment ripe for the picking. NBC gear, military clothing, packs and ALICE gear, manuals, and all sorts of goodies. Heavy firepower such as mines, grenades, AT-4′s, and such will be at the larger bases that are manned full time. GIVE THESE A WIDE BERTH!!! Consider the average soldier or marine is between 18-22, will be scared out of their wits, and is armed with good weaponry and expected to use it well, you are more likely to get shot before you are even close enough to talk. Combine that with the disdain that the military has for civilians if you even get to talk to them help will be minimal if any. Do hit as many different NG units as you can as these will all have different equipment and almost all of it helpful to your continued existance as a living being.
another mike on 21 Oct 2008 at 2:53 am #
I also work on a military base and I have to say, my office is the last place I want to be at the end of the world. As non-essential personnel, I will have been evacuated off post anyway.
In the event of Ragnarok, military bases will be on full lockdown. You are not mission essential (with the exception of 3ID), you will not be allowed in. Do not try to sneak in, they will shoot you.
If there are no guards keeping you out, the base is in the process of being turned. You do not want to be there.
If you hear a firefight, do not approach. The zombies know you’re not one of them and they will attack you. The soldiers know you’re not one of them and they will also attack you. If the base is silent, there is nothing there worth looting. They used all the ammo defending themselves and there are many zombies between you and the food. You do not want to be there.
The soldiers may have left behind many fascinating devices meant to stop zombies. These devices will be effective against the living as well.
They may have targeted themselves for an airstrike, with the added excitement of thermobaric or thermonuclear cleansing. You really do not want to be there.
Dr Who on 21 Oct 2008 at 9:08 am #
“with the added excitement of thermobaric or thermonuclear cleansing” LMAO Military bases would be on my list of places to check out 1-2 months down the road. By this time they have either fallen and the zombies have (hopefully) wandered off or they are surviving and have got past the point of obliterating any and everything that moves. If they’re alive maybe you can trade and if they’re dead there might be enough supplies and goodies to take the extra time of zombie AND boobytrap clearing. The amount of weapons, ammo, vehicles, radio equipment, night vision gear, MREs, survival gear and guides, and tons of toys and goodies that I can’t even think of off hand.
Dr Who on 21 Oct 2008 at 10:01 pm #
To get an idea of the military mindset in a situation like this read 3ID’s post from 21 Oct. Perfect example. Now do you want to try and walk onto an Army base right after an outbreak after reading his post? And 3ID, I’m not insulting you. It’s a mindset that the Army encourages, been there and had it myself.
“Zed’s dead baby, Zed’s dead.” – Butch
Dr Who on 22 Oct 2008 at 1:35 pm #
Sorry,3ID’s post is in “Are you ready to defend without firearms?”
Dreamornaut on 23 Oct 2008 at 1:59 am #
Emergency responders would be particularly vulnerable to infection. Early on, before anyone really notices there’s a problem it will be the police, fire and paramedics dealing with the infected and will not likely be recognizing the zed for the zed. Given a 24 hour incubation period for solanum for instance,you could easily have a good portion of emergency response personnel infected within 48 hours.
Police will be dealing with the zed most likely as mentally unstable assault suspects. Maybe getting bitten quite often as they wrestle with zed thinking they are either crazy, high or both. Since they are completely unable to be pacified the zed would be restrained and detained in holding cells, which would likely lead to more officers being infected.
Paramedics and fire will both be dealing with these attack victims as well as reported picking up people that are possibly in the final stages of infection before zombification. Fire crews will deal with fires possibly started unwittingly by the zed or even people fighting the zed and not even realize the danger they are in.
I could easily see that within 48 hours a good deal of emergency response personnel being infected and it might take this long for them to even really realize whats happening. Though by then it could be too late. In this early period the police and fire would also be spread pretty thin and response times would eventually become horrific leading to the situation becoming even worse.
In essence the way I see it, your local police station, fire station and hospitals would become zed ground zero. Then, since many of the general hospitals are usually located within spitting distance of the core municipal buildings in most cities of any size, they could easily be over run as well. Since no one knows what’s going on yet, the zombie love could spread rather easily outward and even to neighboring cities before anyone knows whats going on. I hate to think what would happen in a city with which relies heavily on tourism, like Los Vegas.
Dr Who on 23 Oct 2008 at 8:59 am #
I agree with you 100% Dreamornaut. How severe the outbreak is really depends on how quickly the virus overtakes it’s host. Really it would be better for everyone (though not the people in the outbreak area) if the disease overtakes it’s host quickly. If it takes along time to turn people that are bitten the outbreak will be huge. This is the reason that Ebola and other hemorragic fevers aren’t horribly bad. They progress too quick, infecting and killing thier hosts too fast. With a fast incubation period things will go to hell very quickly shutting down key services like transportation and keeping most people from being able to flee the scene. A slow or even medium incubation period will let the infection spread, possible even to other countries if they can cross an international flight without turning. And a tourist city like Las Vegas is a horrid thought. “What happens in Vegas, WON’T stay in Vegas.”
