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The Citizens Guide To A Zombie Apocalypseby treesneedtobehugged on March 15, 2011

Table of Contents

The Citizens Guide To A Zombie Apocalypse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro:   The Citizens Guide To A Zombie Apocalypse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

“The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature, but the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those endowed with the qualifications for adaptation, theability to accept the inevitable and conform to the unavoidable, to harmonize with existing or changing conditions.” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1:   Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2:   How To Survive In A Single-Story Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 3:   How To Survive In A Two-Story Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 4:   How To Survive In An Apartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 5:   Other Alternate Places To Survive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 6:   Places Not To Survive In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 7:   Bugging Out To A Permanet Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Step 8:   Traveling To Your Permanet Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Step 9:   Surviving In Your New Colony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Step 10:   What You Can Do Now . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Citizens-Guide-To-A-Zombie-Apocalypse/

Intro:  The Citizens Guide To A Zombie ApocalypseHe comes from the grave, his body a home of worms and filth. No life in his eyes, no warmth of his skin, no beating of his breast. His soul, as empty and dark as the nightsky. He laughs at the blade, spits at the arrow, for they will not harm his flesh. For eternity, he will walk the earth, smelling the sweet blood of the living, feasting upon thebones of the damned. Beware, for he is the living dead.—OBSCUREHINDU TEXT, CIRCA1000B.C.E via Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks

The undead, a living nightmare for some but only a challenge to those prepared. In this instructable i will show you the most effective materials to bring, propertechniques of survival in one/two story homes (plus other alternate buildings), and places not to go to during a zombie apocalypse. Only you have the power to surviveand as long as you make wise decisions during this time you should come out not being a rotting member of the undead army.

“The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature, but the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those endowed with the qualifications foradaptation, the ability to accept the inevitable and conform to the unavoidable, to harmonize with existing or changing conditions.”

Step 1: Materials

.22 caliber rifle (pictured Mossberg 802 Plinkster Bolt Action) semi-auto best but bolt action usuable

.22 caliber pistol (example Ruger Mark III)500 rounds or more of .22 caliber ammunition (best because you can carry many more rounds than larger ammo, cheap to get, and easy to find)Crowbar (best bludgeon weapon as the curved side can be used to crack zombies head, pointed to stab through temple to brain)Slingshot (ball bearings and lead shot .54 caliber best)Aluminum Baseball Bat (aluminum best as it won't crack or break like a wooden one)Trench Knife (perfect for close quarter combat)Canned food, dry food such as ramen noodlesMagnesium fire starter, disposable lighter (in case of fire needed to be created fast)Multi-toolHeavy boots (resistant to zombie bites), tennis shoesEarmuffs (used to tune out the zombie moans)Mountain Bike (bicycle pump and innertube)Hammer (useful for barricade construction, digging, and a last ditch zombie killing weapon)CamelbackFishing RodBackpack (ones like in this link are ideal http://grizzlymike.com/military/PACKS.html)PonchoGun Cleaning KitSurvival Radio (rechargeable from solar power, human power)Gold (can be used to barter and trade)

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Citizens-Guide-To-A-Zombie-Apocalypse/Image Notes

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Citizens-Guide-To-A-Zombie-Apocalypse/

1. Target shot with Mossberg benched at 150 feet

Step 2: How To Survive In A Single-Story Home

Step 1: Fill up your tub, sinks, shower, buckets, and if you have one a pool with water (this is key as this will probably be your only sources of water for a very long timeand is a essential step in a desert environment)

Step 2: Barricade all sources of entry such as doors with 2x4s nailed to walls, furniture, pallets, bricks and concrete blocks, sandbags, barrels filled with water or rocks,ambandoned cars, tires stacked and filled with dirt, a abatis with a trench filled with spikes on each sideWindows should be covered with aluminum foil except a small one for observation outside and reinforced with sheet metal

Step 3: Cut a hole in the roof in the attic for observation and as a last ditch escape route. It is advisable to make a cover for this hole

Step 4: Eat all perishable food in your refigerator first such as fruits, vegetables, cheeses, milk, etc.All meat should be preserved by first cutting of all the fat (as it is harder to preserve) then marinated in salt or vinegar for a day. If available roll in herbs such as rosemary,basil, black pepper, parsley

Step 5: Any available cars tap for fuel (even the motor oil) and that can be used for to make molotov cocktails used to disperse large zombie crowds

Step 6: Check if you have any local schools in your area for food as they should have decent food supply if not already taken

Step 7: Have guard shifts if you have the manpower of having a shift of guarding during the night and one during the day. Ear muffs will come in handy as they will helpyou sleep through the moans of the living dead which often will drive people to insanity.

