Zombie Scenario: Fortified
Let’s face it. Nobody knows where or when the attack will come. All we know is that one day we will all have to face off against the undead. The best way to prepare is to consider as many scenarios as possible. This month’s scenario is a bit more complicated: a fortified position.
We have talked and talked about how to prepare, what to do when the zombies arrive, and how best to survive. These scenarios have challenged us to think about what we would do in different situations, often times limited with what is around us. However, what about a situation where you are not so limited? Imagine the outbreak happens and you find yourself in the fortunate position of being at your home (or other prepared location) which you have previously readied for the tides of darkness. Reinforced doors and windows, supplies, weapons, first aid, and various other items are at your disposal. You are in a pretty secured place and unless a large mass of the undead begins an attack, you should be able to hold out.
So what’s the catch you ask? Well, that is just it. How long do you hold up? When do you venture out? How do you communicate? How do you stay sane? You can prepare your home all you wish for the outbreak but what happens when it arrives? Will you just sit back and wait for rescue, word of the end of the outbreak, or will you get stir crazy and venture out?
What do you do next?
“Zombie Scenario” is meant as a learning and discussion exercise used as a tool for getting your mind thinking about the outbreak. It should prove helpful to think about a specific scenario and have others review your potential plan. If you have a scenario you would like to see discussed, contact us.
Stay safe. Stay informed. Stay alive.
Comments (57)
Sharpshooter on 25 Aug 2009 at 10:24 pm #
this will most likely be my last post on this website. leaving for job corps in exactly a week (leaving on the 1st of september)
well honestly i dont know… i’ll be in montana for the next year and i wont have much time or ability to fortify a location so i’m just praying to god that it doesnt happen while i’m up there.
Angryvikingman on 26 Aug 2009 at 12:41 am #
Eeek! Job corps? WTF FOR??
Anyway. To the scenario:
I’d venture out to find things like different language packs for rosetta stone so I could communicate in as many languages as possible to find other survivors. Or at least yell at them in their own language to put down their guns/weapons before I pop a cap in their head. Try to find things to amuse myself, like books I like. It’d kind of be useless to start a book series I couldn’t finish though. I’d learn about history, science, tactics, and other stuff, I like to learn. If I had any kind of room to farm inside my fantasy compound, I’d stay busy with that. Practice archery, knife throwing, axe throwing, shuriken throwing. Study martial arts books, and practice that. Martial arts weapons forms are a particular interest of mine. If there were any other survivors there, I’d try and get them to do the same, and maybe play cards, hackeysack, football, and other sports. My day would be pretty regimented and preplanned. Some days I’d look for other survivors. There are lots of things that I always wanted to do and lear, but I never had the chance because work and other things got in the way.
I’m pretty sure that I would spend a lot of time picking off zombies with my rifle. My town has about 100,000 people when school is in, so I need to dramatically increase my ammo holdings, as I only have ammo to drop about one tenth of them at the moment.
HeavenlySword on 26 Aug 2009 at 1:56 am #
oh yea, fortified in my castle with converted nuclear missile silo below.
Honestly, you have to be more specific. Define fortified.
Ryan Elliott on 26 Aug 2009 at 3:35 am #
Well I would be fucked. I recently moved and the place that I’m stuck with has 2 very large windows that take up most of the wall by the front door. So instead I would just run like hell till I managed to get to a relative with an easily fortified living space and large area to stock up supplies. Most likely I would make my relatives (through force if necesary) hole up at my uncle’s house and cover all of his lower floor windows with plywood and enough screws to secure each window to where it could support as much as the house itself then drill more screws through the parts that would show so that anything living or dead is injured upon hitting it (I learned this trick boarding up condemned houses to where homeless people cant get in). As far as supplies go there are a large ammount of local stores near his house that would still contain enough canned/dry goods to last a while. As far as an ammount of time, it wouldn’t take long before a cirtain in-law that everyone in my family hates would be killed by the hands of either myself or my father. That would make it unlivable because my uncle would most surely take the side of his wife before his family and we would be forced to leave at gunpoint. After that I have no idea where I would go, but I would either die within a few days or get along just fine for quite a while.
So in the end im fucked its just a matter of how long.
Jay on 26 Aug 2009 at 6:26 am #
I wouldnt just sit back and do nothing, at the first sign of a zombie outbreak id be bording up my windows and reinforcin my doors to make my home safe
From a attack. But what id like to know is what will these ‘zombies’ be like?
3ID on 26 Aug 2009 at 8:09 am #
my fortified postion would have lots of books and ammo first i would knock over the local gun stores the owners knows me and my group he would jon and bring all his stuff he is also a classs three dealer so he has pleanty of 223 and 308 also they are all sertified aromers wicth would gives some thing to learn also after a week of building and fortifing i would knock over the local Barns and Noble they have enough books to last a life time. in the morings we would have some kind of exercise program to stay active and some what healthy i would have achart with names of groups that would go out every day and look for supplies and surviors and what group will pull watch it would alternate 1 day scouting the next off gaurding off and then scouting it would alternate like that i would have dedicated poeple who would fram all the time that is an art form my dad who is like 3rd generation framer would take the lead of that group also we would have medics i know a couple of emts they would train in all of us how to do simple first aid and thing of that nature. but when it all comes down to it i would start a group of select poeple and try to hold out for ever or until i die then i wont give a hoot
Adam on 26 Aug 2009 at 3:45 pm #
Well, I have enough food and drink stored for 4 people to last at least 2 weeks without even looking out a window. I’d be using this time to make more specific plans, practise hand-to-hand combat, and drink tea.
