It has begun...

My fellow survivors, this is my final post. It has begun. I have prepared and trained all I can, I hope you have too. The following video is proof of the doom that has swept the globe. Warning it is graphic. Good luck to you all.





.....end transmission.

Log 9: Bug Out Vehicles

The last part of my bug out plan is the best part of bug out in general, pimpin' out your vehicles!

It will be very hard, if not impossible to get from point A to point B without a good, hardy, incredibly modified vehicle. Many of the your specs will be tailored to your preferences but there are four non-negotiables when prepping your wheels.

Fuel:
     Gas and other sorts of fuel are going to be scarce. It will be important for your to have a gas efficient car, tote the fuel or at least be able to soundly plot your fill up locations.

I am going to utilize the first two. My car will be modded to run on vegetable oil and I will tote extra along with me.

Speed:
      Your car needs to be at least faster than the trail of undead. That's a given.

Fortification:
      You are going to need a car that can withstand more than a punch through the windshield and be able to take some hardcore zombie hit and runs.

I am talking steel extended push bars and siding, bullet proof glass and of course, working seat belts.


Cargo Space
       You are going to need to tote your supplies and party. Make sure you have room for both.


I have put quite a bit of love, time and work into my car. It should look something like this any day now.

 Well my fellow survivors this is it. I have prepped as much as humanly possible. All there is left to do is to maintain preparation and wait. . .

Log 8: Bug Out Check List

So I have spent the last little while stocking up to supply our Bug Out Bags (B.O.B). I found a great check list but thought it lacked a little. Here is my revised packing list:

• Enough food and water to last for seventy two hours. This includes:
  • 1 gallon of water.
  • Non-perishable food^.
  • water purification supplies.
  • Cooking supplies^.
  • Cutlery and cups/dishes.
• A first aid kit^.
• Fire starting tool (steel and flint, matches, lighter
• A disaster plan (location of emergency centers, rallying points, possible evacuation routes).
• Professional emergency literature explaining what to do in various types of disaster, studied and understood before the actual disaster but kept for reference.
• Maps and travel information
• Standard camping equipment, including sanitation supplies
• Weather appropriate clothing(with one set of clothing for opposite weather)
• Bedding items such as sleeping bags & blankets.
• Enough medicine to last an extended evacuation period.
• Pet, child and elderly care needs
• Battery or crank(preferred) operated Radio
• Lighting (battery or crank operated flashlight, glow sticks).
• Firearms and appropriate ammunition.
• Crowbar (weapon, building and vehicle entry, etc.)
• Cash and change (just in case)
• Fixed-blade and folding knife.

Of course, you may need to rotates supplies to other members if the backpack is to cumbersome for some individuals. For example, if their back pack looks like this:

  you might want to divvy up some of that stuff!

This weeks homework: Pack your bags!!
Next week's log: Log 9: Bug out Vehicles!

B.O. - Tooele Depot

I decided to devote part of my spring break to scoping out my chosen bug out location. Tooele is a rough beauty. With the high mountains at its back, small populations, strategically placed army depot and the salt-filled lake at its front, it makes a stunning and smart bug out location.

 

[Tooele Terrain]

 

[Tooele Depot]

After rambling through the land for the better part of the day, I felt as if I were one with the land. No really, none of my companions could find me for hours I blended in so well. Knowing your location and what to expect there is impairative to successfully bugging out. You've heard me say this before, I know, but just goes to show how important this bit of advice is. Know before you go, save H20, burn this motto into your brains and you just may keep them from being eaten!

Homework: Think this motto over and over again until it because a way of life.

Next Week: Log 8: Bug Out Check List

Log 7: Begin the Bug Out

Bug out is when you have to leave your bug in location. This could be for a number of reasons: depleted supplies, vicious bandits, unrepairable breach, etc. Any way that you look at it, a bug out plan is a must have for surviving the apocalypse. The First step is to find a location! Mine is Tooele. There are three factors to said location.

• Near an Army Depot
• Back towards mountains
• Bug out bail location ( Antelope Island)
• Restricted entry and exits 
• Small population

Homework: scope out of your bug out location and give it a test run.
Next Week: Log 8: Supply and Demand.

Log 6: D2D Bug In

Sorry for the delay in this weeks log, there were rumors of an outbreak in the south. I had to investigate. On arrival I could feel something was wrong. I began to poke around very quietly. I didn't want to seem suspicious at all, just in case. On the second day, I finally learned that a small settlement had become "ill" and had been quarantined for the last week. Enough said. I return to my preparations.