Step 8: Stay in your home unless one of the following happens: you run low on food\water, are about to be over-run for some reason, your home gets flooded or iscaught on fire, or some other reason that makes your home deadly to stay in.                                                                                           ^Step 9: Have a escape route planned if step 8 happens   |

Image Notes1. 6 ft concrete walls perfect for stopping the undead2. wooden gate reinforced with a abatis and a trench filled with spikes for anyzombies that make it through3. Large Pool with enough water to survive for at least a year4. Layout of my home5. bathroom with many sources of water6. Potential garden space

Image Notes1. Abatis used in the civil war

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7. <------Car can be placed

Step 3: How To Survive In A Two-Story HomeStep 1: Follow all the steps except 3, 5, 6  in, "How To Survive In A One-Story Home" except that you will put all food and weapons upstairs as this will be your residencefor a while.*Remember don't spend to much time fortifying the down stairs or getting supplies as it will give you less time to do step 2

Step 2: Destroy your staircase! Zombies are unable to climb so this will be a for sure defense. One thing you don't want to do is burn it as this only makes your entirehouse go on fire instead of saving you time. Also don't waste the materials from your staircase as you can use them to further barricade you home.

Step 3:  If you have a ladder continue to stock the upstairs with supplies, if you don't try to get as much food as possible upstairs without compromising your time for step2.

Step 4: Now you should cut a hole in the attic for observation and hunker down unless one of these happens: you run low on food\water, are about to be over-run forsome reason, your home gets flooded or is caught on fire, or some other reason that makes your home deadly to stay in.                                                                                                                                                          ^Step 5: Plan an escape route in case something in step 4 happens       | 

Image Notes1. Tap for fuel

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Step 4: How To Survive In An ApartmentApartments are a little tricky to classify specifically because of their different sizes and layouts but basic rules can be applied to all.

Step 1: If you have a ground floor apartment, take the above-ground ones as the ground floor apartments are almost suicidal to survive in. This is due to their small sizeand easy accessibility to zombies, bandits, etc.

Step 2: Now that have taken a above-ground apartment or just live in one, get all supplies as in your apartment before you destroy the staircase.

Step 3: Rally your other tenants to help you destroy the staircase if they are there. Demolish your apartments elevator (if you have one) as this is the only other place theundead could reach you. As in the two-story home you want to keep the materials from the staircase for barricade materials.

Step 4: Tell everyone to fill up all tubs, sinks, etc. and eat all perishable foods. Have guard shifts with someone observing from the rooftop of the apartment.

Step 5: Your apartment building is now an ideal place to guard from the dead as you have your tenants to help you (some may have experience in carpentry,engineering, farming, are military reservists, etc.) Some apartments might be vacant if the tenant turned in to a zombie during the beginning stages of the outbreak withall food still stored inside.

Image Notes1. balconies to grow food in

Step 5: Other Alternate Places To SurviveOffice Buildings: Same rules apply as with apartments but usually have less food and people to help you. A viable option but not the best one.

Warehouses: A generally good place to survive since they have few windows, have entrances that are secured with ease, and with spacious layouts that make awarehouse a wise choice to be at for a extended period of time. Most warehouses have a security office with bathrooms and thus a good source of water. Barricadingmaterials are easy to find as warehouses are usually stored with heavy, durable storage crates, barrels, etc. One thing though is that most of the time there is little food ina warehouse, before you go there bring plenty with you along with other critical supplies. Do not stay in a warehouse that is refrigerated because when the electricity islost all food stored will become rotten causing a deadly health hazard. Be careful if you are in a warehouse near a shipyard, factory, or other industrial sites to always beready to flee as these area's might get caught on fire, explode, etc.

Off Shore Oil Rigs: If you live near the coast this could be a very good option as it is a near perfect artificial island. They are equipped to supply the food of the crew forup to six months, have their own fresh water distilleries, and power is unlimited as they are equipped to mine oil for years. If the government had shut down all drilling sothere would be no spills, then the ocean could provide much food (fish, kelp, sea mammals) and supply your group for years. The Off Shore Oil Rig also has itsdisadvantages: corrosion will eventually weaken and destroy the oil rig sending it to Davy Jone's Locker and even with little corrosion a powerful tropical storm could havethe potential to destroy a oil rig to. Nothing can save you from the wrath of nature including this guide.

Military Forts and Complex's: These places depending on how well the government responds could be a great place to survive or one of the worst. Usually when acrisis develops people assume that a military base is a safe place to stay. This might or might not be true to say the least. They may be one of the most secure placeswith high walls, fallout shelters, weapons, etc. but they are known to get overcrowded in times of crisis. Depending on how the government handles the outbreak, militaryforts might be a safe haven or another place of chaos.