I also have an extensive library, a lot of which are non-fiction, so I’d be practising first aid and learning languages and such.
After 2 weeks, the major chaos *should* have died down, so travelling by rooftop, we could go through the windows and raid the houses next door and all down the street without even opening the door. Since they’re almost all family houses, they should give us enough food for a good long while. At least 2 months, by my (rough) estimation. If by then there’s no signs of the outbreak being beaten back, I’d move to my long-term building, which would let us scavenge from plenty more houses, and since i keep a long term food kit in my house, I’d have seeds, fertiliser, insect repellant, gardening tools, everything I need to grow my own food, which should be starting to be grown by the time we run out of places to scavenge. Plus, I’ve worked out the exact amount of land I’d need to be completely sufficient from foods i’m growing, and i have almost 3 times the amount available, and even more if i want to grow in sight of the street.
So basically, assuming nothing goes wrong, I can last indefinitely.
Jason on 26 Aug 2009 at 4:35 pm #
I would firstly board up my windows and doors, but leave a window on the top floor weakly fortified so that i could drop down a ladder for me to get out, or others get in.
Secondly I would stay as quiet as I could and I would eat all food that would spoil first. I would save the canned stuff for later.
After about 2-3 weeks, I would check outside my house for about 2-3 days to evaluate the damage and what is going on; if it seemed safe I would venture out and find a better house to hold up in.
Ryan Elliott on 26 Aug 2009 at 5:29 pm #
I’ve yet to see anyone mention their pillows and blankets, if its at home its a given but a fortified location that isnt your home probably wouldnt have them. I know this seems trivial but I can’t sleep without something to keep my head and arm separated while asleep and this one heavy quilt I have that could most definately stop a bite and possibly a bit more. Also said blanket could be used as a makeshift straightjacket if the situation called for it, its unlikely any zed would be able to rip it apart with the sheer force of adrenaline… unless of course its like one of those worlds strongest man type of guys who got turned into a zed.
Anyhow on second thought to my post above, I would probably hole up in a Home Depot or Wal-Mart if said store was infected free. Home Depot for the obvious fortification reasons and Wal-Mart for the obvious supplies reasons. Would be even better if it was a Home Depot and Wal-Mart right next to each other so that they could both be fortified to keep zeds out. Home Depot would serve as a fortress in this case and the Wal-Mart (better yet Sams) as the supply shed.
The reason I chose Home Depot instead of some other hardware store is because they usually have more working lawn mowers which woulc be turned sideways to shred any zeds that managed to breech the main defense. I am sure you can all imagine how that it would be done so I’m not going through the whole route of explaining it.
The reaason for Wal-Mart (or Sams) is because there is ususally a hardware store nearby that can be used to fortify it and its superior supplies. Not to mention there is usually a variety of growable stuff that can be used for food. Tons of canned/dry goods, a decent selection of minor auto repair/maintinence stuff and a gun counter (which would most likely have already been looted but there would still be a handfull of knives left at the least).
This is assuming of course that the general populus havn’t completely cleaned it out by the time I convince enough of them to follow my cause.
Angryvikingman on 26 Aug 2009 at 11:19 pm #
Yeah, I need body armor. Anyone know a good place to get some thats under $600? I’d prefer black.
Angryvikingman on 27 Aug 2009 at 11:16 pm #
Too many glass doors on walmarts and nothing to really close them off with.
Ryan Elliott on 28 Aug 2009 at 12:48 am #
KillerB the body armor is for protection from the humans afterwords that would kill other humans for their stuff. It is a realistic possiblility, and if you don’t believe it I feel much sorrow for how the world will take advantage of you. Secondly even if viking just read it all in a book he still knows quite a bit. I personally have enough faith in him to believe that he is prepared.
As far as that deep desire to kill things, I feel it, I’m fairly sure you feel it and I am cirtain that noone really cares about it until one of us lashes out at some innocent bystander.
Ryan Elliott on 28 Aug 2009 at 12:50 am #
Also I would most likely BE one of those guys you need the body armor for if the world ends, until then I remain passive agressive sitting back and waiting for the time to strike a crippling blow to the largest organization that I can. No I am not a terrorist, I just want to see chaos.
Jay on 28 Aug 2009 at 4:44 am #
Ryan your see chaos soon enough mate
ZAC Admin on 28 Aug 2009 at 6:31 am #
I spent some time this morning removing some profane and harsh comments directed toward fellow posters. If I have to do that again I will resort to banning IPs. Really, if you cannot keep it civil, go somewhere else to debate.
