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!

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.

“Zed’s dead baby, Zed’s dead.” – Butch

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

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.

“Zed’s dead baby, Zed’s dead.” – Butch

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.