Living Day to Day

This is the final step to bugging in. It is important to not only gather supplies and fortify, but to know how you will live from day to day. To better answer this question, I asked myself three more questions:

•             How many people are in my group?
•             What energy sources will I need?
•             Where can I resupply?

 Question 1
In my group I plan to have a minimum of 9 people and 3 dogs, a small village in survival world! So for these people I need to ration food, water and medical supplies, it can't be an across the board ration either. I have to take into account medical conditions and calorie requirements.

For example, someone who is out looting if going to need more calories than someone who is spinning yarn all day. I found a lovely little calculator here.

Question 2
I am going to need two sources of energy, fire and electricity. Fire is easy to come by so will be used most often. Wood and refuse from other houses can be used if the firewood supply runs low. Matches are to be preserved so flint will be our primary fire starter.

We will use limited electricity and will be powered by solar panels and an at home wind turbine. We will gather and guard generators jealously and only use them for emergencies.

Question 3
As mentioned before, I live near a few Walmart's. I am guessing these will be very dangerous because of the buildings size, clutter and low prices attracting people from all over. Besides Walmart, their are exactly 10 gas stations, 4 schools and 25 restaraunts within a 2-mile radius.

To get their, we will use an convoy of a motorcycle, a hybrid car (my neighbor has one, I am hoping to nab it), and on very large loots a small trailer pulled by the car.


My bug in is complete. Now to bug out!

Homework: plan how you will live day to day in bug in.

Next Week: Log 7:Beginning the Bug Out

!!WARNING!! Potential outbreak. More info to come soon.

Log 5: Home Fortification

Surviving bug in depends heavily on how well you fortify your location. As mentioned before, my bug in is my house. It is a moderately populated area, close to three Wal-marts (who isn't these days) as well as very near a back road that leads to my bug out location. To keep me and mine alive, I have three levels of defense:

Property Line

                  10' barbed wire and concrete barricades

                             I have plenty of cement, I just need the barbed wires!

                  proximity mines 

                              rumor has it there are homemade recipes for this

                  ditches 

                             my neighbor has a tractor. i would "borrow" this.

                 

 

Front and Back Yard:

                 trip wires

                            these will set of alarms so I know there has been a breach

                 ditches

                           cant have too many

                 motion lights

                           the darkness will not get the better of us

                 guard dogs

                            they are not to engage, only warn. they could become infected otherwise.

                            he will be the head of the guard. 

 

                  

House:

                wall in all the basement windows

                          basement break ins will kill 1 out of 200 survivors I am guessing. I won't be      one of them.

               board up second windows

                           I don't want to wall these ins but I do want to keep them secure.   

                flood lights

                          you can't shoot what you can't see

               stair destruction

                         every entrance and exit must be controlled.

               observation deck

                         this is on the roof. Used for defending, signaling and as a look out.

                         

Homework: survey your bug in location and make plans to fortify

Next Week: Log 6: D2D Bug In (the last segment of bug in)

Log 4: B.I. Gathering Supplies

One of the most important things recommended in the survival wiki is to plan ahead. I decided to take advantage of the slew of President's Day Sales and get a few things to get me started:

Among my most significant purchases were:

Fuel tanks for storing much needed gas

Water tanks with filters for gathering and holding H20.

And don't worry, Mr. Khaki Shorts doesn't come with them, in case that was holding back your purchase.

An advanced medical kit is a must. I got several. One in particular has a bone saw in case an extremity is bitten...

A good start to my food supply. I want to be the Wal-Mart of the home food storage.

Last but certainly not least, a 60' flat screen TV. Well, at least the down payment. The gas tanks really bit into my budget...

As promised here is a link to my official survival plan!

Homework: Begin implementing your bug in plan to the best of your abilities

Next Week: Home Fortification!

Log 3: Survival Plans

Warning Sign: 

Just briefly these are some of the things you want to keep your ears perked for in the media. They are hidden clues to the rising of the undead

•  coverage of viral or bacterial infections, quarantine alerts, and other atypical health warnings
• increasing rabies infections
• random violence or rioting by large groups

The Plan Breakdown

Everyone needs a plan for Z-day and it could be the difference between life and undeath. The internet is littered with plans devoted to this cause. The Zombie Survival and Defense Wiki has one of the best breakdowns I have seen. It takes four steps:

• Bugging In –How will you build, fortify, stock and defend your shelter?
• Bugging Out – Where to go when you can no longer bug in and how you plan to fight your way there.
• Digging In - At your Bug Out location, how will you survive?
• Living - How will your survive for the rest of the apocalypse?