Sharpshooter on 28 Aug 2009 at 10:38 pm #
ok!!!! more time to get on the computer!!! finally!!! wooooo!!!! go the awesomeness that is I!!!! ok well yeah i like that Sam’s club idea… i would deffinatly go there after a little while! i really cant claim to know what my plans are going to be because i wont know my surroundings in montana. i’ll be a sitting duck
Caleb Hader on 28 Aug 2009 at 10:39 pm #
To angryviking: I know there’s some riot gear here at combattactical.com , don’t know if they have kevlar or not, but riot gear would help with bites and such, oh and speaking about bites, the DO have kevlar arm sleeves which are bite resistant.
I don’t really know where my fortified base would be. I would try and find the closest industrail district and try there, seemed to work for those guys on “the colony”. I’d try and wait on my supply looting for the first few days too I would think, just to avoid the chaos that could come with scared people with weapons. I’d check the back of the stores for sure, way I figure it, most people will only loot what they can see in the front, so that’s an idea. I just hope the invasion is’nt any time soon, I still haven’t got my “last sword”, or my “hopefully this year” tikka t3 30-06 yet.
Angryvikingman on 29 Aug 2009 at 9:05 am #
I have a chainmail hauberk that I made myself out of 14 ga. steel wire. Hand rolled, and individually cut the links and wove it myself. I have some left to do on the sleeves, as they arent full length yet. Thats my bite armor. It wont stop bullets of course, so I need a plate carrier and some trauma plates. The only bad thing is that when I wear all of my stuff together, it gets hard for even a big guy like me to carry my 65 lb. alice pack, 25 lb harness and web belt, 45 lb chainmail shirt, and my AR-15. I can haul a ton of crap, but adding an extra 145(ish) lbs to my already laden frame kinda sucks for mobility. I can walk in it all day long, but running for any real distance is nearly impossible, since I’m not in the best shape. I rejoined the gym about two weeks ago just to get my cardio back where it needs to be. Back in high school I could do 1.5 miles in 8 minutes, bet itd take me more like 12 now. Just in case any of you guys were wondering, you gain weight when you get married. I’ve managed to take off over 30 lbs in the last 3 months, and I’m still losing everyday, so hopefully I’ll be fighting trim again in a few months.
Jay on 29 Aug 2009 at 11:08 am #
I dont see the point in carrying any unwanted crap but if people wanna take one for the team be my guest id rather be light and fast not loaded down with a ton of stuff that you wont need
Priad on 29 Aug 2009 at 1:24 pm #
Honestly i have a well stocked librairy at home full of cool stuff. My home would not be the first place for me to go though. I’d already be at my safehouse island in the chesapeake bay. I’d sit around chilling with the guys that i already picked for my group. After a couple weeks of waiting I would send out a party to go check on the naval academy which is only a couple miles by sea. I have rosetta stone because my dad is a general in the air force so i would learn new languages. And Viking, The chain mail is a really cool idea, can you tell me the process on how to make it?
Priad on 29 Aug 2009 at 1:27 pm #
I’m still waiting for my kukhri and paul chen bamboo pearl hand made katana so I hope the zed apocalypse isnt anytime soon. My sig handgun is in good condition and my dad is still deployed in Iraq so the zeds would be catching me weak….tht would suck
Priad on 29 Aug 2009 at 1:28 pm #
Anyone have an opinion on the m14 as a good zed killer, Springfield make one called the socomII so i want opinions b4 I buy it its reliable and has a 20 round clip of 7.62 which could be a good long gun
Angryvikingman on 30 Aug 2009 at 9:50 am #
oops, *strike* Thats the downside of trying to type while youre yelling at your kids.
Angryvikingman on 30 Aug 2009 at 9:56 am #
Also, for making chainmail, instead of regular pliers, I suggest vise grip locking pliers. If you adjust them all the way in, then they wont lock, and will immeadiately release when you open your hand. and not be like regular pliers that you have to try and hold awkwardly to open and close them. And follow the guys advice on the video about wearing gloves. They’ll save your fingers if you get too close to the winding mandrel. (metal dowel rod)
Priad on 30 Aug 2009 at 12:12 pm #
Thx man i thought your explanation for making chainmail was great now back to the bladed weapons. I have a paul chen handmade katana on my favorites, Its light and made from 1065 carbon steel which is extremely durable. The downside is tht it loses its edge decently quickly. I want to know if this is a good sword or should I buy one with less carbon more steel?
Ronin666 on 30 Aug 2009 at 3:02 pm #
I’ve been selling Chen Katana’s for years and never had anyone complain about them going blunt cutting the kinds of things katana’s are made to cut. ie: flesh and bone and simulations there of such as tatamati mats.
DEVIL on 30 Aug 2009 at 4:44 pm #
Priad……..
The M14 (Springfield M1A) is a great weapon. I have a SOCOM 16 and it has proven to be a reliable and handy rifle. I do no have to SOCOM II but the origional that has the little rail mounted just ahead of the action. Unless you are looking to mount a ton of stuff on your rifle then the origional SOCOM is a little lighter. (Not much) Spend the money and get the Springfield Armory magazines, around 60 bucks each, as they are the absolute best for this rifle. I have also had a little luck with some cheaper mil-surplus mags. Those seem to be a hit or miss thing. but you can find them for around 15-25 bucks at cheaper than dirt dot com.