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Image Notes1. Viable but not the best place to stay

Image Notes1. Good option (if not refrigerated). Be careful next to industrial sites

Image Notes1. Great option (if there no oil spills) if you live on coast but not a good longterm option

Image Notes1. Damaged after storm from Katrina (something to think about when choosingthis place to survive)

Image Notes1. Oil Rigs are like bombs on the sea and are dangerous to be in (from the BPdisaster)

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Image Notes1. Government actions will determine if you should stay here

Step 6: Places Not To Survive InSchools: Many places that can be easily entered and must be guarded. Only use it to raid for foodHospitals: The "capital" of the undead as this is were the outbreak will most likely startPolice Stations: Can be overtaken by concerned citizens who think this is a safe place to be. In the truth it is one of the worst as it will become a center of chaos.Retail Stores: Where most people will think is safe to take refuge, much looting will go on and is one of the most dangerous places to stay from the undead as theadvertising windows only show your flesh to all hungry zombies looking for a meal.Supermarkets: One of the worst places to stay as this will be the first place people will take refuge in, first place to be looted, and the giant glass doors offer littleprotection from the undead. If you see a supermarket, turn the other way as it is a death-trap.Shopping Malls: Unlike what some zombie flicks like to depict this place is also a death-trap: has many entrances, huge glass doors, and many chaotic shoppers whowill loot and trample anyone who stands in their way only attracting the undead.Church's: This building while secure from forced entry with heavy doors and windows high off the ground are one of the first places people will flock to pray for "Satan'sSoldiers" to stop and this only achieves attracting the undead through the noise of these crowds.Piers and Docks: These if you can modify them to make them float are not ideal places to live as they are not secure, can be taken from ocean zombies, and have littleprotection from the sun or tropical storms which can easily destroy this flimsy craft.Shipyards: This will be a place where people will flock to get to a place and were they think is safe: the ocean through whatever floating craft they can get. Shipyardsoften have stored industrial waste which is highly dangerous and flammable further making this place unusable to survive in.Banks: Have little protection from the undead as the glass can be broken and there is little food or water available. The vault is useless as it has no food or water withlittle oxygen breathe in.City Halls and Other Government Buildings: Just about as same as a shopping mall, police station, church's, etc. It is a center of chaos, turn around if you see one ofthese.

Follow These Rules For a Shelter To Survive In

1. Is there a wall, fence, or other physical perimeter?

2. How many potential entrances/exits are there?

3. Can the people in your party simultaneously defend each fence and exit?

4. Is there a secondary defensive position, multiple floors, or an attic?

5. Can the building be secured?

6. Is there a potential escape route?

7. What is the supply situation?

8. Is there a water line?

9. If needed, are weapons or tools available?

10. Are materials available to reinforce the entrances?

11. What about means of communication: phone, radio, Internet, etc.?

12.Given all these factors, how long could you or your group survive an extended siege?(Zombie Survival Guide)

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Image Notes1. This and every type of shelter on this list are the worst places to survive in

Step 7: Bugging Out To A Permanet HomeMaterials To Take:  .22 caliber rifle/pistol (500 rounds of more), crowbar, slingshot, signal mirror (a busted car mirror works great), camelbak, compass, map, poncho,sleeping bag, multi-tool, rechargeable radio (small with earpiece), binoculars, gun cleaning kit, ramen noodles, canned food, earmuffs, fishing rod (compact as possible),magnesium fire starter, disposable lighter, thick hiking boots

Ideal Vehicles To Use:Probably the best car to use is the Honda CR-X as it is compact (perfect for traveling along canals, railroads), gets excellent gas mileage (50 mpg highway), and can stillcarry a backup vehicle: a mountain bike.

A Mountain Bike is a good back-up vehicle because it is fast, quiet, easy to maintain, powered by human muscle. A disadvantage is that it offers no protection unlike theCR-X but has no gasoline that needs to supplied to it. Another option for a backup vehicle is a dirt-bike because of its off-road capability and has decent gas mileage.Disadvantages are that it has a small gas tank and offers no protection like the mountain bike.*Other vehicles use a huge amount of gas and are nearly impossible to use as dependable modes of transportation due to their fuel demand.

Additional Vehicle Equipment To Take

• Tire-patching gear

• Pump

• Extra fuel (as much as can be carried and stored outside of the cabin)

• Extra parts (within size limits)

• C.B. radio

• Instruction manual

• Repair kit (jumper cables, jack, etc.)

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Image Notes1. Perfect mountain bike (brother uses this brand often for trail riding)

Image Notes1. Example of a dirt bike you can use

Step 8: Traveling To Your Permanet HomeStep 1: DON'T TRAVEL ON ROADS,HIGHWAYS OR ANY OBVIOUS PLACES TO TRAVEL ON!!!! These will be impossible to travel on as they will be filled withabandoned vehicles with often undead passengers. People will get stuck on these roads, highways, etc. and will abandon their vehicles running for their lives onlyattracting the undead.