“Zed’s dead baby, Zed’s dead.” – Butch
Dreamornaut on 24 Oct 2008 at 1:57 am #
I should also add that aside from public facilities and military bases, another place to avoid would be the malls. Most of these large cavremous buildings mostly in suburban areas have already set up agreements between the owners and the municipalities to be used as staging areas for disaster relief. Mall owners usually go for this just because it’s good PR and helps solidify relations within the community, which is there biggest patrons.
Also, I would stay away from local gun shops. Most of the ones in my area have owners that in an emergency would likely go to there store for shelter. The buildings are secure, with the few windows being heavily bared. Also, the two closest to me have caged inner doors for security. At least one owner has sleeping quarters and a months supply of MREs, not to mention that they are heavily armed and tend to keep at least one weapon at the ready behind the counter.
This means that early on, I am not going to even try to raid my local gunshops. I would rather hit a department stores rather limited collection of firearms and ammo or own the arsenal I need before hand. On the plus side, in a stage 3 or 4 outbreak, because some of the owners barrackaded themselves inside there stores, there’s a chance they will be fully stocked in a couple months if the buildings survive and if there’s not a thousand zed between you and it.
Dr Who on 24 Oct 2008 at 11:06 pm #
I agree Dreamornaut, especially considering most malls will have tons of crap you don’t need, can’t use, and isn’t worth any trade value anymore. Designer clothing, TVs, CDs, DVDs, video games, toys, and a ton of other crap. What food is available will spoil quickly after the power is gone. Usually the main entrances are big and full of plate glass (shows off your nice tasty body to the zeds outside). The only thing I could think of that you could really use out of there are some of the neater tools and flashlights from Sharper Image and some books IF the mall has a bookstore. Though I think it’s still a dumb idea, youl’d be better off trying to make it at Wally World.
Gunstores are a mixed bag. The one owner I know would be hightailing it into west Texas as fast as he could. Still the problem comes about from the fact that they’re built like fortresses. Another location from supplies could be a pawnshop. Pretty secure, but not as secure as a gunshop. Plus the added bonus of tools and gold (trust me you want it for the long haul, if only to cast bullets). Sometimes you find other things like sporting equipment, scuba gear, and whatnot. Pawnshops are kinda a grabbag of stuff, some useful, most not.
“Zed’s dead baby, Zed’s dead.” – Butch
Dreamornaut on 25 Oct 2008 at 2:08 am #
Well once a safe location is found the first thing I would do after making the place at least relatively secure is begin scavanging opperations. The first targets, considering the location I’m considering will be food, firearms and ammunition, tools and construction materials. When hitting larger stores a big issue will be light. Assuming the power will be out having headlamps (used sparingly since there will still be jumpy people around and those things make you a target), portable LED camp lights (in this case used to light up the interior of buildings quickly) , a solar charger and two-way radios. I’m planning on picking these things up for my bug-out bag for specificly this purpose. All this stuff is currently pretty cheap, so why not. Not to mention, all this stuff is pretty small and easy to carry. Hell even a good multi-purpose axe (axe, prybar and hammer head combo) is a cheap $10 investment worth making. Throw in one guy unlucky enough to have a trench tool and your set.
Dr Who on 27 Oct 2008 at 10:17 am #
Yeah, flashlights will be a neccesity. Batteries will be a premium item. I would hold out as long as possible before trying any scavenging expedition. Let the fires burn out and die down. Let most of the stupider people get themselves killed off. You’ll have less to pick through, but you’ll be safer and have less problems. Contact with any other survivor enclaves should be established but cation is a must here. I would rather forgo get supplies at any area if it meant getting into a fight with other humans. That would soon end up as a three way battle between the two human groups and a horde of zeds. Not my idea of fun. There will be other places you will be able to pick through.
“Zed’s dead baby, Zed’s dead.” – Butch
Dreamornaut on 28 Oct 2008 at 3:48 am #
Yeah, my problem will be that since I live right in the center of the metro area I’ll be limited to what I can carry that still allows mobility on foot or bicycle. Assuming the worst, having to detour a few times and run like my ass was on fire in various directions, It might take a couple days before I can reach open terrain. Because of this, I wouldn’t try to carry anything more then a 3 day pack and maybe a gym bag or something else I can sling over my shoulder that I can drop if needed. At best I might have maybe seven or eight MREs and 20 or so ration bars. The ration bars can keep you from dying, but not much else, so it won’t be long before I’ll have to scavange for supplies. Especially if I pick up one or two people with little or no supplies on route.
I figure the suburbs will probably be pretty dangerous when I pass through that way, so I’ll definatly be avoiding major commercial zones. The people who haven’t fled yet will likely be staking claim to just about everything not locked down or holding up in stores when the major streets and highways fill up with zed. My big worries will be likely panicked drivers on side streets and being shot by someone who’s scared out of there wits killing anything that comes within 75 yards of there home.