A warning though. These guns get hotter than the hellish fires of the sun when fired quickly. The rail on mine mounts directly to the barrel and is right where my thumb and fingers can touch it. OUCH!!!!!. And they are addictive as crack cocane to shoot and that get expensive very quickly.
Have you looked into a FAL or G3? They are also amazing Battle Rifles. You could probably pick one of these up a little cheaper and having shot both I can recomend both. I went with the SOCOM cause I wanted an AMERICAN battle rifle.
KillerB on 30 Aug 2009 at 5:20 pm #
Angryvikingman……….PEACE.
Here. For body armor go to CHEAPERTHANDIRT dot COM. I am almost sure that they have soft armor and passibly plates. Check back with then often. Quickly rotating stcks and so forth.
PRIAD………..You can not go wrong with a SOCOM. There are other .308 “Battle Rifles” out there that are considerably cheaper and probably just as good. The FAL and G3 come to mind. Also there is the AR10. All of these rifles have much more power than an AR at the cost of increased weight and recoil, also the ammo is much larger and weighs more and that means that you will not be able to carry as much ammo. (Unless you get stronger) But you may not have to shoot your opponent as many times to kill them. There are many advantages to a battle rifle over an assault rifle. But then again there are many advantages to having a smaller lighter rifle that works very well under 300 yards. Your choice. With the .308 and a scope on even a moderatly accurate rifle the world is yours. Well at least an 800 yards circle of it. With an accurized M14, Fal, G3, then you can add another 200 yards to that with practice. An AR is going to run out of energy around 500 yards. With a good heavy match bullet you can hit a target at 1000 yards but it is very questionable if it will die. Your choice. This is just my input. I will stick with my AR in a post Zed world and keep my battle rifles in the car where thay can do the most good againt cars and covered opponents.
KillerB on 30 Aug 2009 at 5:26 pm #
PS. Angryvikingman.
Check Army Surplus stores. The one near me has “retired” second chance vests and the trauma plate inserts for cheap. Your local Army Surplus probably has the same thing or can at least order it for you. Military Armor is heavy and still is only rated to stop 9mm. So get a lightweight vest, a plate carrier and front and back plates. It is the plates that add all the weight. When you are in a semi-secure location you can drop a lot of weight quickly if you want. Rest a little, wearing the soft armor, and when you are reay to go then just put your get on and head out.
Angryvikingman on 30 Aug 2009 at 7:39 pm #
Yeah, my surplus store has the pasgt helmets, but no armor. (I already own a kevlar helmet. ;) ) I’d prefer dragonskin, but there is some argument as to its ability to stop larger rounds. I saw video of them shooting a full mag into it from an AK-47 from 20 yards and it didn’t penetrate. I think perhaps the military has been badmouthing it because it out performs their govt. contracted armor. They said it failed their testing, so they banned it from use over in Afganistan and Iraq. I’ve personally never worn any of the armor currently used by the armed forces, so… IDK.
As for battle rifles. I used to own a FAL. It was a DSA STG85. The top cover is made of flimsy aluminum and bends all to hell around the ejection port. Get a TAPCO picatinny upper and its all good. I loved my FAL, but alas, I sold it. I also really like the G3 style HK rifles. The roller lock blowback operation made the gun come straight back, and reduced the muzzle climb to almost nothing. Made keeping sights on target a hell of a lot easier. My SR9TC was super sweet, but my wife made me sell it when I lost my job about 2 years ago. Well, I traded it for $1500 in cash, an M&P .45, my Stag t-2 AR-15, and a walther p-22. I have since regained good employment and bought lots of snazzy crap to go on my guns. The JLD clones of the G3 rifles are really great quality, and you can get them new for around $1800. Cheaperthandirt has been running the 20 rnd G3 mags on their site for $0.99. Only the ammo is expensive. LOL! They’re made on HK equipment that JLD licensed from HK. Germans make the best rifles in my opinion. What I wouldnt give for a G36….
Kain - ZAC Weapon Consultant on 31 Aug 2009 at 1:24 pm #
Angryvikingman, if you’re looking for a set of ballistic plates than check around army navy store and online, eventually you’ll find what you want, just be prepared to pay top dollar. The Army Navy store I go to has had several sets, though I have yet been able to justify the two hundred and fifty for both plates. As for a ‘used’ vests I might steer away from them. The reason is that Kevlar will degrade over time and that is why after two to five years they retire them. At least that’s how it use to be, they might be different now, but do the research on the vest before hand and make sure it’ll still stop bullets.
The dragonskin debate, I think(emphasis here since I’m going on hearsay and not personal experience or facts that I trust so it could be false), falls less on the fact of the tested performance done at the factory or on the TV and on the fact that if the shot comes from an angel than the dragonskin will not stop the bullet to the satisfaction of the person wearing it. The round could conceivable slip in between the smaller plates used by dragonskin and make it to flesh. Again, I can’t conform it as I stand.