Tune in next week for a link to my completed plan. 

Homework: Create your very own survival plan. Need a hand? Check out the Zombie Survival Wikifor the template I used for an even better breakdown. I highly suggest joining the group.

Next Week: Beginning to bug in. 

*new link Midnight Podcast awesome online resource in everything zombie

Log 2: Types and Rules

Last week we explained the basic afflictions of the living dead. Though these guidelines are a good place to start, they are lacking. According to Uncyclopedia, there are about 27 types and subtypes of zombies, but all zombies can fit into one of these 4 categories:

• Slow and Instinctual

These fellas are going to be your typical, old school zombie. Cracked tibia's and missing limbs often hinder movement. They'll resort to eating mannequins and other human like forms because, as most of their body, their brain has turned to simmering mush.(as seen in Night of the Living Dead)

• Slow and Intelligent

These zombies maybe slow on their feet but are quick thinkers. They can think outside of the box when it comes to catching dinner a.k.a you. Don't underestimate them. (as seen in Dawn of the Dead)

• Fast and Instinctual

You may want to put your running shoes on for this breed of flesh eaters. They are out for blood and will sprint to get it. Thankfully they aren't too bright so you can be saved by your brain as much as your brawn (as seen in 28 Days Later)

• Fast and Intelligent

These are your worst nightmare. They are fast and smart, if they were good looking they would be the the ultimate triple threat. In short, you better bring your "A" game if you want to survive a pack of these zombies. (as seen in Resident Evil 4 and 5 on expert)

Three Rules of Thumb

1. The surest way to kill a zombie is a shot to the head ( burning after is recommended)
2. If you are bit, you will "turn" eventually
3. Never allow hysterical people into your group, they'll only get you eaten.

This week's homework: watch Zombieland for further explanation on the rules of zombie survival play Resident Evil 0 to begin sharpening your shooting and reaction skills

Next lesson: Plotting your Survival Plan *as always look to the official guide for the most complete explanation

Log 1: Know Thy Enemy

Sun Tzu advises to “know thy enemy,” but he fails to mention how to go about knowing an enemy who does not yet exist. I knew there were three ways to answer this question: watching weeks of horror films, playing months of survival horror games and scrubbing the internet. Luckily I have done plenty of the former two, at least enough to know the basics of what we are going to be dealing with.


6 Ways to Spot a Zombie

1. Worn, tattered appearance – This is one of the hardest to decipher but train yourself because it will be the one to save you most. White or cloudy irises and disturbingly sunken eyes are always a telltale sign.

(New parents and students during finals are among the many types of people who can be mistaken for a fresh zombie so make sure you first try to make contact before beheading)

2. Physical Injuries (mostly fatal) – No one should be walking around with an ax lodged in their skull. Enough said.

3. Covered in Gore – If they are covered in buckets of blood and body chunks and not screaming that means they have just had a snack.

4. Smell of Decay – Decomposition, a raw meat diet, and a lack of general hygiene means you can usually smell a zombie before you see them.

5. Incoherent – Zombies “communicate” in grunts, moans and gurgled roars.

6. The Shuffle Scuffle – For the most part, our undead enemy is a slow walker. Scuffles are always a sign of danger as zombies haven’t the inclination for picking up their feet (for fear they'll fall off?)

Getting a Visual
It is good to “see” what you are looking out for too. Google is always a good place to find images of these signs. A perfect example is as follows (viewer discretion is advised):

This weeks homework: watch George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968)


Next Lesson: Types of Zombies and the Three Rules of Thumb.

*see resources for the official guide.

Log 0: It has begun....

For years mankind's imagination has been "gore-ified" with a parade of blood thirsty monsters. Who would have ever guessed humanity's possible end would be brought about by one of them. Yes, the undead have begun to stir. According to the credible Japan Times, an online news site, the Swine Flu maybe more malicious than anyone could have fathomed as frighteningly illustrated in the following excerpt (click here for the full article):

The health ministry has reported that 151 flu patients up to age 17 demonstrated abnormal behavior between late September and mid-November, including acting violently or uttering gibberish.

Coincidental? Perhaps. I, for one, am not waiting around for the answer. Every week I will be preparing in some way for the oncoming Zombie Apocalypse. I will survive, prepare with me and you just might too.