Once things open up into the odd model home neighborhoods, farms and trailer parks it will be easier to just go overland avoiding people. Once in a more completely rural area, I’ll mainly be staying clear of major roads which may still be packed. My focus is largely making it to a rural area that’s close enough to civilization to bugout, but is far enough from anywhere people would want to go, including untouched wildnerness since that would probably be where maybe 10% or more survivors would go. Living in the wild seems all fine and good, but when the human population in those areas quadruple, fishing and game will get sparse quick.
GonzoTheBurner on 01 Jan 2009 at 3:53 pm #
It’s a shame that the hospitals will be moaning monuments when the outbreak occurs- because really they are the best places to hold out long term, as is. Most have huge, thick and heavy doors, obviously supplies and alot of space. What most people probabley don’t know is that major hospitals are required to have back up generators that can supply electricity to all the ER and intensive care units. These huge generators are routineley inspected and have a well stocked supply of fuel- I believe to be at least 2 weeks worth with full-blown, non-stop use. Not to mention helicopter access and painkillers, always a good time when those two are together.
If you got the will, stamina, manpower and fire power- it maybe worth it to try and clear these places out, if you have to hold out long term. I don’t think it’s real unlikely you’d see me there, though. If you do, I’m either really desperate or I’ve already turned….DumDumDuuuum!
Sharpshooter on 06 Jan 2009 at 6:36 pm #
heres something not everyone might have thought of: surround yourself with friends and family if you can but make sure that if they get biten or scratched that you can have the emotional power and will to but a friggin’ bullet in their head…. it sounds cruel but its a possibility… also make sure they can do the same for you as well!
Sharpshooter on 13 Apr 2009 at 4:34 pm #
i would totaly hit up a hospital. not durring the initial outbreak but after about a week or so. sure a lot of zombies but go in there with a team of 5 and youll do fine.
Michael on 05 Apr 2010 at 2:11 am #
Anyone with reasonably intelligent would deem public safety facilities a bad choice to go if given a few other options. The more people a govt. has to take care of, the more problems will occur. There is always one or two idiot that will slip-up and make some kind of ignorant decision for all of us or someone will just wander off and make some kind of mistake and gets infected and all of us are screwed. Like the movie 28 weeks later; when those soldiers put everyone in the basement or somewhere and the infected father of the boy got in.
..sparks.. on 13 Oct 2010 at 11:47 am #
Whereever you chose to stay you need to be first in and last out. If you go near any outpost you need to have trust and respect otherwise some punk could just Stab you and loot ur dead body
big bear29 on 31 Oct 2010 at 8:11 pm #
One thing that I just want to put out there . When the outbreak happens you would likely have to fight your way through the zombies to the police station and once you get there the cops might try to take your guns away for the safety of the gathered group or to use themselves , now just ask yourself this do you want to fight your way through the hoard just to give your guns away to police that likely can’t shoot as well as you or are likely to run away and leave you and the others defensless . Some of you might believe that the cops would not do that , but I know that the cops in my area would definitley do that , some of them might even try to murder people to get their guns .
big bear29 on 04 Nov 2010 at 10:38 am #
Heres something to think about . Out of about forty cops that I have met only a handfull could shoot worth a damn , the others couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn and none of them had the level of accuracy needed to hit a target the size of a human head , unless they had a scoped rifle . In my honest opinion most cops would join the hoard during the outbreak , unless they ran for their lives , which quite a few would do .
big bear29 on 18 Apr 2011 at 1:40 am #
One other reason for people to avoid the police and the police stations that you could have listed is retaliation . I live in an area that has had a serious problem with police corruption for decades . When the world goes to crap you just know that some of the people will be more concerned with settling old scores rather than getting to safety . Because they will be sure that the odds of anyone ever figuring out that they did it will be slim to none . Now if that wasn’t bad enough just add the gangs , angry ex-cons , crazies and prisoners to the mix and your local police station could likely end up looking like a slaughter house . I figure that if the zombies don’t get the cops the people will .
Angryvikingman on 18 Apr 2011 at 5:48 pm #
I wonder if they’d turn out the convicts from prisons if there was a fullblown outbreak?
big bear29 on 18 Apr 2011 at 9:04 pm #
Some of them would likely be left to die in their cells but some of the guards would probably release the prisoners rather than do that to them . The police and the military might also try and use them as conscripted soldiers to fight the infected but I can’t see that working out to well . They might also get out if they cause a riot in the prison . When there is a serious riot the police in the surrounding towns and the FBI usually get called in to help put it down . But if it happens during a full blown outbreak the authorities that are still alive will be a little to preoccupied to help put down riots , so it is likely that a lot of the prisons would end up under the control of the prisoners .