Heck, check around I know there were a few body armor companies that were looking for dealers not too long ago and you might be able to go that route, get a discount and make a few bucks at the same time.
As for the M1A/M14 mags, just a random note, the cheapos will likely be crap, look around for the actual mil contract ones and they should work. I think CDNN(www.cdnninvestments.com/) might have them. Hell, for that matter just check out CDNN for good buys on guns and whatnot they do have the occasional good deals, just make sure you know you are buying and do your research and you’ll be fine. I’ve personally bought, three guns from them and a bunch of mags, ammo, and other knickknacks and have never had an issue.
“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
3ID on 31 Aug 2009 at 3:53 pm #
the armor that i wore in Iraq was heavy and bulky to large SAPI plates and to small for your side mounts and then kevlar inserts that would probly stop shrapnel at best an maybe lower caliber bullets i dont know nor did i what to find out.
Angry you have friends in the military see if they can get you a set they are not hard to come by one of my budies has several pairs but he wont sell them there for his family or some thing of that nature but if you want body armor and have to buy it out right from a store like Dimondback Tactical good luck unless you LE or Military / GOV Contractor then you can get your hands on prety much anything or you might know some of these guy then you give them the money and bang you have leveal IV body armor but remeber this stuff is $$$$$$$
Special Operations Multi Hit Ballistic Plate (6 Hit) large plates $2,975.90 The Spec-Ops Plate is the only plate that meets 6 hits of 7.62×39 API (tested by HP White Labs): meets SAPI requirements – 7.62x39API, 7.62 x 54R Ball Type LPS @2400 ft. per second, M-80 Ball @V-50-2850 ft. per second and 5.56mm M-855 Ball Round @V50-3300 ft. per second with a shot spacing of 1″.
FAPC LTA3A Soft Armor Inserts Set
$189.95 this is leveal 3A soft armor
by Dimondback Tactical
just to show price differance they have cheaper plates but that is the top of the line one and the soft inserts come as a set for that price but they are all restricted items ie LE/MI/GOV
Angryvikingman on 31 Aug 2009 at 11:22 pm #
I’d probably have to get some second hand stuff. My friends in the military won’t swipe anything for me. I wanted some smoke or flashbang grenades, but my buddy wouldnt get me any. :( Damn those honest people. Known him since kindergarten and he couldnt even get me a smoke grenade.
Jay on 01 Sep 2009 at 2:40 am #
For smoke bombs its salt peter and brown sugar 300grams of salt peter 150grams of brown sugar you can cook it untill its mixed together and turned into a thick pasted BUT ID DO IT OUTDOORS cos it can catch alight if you over cook it then you have a house full of smoke just like what happend to me lol! Also you can just have 300g salt peter and 150g brown sugar and set it alight still works the same but not as good!
3ID on 01 Sep 2009 at 8:06 am #
like what kain siad be carful of the kevlar it will degrade over time so i recomend the the SAPI plates they will not degrade and they can stop rifle bullets but they are harder to concel then soft armor
as for smoke and flashbangs good luck those are pretty heavaly monitred by the ASP but in some case things do fall of the back of the truck so it can be a give in take when i was at FT Stewart they had a case of LIVE handgrades M79 fall out on a tank trail and they were never found so you might get luckie but when i was in we were never issued flashbangs thats a SF and MP thing i have only seen them when i was doing some shooting with my local SRT unit they threw some down range but they wouldn’t even let you keep the remains they never said why
Kain - ZAC Weapon Consultant on 01 Sep 2009 at 6:01 pm #
A little off topic but for those looking for either an AR15 or since it got brought up the .308 H&K 91 clone, the PTR91, which is built off of the JDL receiver, CDNN is have a sale on several variants of each that is lasting until this weekend. Just, a random comment, and I know this may be like holding a filled syringe in front of junkie in withdraw but….
And in reference to flashbangs, I know some of the older ones that were used by the SEALs were little better than handmade so they might be possible to make them, if you have the ingredients. Though they did have some the issues, one being the tendency of blowing the fuse mechanism out of the body of the grenade with gusto, even taking the thumb off of one of the shooters during a training exercise. The newer ones I don’t think have that problem, but since they don’t fragment the body that might explain why you aren’t allowed to take them home since it might be possible to refill them.
“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
KillerB on 02 Sep 2009 at 3:34 am #
Current US Military armor is heavy and seems that it was not designed to be worn by a human. BUT it is tough as hell. Watched a buddy take 4 7.62x39mm AP rounds right in the front plate. He knew he was shot and said that it hurt like hell but he fought on and got even with the dude who shot him. It did leave a big plate sized bruse on his chest though. I have also heard many other similar stories for guys in my former unit. The side plates made things even worse but they protect a good portion of your body. I am glad that we never had to wear the “sleeves” that the Army currently wears. Talk about reducing your freedom of movement. At some point there has to be a trade for moblity verses protection. That is a call you will have to make on your own. For me soft armor covered with a front and back plate that is carried in my chest rig is the way to go. It seems to be a fair compromise of moblity and protection. Just remember that over protection ultimatly led to the demise of the iron clad knights of the old days. Just because you are armored does not mean the you can not get killed. Overpressure, a leg shot, a scrape and subsequent infection can kill the bravest and strongest of us. Surviving in combat is a blend of skill, tactics, fellow warriors and a good ammount of luck.