Step 2: Find a place far enough from urban area's and if possible surrounded by mountains with a dependable source of food/water. If possible also have a small townthat is relatively near-by so that you can find supplies but not to close were the undead will come to your shelter with ease (a good distance is about 10 miles from thetown). Factor in also the amount of zombies you might encounter.

Step 3: Travel on less obvious places such as canals, railroads, etc. as few people will think of these pathways out of urban area's. Large groups while good during asiege are bad when you are "bugging out" because it will increase the risk of detection. Speed is reduced also in large groups due to differing paces. Groups of three arebest but groups up to eight are manageable.

Step 4: Be aware of friendly fire on your journey and make yourself know through a signal mirror or even yelling (be careful this will attract the undead) as you don't wantto end up like the last surviving person in the film, "Night of the Living Dead' who got shot from friendly forces.

Step 5: Don't kill a zombie unless you have to, often you will kill one and a dozen more will come. Kill if you can through silent means and if you can't, plan for a speedyescape!

Step 6: Plan were you are going to sleep throughout your journey as this will help with morale and speed up your travels. Have guard shifts during this time if possible.

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Image Notes1. seasonal creek2. Can be blocked off with empty vehicles3. housing all along streets4. 10 miles from small city5. creek ------------>6. Mountains7. Mountains

Image Notes1. One of the fastest ways to travel across the desert2. enough room for compact car

Image Notes1. Perfect "speed highway" when the dead rise2. room for small car Image Notes

1. Don't be killed friendly fire as what happened to Ben in Night of the Living Dead

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Step 9: Surviving In Your New ColonyStep 1: Construct defenses to isolate yourself from the undead and from bandits. Try to make your fortifications blend in to the landscape and make a second fall outshelter such as a cave or a hidden wall. Keep food supplies hidden so that bandits won't have anything to make off with. Always make an escape route in case of abreach by the undead or bandits, no matter how attached you get to your settlement. Guard these new defenses as well with the usual guard shift.

Step 2: Plant a vegetable garden for long-term survival. You might have to raid surrounding small cities for seeds but agriculture is a necessity to your survival.

Step 3: Try to find or make an alternative energy supply. Solar panels if you know how to install them are useful even in cold climates (same with wind turbines) and agenerator powered from a bicycle can supply much of your energy needs for survival.

Step 4: This might sound a little silly but you should go in to the city and rob a library of its literature. Find stuff on gardening, alternative energy, wilderness survival,gunsmithing, engineering forts, alternative medicine, animal raising, etc.

Step 5: Clear you area of all the undead if you have the supplies available. Here is a method you can use:*Get a car and activate its alarm far away from your colony but still within range of your weapons (just about every zombie in the area will come) and destroy every one ofthem one by one. This is probably the best method to use as most other methods are risky to do and don't always ensure all the zombies are killed.

Step 6: Survive and adapt till society pieces itself together. We can only hope that the government would be able to take the country back from the undead but this mightnot be the case. It might be a society much like the dark ages with warlords and barbarians ruling the land. This is all speculative but be prepared for the worst that canhappen.

Image Notes1. A "earthship" colony that is off the grid.2. solar panels

Image Notes1. Another example of an "earthship"

Image Notes1. Good "Survival" book to read

Image Notes1. Example of a easy to do raised bed garden

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Step 10: What You Can Do NowStep 1: Try to get everything from the materials list

Step 2: Become more independent from the world by creating a vegetable garden, going off-the-grid with new alternative energy sources, and STUDY on more survivaltechniques with subjects like gardening. You can never have enough information! Some examples: The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks (this instructable is basedoff of this) World War Z by Max Brooks, Back to Basics, Living On A Acre

Step 3: Create your own zombie survival guide that takes in factors from your own home, area, and climate like i did. In this instructable i tried to cover everything buteveryone's area is different mile by mile and only you can create what is right for your own needs.

Step 4: Practice your marksmanship with a firearm by practicing out in a shooting range, backyard (if it large enough and safety in mind), or joining your local area's gunclub.

Image Notes1. Thanks Max Brooks for inspiring me to make this instructable

Image Notes1. GREAT READ

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Comments

3 comments Add Comment

 yeno34 says:  Mar 21, 2011. 9:42 PM  REPLYramen noodles are a horrible food because they have low calories and are full of salt.

 epicbobman52 says:  Mar 19, 2011. 5:55 PM  REPLYlol

 l8nite says:  Mar 18, 2011. 9:46 PM  REPLYlmao