P.S. I do have a set of older ceramic plates that i will be willing to get rid of. They are not the current US Military but are the older “Army” plates. Watch the movie BlackHawk Down and the plates I am describing are shown there. They are rated to stop rifle rounds up to .308/7.62mm Non-Armor Piercing rounds. If there are any takers send my a link and we can get in touch via e-mail and discuss prices there.
Jay on 02 Sep 2009 at 6:27 am #
Why the hell does everyone say ‘ill shoot the zombies and that’ but hold on spare a thought for thoes people who havent got gun and cant get hold of them! Mind you in england ‘YES’ you can have a gun a shotgun or a rifle but thats about it, so how about making a topic on what type of weapons to use OTHER THAN GUNS!!!
Caleb Hader on 02 Sep 2009 at 4:47 pm #
@ Jay: Well if you can wield swords in England, that might be a thought, a good sword’ll only wiegh around 3 or 4 or 5 lbs and 5 is considered heavy, like flamberge heavy. just a thought. The one I’m ordering in a few weeks only costs $240 for just the sword, and I’m gonna get a customized blue leather grip with risers for an extra $75.
I have my own hauberk that I made, It’s alot lighter than yours though angryviking if yours weighs 45 lbs, mine is only around 15-20lbs. but is only 16 gauge as opposed to 14, so you get more strength I suppose. I’m gonna save up through college and then I’m thinking about buying a tikka t3 lite in 30-06 for my long range game, and a kel tec su-16c for closer settings like in a urban center, also any opnions on these would be appreciated if you have any experience with them, I’m still trying to figure out what would be a good pistol, so help there would be appreciated as well.
Angryvikingman on 03 Sep 2009 at 10:00 am #
I’m also quite tall and definately NOT skinny, so mine will be a good deal larger and heavier than most peoples mail suits. As for swords, look at cold steel’s line. They have great swords taht are super freaking sharp.
Dave on 03 Sep 2009 at 12:22 pm #
Jay an improv weapon thread sounds good to me. Difficulty though is the nature of improvisation means you have what is available to you, which may be great once you get into B&Q but you may have to beat a path to get there.
You basically have baseball bats etc unless you get a license for a shotgun (and then probably hard to get any ammo bar birdshot), target rifle or crossbow. Current hysteria being what it is you probably need a license to get a sword these days. Maybe you can put something onto a mop pole for a passable spear, though bear in mind at the time electricity likely to be out so forget machining something.
I think we’re going to be stuck hoping for whatever may lying around an overrun army barricade, or maybe if you know where the armed police store their gear.
sean on 03 Sep 2009 at 7:09 pm #
simple. destroy stairs,live in well stocked upstairs of house,stay queit read and sleep all day until required to do otherwise,my home is very efficient i will always have electricity as long as there is a sun in the sky or wind blowing,i will have allthe water i need from my well or if neccesary cistern of rainwater….i’ll make it work…it’s just an eventuality at this point.
jay on 04 Sep 2009 at 4:42 am #
you could use any thing as a weapon really, ive aways wanted to know how it feels and
looks like once ive smashed someones skull in just to stand there and watch the blood
pour but thats just me ive got a ”fucked up” mind in more ways than one maybe its
seeing or knowing loved ones have died around me. im like a time bomb just waiting
to go off like ”RYAN” said he wants to see choaos SO DO I.
Angryvikingman on 04 Sep 2009 at 11:09 pm #
Well, you guys aren’t gonna have to wait too long. The government is gonna step across the line pretty soon, and shit is gonna hit the fan. There will be lots of chaos, killing, and fire.
KillerB on 05 Sep 2009 at 6:59 pm #
@Caleb Hader
Dude you can not go wrong with a Glock in any model or caliber. I have a G19 that is the most fucking amazing and reliable gun that is available for the price. I have also owned G21 and G23 and G17 but have since traded or sold them for other shooting toys and that leaves me with the G19 (9×19). Look into it. You either love a Glock or hate a Glock your choice.
Coppertop on 17 Sep 2009 at 12:12 am #
One word: airport. My school specializes in flight training at a local airport. General aviation field and probably not the first place people will congregate. It has everything you need to start off and wait for the herds of humanity to thin out. First, a security fence around the entire field. In my one “tip of the hat” to the TSA, all access to the airport grounds (i.e. the other side of the fence) is monitored much more nowadays. Hangars are generally windowless and are structurally sound to prevent any curious zombie from noticing me. Second, one of the world’s largest solar farms powers the airport (and a big piece of the northern part of the state). And it’s on the airport grounds within the fence. Third, I can fly a freakin plane. There’s my escape, recon, and patrol right there. And there’s a lot of these planes and fuel at this airport. Nothing but open grasslands and valley all around with mountains in all directions in the distance. And a control tower to survey my immediate surroundings. The town (which shall remain nameless) resides to the north and south of major population centers and doesn’t lay on a main highway. The town has a Costco, Sam’s Club, and several grocery stores. Also gun shops, a Guard armory, several propane delivery companies, winters cold enough to allow ample time to loot and scavenge, a snowplow fleet, and terrain that allows easy observation of incoming threats as well as distant terrain to dissuade zombies and humans alike from climbing in my direction. Basically my plan is to sit back, watch Darwin work his magic, and wait for everything to blow over. And if it doesn’t…eh, fuck it
Mothman47 on 19 Sep 2009 at 5:50 am #
First off, a fortified position could mean any location that is secure, prepared and ready for any disaster, zombie-like or otherwise to occur.
With that said, being in a fortified position, one can only hold out for so long. Humans have a tendency to exploit and expire resources faster than any other mammal. By this, one must consider that eventually, all the honey will run out, and we will return to square one.
With that aside, my fortified position would only hold for a good year/ year and a half, considering that my military rations are located in the attic, along with a large crate of water. Not only do we have to worry about food/water, but also proper waste disposal. Of course, sewer systems will continue to work, but the septic systems might overflow, in which case, one must resort to less sanitary means to disposing solid and liquid waste. Usually a bucket will do the job, deep and easy to handle, in order to dump either outside or into a deep trench system, if applicable.
Physical exercise is important as well, as we must all be prepared for an emergency of disastrous proportions at any time. The core is the most important muscle group of a human body. It provides endurance, stamina, and flexibility to an extent. A healthy regimen of sit-up exercises, push-up exercises and cardio will assist in maintaining and strengthening the core muscle group, as well as supplementary muscle groups. At least 45-60 of each day must be devoted to this regimen to maintain proper fitness against the horde.
Weapon maintenance is crucial to survival as well. Even if one is not actively engaged in defense, a weapon will always get dirty. Be it laying around, carried, dropped or laid upon some sort of area, dust will accumulate inside the bolt assembly and barrel, as well as other intricate parts that are vital to the proper operation of said equipment. Proper cleaning habits must be maintained. A cleaning every 2-3 months at the earliest is ideal. For melee weapons, such as cutting items and bludgeon items, Cleaning is more in tune with deoxidization and re-enforcement of equipment: (Improving striking damage, preventing wood splintering/breaking, increasing effectiveness, removing rust, etc.)
Eventually, when the fortified positions resources are spent and no longer of use to us, we must venture out. A proper kit for venturing out should include wet-weather gear, extra clothes, weapon cleaning kits, food/water for 2 days, medical kits, ammunition, re-enforced tent: (A tent capable of withstanding hurricane-force winds. I am not certain that these exist, but with a little experimentation and handiwork, an individual could perhaps create one that is easy to set up and break down), as well as a snow jacket for cold weather/protection.
That’s pretty much all I’ve got for my thoughts.
G-UMan on 21 Sep 2009 at 9:55 am #
well first and foremost i would go for the axe in the shed next to my house. Then i would make my way to the local cop shop (this is if it hasnt been overrunned yet) in my town. take a cruiser with a 12 gauge and a 9mm in it head down to the local national guard armory near my highschool use the axe to bust in the door grab a the mg 32 saw an M16 for med to long range with an acog scope hopefully find some hallow points and some gernades (doubtful since i live in a town with less than 3000 occupants) double buck shots for the 12 gauge some riot armor and a deuce in a half thats parked by the local dealership after all of that ill head to the grocerie store stock up the duece and a half (hopefully i find some people to roll with by then) and head to the bank and barracade myself into the vault (thats if i can find a way to open and close it from the inside. As for the back up plan i take the duece modify it with a plow and head to the mountains that a couple hundred miles away haha (so yeah imma need to raid all nearby towns for supplies)
James on 29 Sep 2009 at 4:35 pm #
House is out in the country, I’ve actuallyy thought of a way I could safely slowly build a defensive perimeter around the farm I live on. Only problem being the lack in weaponry -_- being a 16 year old doesn’t really have that much influence on anyone in my household making an investment into our zombie defence. So I’m going to stick with planning on keeping them out and not having to engage.
First off evaluation: If there are bugger loads of zombies (which there can’t be (there’s only about 50-100 people in the closest settlement)) We close the two gates leading to the front of the farm house and the three gates at the back, which leaves us with the front garden and drive, aswell as the rear compound, which is made up of a garden and a gravel parking lot.
If there are litterally no zombies on the ground, we do the above then we take the Land rover over to the woodpile stack aload onto the trailer. drive up to the top fields (gates should be shut) and patch up the hedgerow where ever there are gaps. then work the way down the farm boundry. The river covers half the farm boundry anyway so unless it’s dried up, we shouldn’t need to patch the fencing.
And that’s the ENTIRE farm patched, all that’s left to do is avoid contact and take pot shots with the .22 air rifle or the .68 paintball guns….
FreddeX on 03 Oct 2009 at 4:48 pm #
Well i have already decided to just grab the essential things and venture out into the wild. But if i would have to fortify i got just the place to do it…
There is this huge supermarket in a nearby town (it only lives around 200 people in that town by the way) and it dosn’t got a single window, except the front doors. What’s better is that the supermarket sells basicly everything you need to survive. Food, tools, survival gear, barricading materials you name it they got it. What’s even better is that once you barricaded the front doors there is still a lot of places where you could get out easily without risking a breach in security.
For example you could just slide open the door to the loading bay and crawl out or perhaps make a rope ladder and climb down from the roof (sure the building is tall but not THAT tall).
Another pro is that you don’t have to go far to loot food and other supplies since there is a lot of stores around the supermarket including a gas station, a Mcdonalds and another supermarket. So basicly, im all set. :D
Semper Cogitant on 08 Oct 2009 at 5:40 pm #
If I started this in a fortified position, say a walled in acre of land up in the mountains near Ellensberg, Washington. High ground, difficult to approach, very defensible and with resources to last a good long while.
I’d probably only want to venture out in winter when the dead will be less of a problem, and stay in area where the temperature is below freezing. I’d go out for resources to keep my stock up, to thin out the frozen zombies, to hunt, and to maintain sanity.
Sanity would also be maintained by communication with other survivors around the world via Ham Radio, by having family around, and by work.
What Danger? on 10 Oct 2009 at 7:03 pm #
Well when the shit hits the fan im running for an Air Force base here in my town. Im likely not to be alone but as far as i can guess everything i could ever need to survive a zombie outbreak is right there on that base, plus i gotta Benelli Super 90 just like the movies and a USP.45 with silencer. if i die on my way to the Base than soo be it… Plus i dont believe in a shambling undead i believe in an advance form of rabbies. lol like Zombie Land siad: Mad Cow Disease=>Mad Human Disease=>Angry Raging Zombie Disease! and you need to think about it, Is any government going to just make a reanimation disease like in dawn of the dead by the italian director. or are they going to go for a raging pissed of human attacking super human. plus the 2nd one is probably easier to engineer becuase theres already similar diseases like mad cow and rabies. so when the shit hits the fan whats it gonna be? Godly powers can reanimate but human science can make Mad Human
JelloB1afra on 25 Jan 2010 at 2:01 am #
After my fort is known to be secure and the surrounding area is relatively quiet I will go out and scavenge weed from nearby clinics, porn , and play xbox on power that is still running somehow
bubdude on 07 Nov 2011 at 9:51 pm #
well in a situation where i have prepared, i would most likely have a ham radio for comunicating and id have a vehicle ready for venturing out. i would stay in my secure area for about 2 weeks while everything dies down and then pack up and venture out. in the case that it begins to get a little crowded at my door, i can get in some target practice. in the 2 weeks id stay there, i would also keep in contact with as many survivors as possible and make plans for allies. of course id pack up the radio before leaving but thats a given. leaving would definetly occur though because trying to wait out a zombie apocolypse wont work like all of these huricanes that just sweep through. eventually i would run out of things and have to move.
Sean on 08 Jan 2012 at 6:59 am #
I have my safehouse picked out. I live in Anchorage, Alaska, and there is a district called Stuckagain Heights. My friend’s second house is up there. It has a 3 floors and a basement, a second and third floor balony, roof access, safety glass windows set in cement frames (his dad is waiting for WWIII), the door has a titanium frame with titanium locking bars and locks, and the door itself was tested with a swat team hand ram and it withstood the blow. They have an unbelievable amout of guns, and the dad has a Class III license, so some are full auto(such as the M1919a1 they have, with 8 belts) i would head up there with my own considerable arsenal of mil-spec firearms and army surplus WWII rifles. My dad is ex-green beret, and we own an old copy of the Anarchist’s Cookbook. We have a plethora of hand to hand weapons as well… i think that’s everything.
Zombie scenarios | Mrbbab2000 on 03 Apr 2012 at 7:32 am #
[...] Zombies Are Coming » Zombie Scenario: FortifiedAug 25, 2009 … “Zombie Scenario” is meant as a learning and discussion exercise used as a tool for getting your mind thinking about the outbreak. It should … [...]
ummm? on 31 May 2012 at 10:13 pm #
um im just curious as to if these discussions are serious? i honestly did now think anyone actualy belived this would happen? im not trying to be a dick or anything its just totally new to me… can someone explain to me why you think this kind of thing would happen? would the government do it? im just wondering what you guys think since this seems so serious…
anyways my safehouse would be at my friends ranch. they have 100 acres and you can see everything comming from miles away. we all have tons of guns, a 308 for my self, and plent of ammo. of course keeping ourselves occupied would be a little tough, we would probably focus on repairs to anything from fences to trucks, and as for food well theres plenty of freezers almost always filled with meet and theres more living animals outside in corals. theres chickens sheep cows and we all own horses, so as for transportation i believe we are set. we would probably hang around on the ranch till the disease was taken care of, to get more supplies and food if needed we would have to travel 30 min to get to the neerest gas station which would probably be empty by the time we need to go there so we would need to travel around town till we find something.