Hordes of decomposing corpses stumble through the apocalyptic remnants of Earth. They moan for flesh through atrophied mouths. Survivors huddle together in the last bastions of safety, desperate to live on amongst the undead. How will you survive in this decaying world?

Take Shelter

As movies and shows have taught us, survivors will want to congregate in structurally sound and easily barricaded locations that provide sustenance and tools. Shopping malls, department stores and farm houses — all effective places to dwell during the undead Armageddon. If you decide to stay at home, install some bollards around your home — you never know when maniacal looters may want to crash through your house and take what’s rightfully yours. Consider the installation of a chain link fence or perhaps, build a moat if your home isn’t surrounded by concrete. Aspire to create a fortress out of the location of your choice, so that you may find peace of mind in this zombie-roaming wasteland.

Choose Your Weapons

Lawnmowers, cricket bats, shovels, chainsaws — these tools have all been often used in the fight against the living dead with gory success. Firearms are a must-have against zombies, but there’s a caveat. Guns require ammunition (sure to be in limited supply), training and are prone to jamming. Shoot wisely: aim for the cranium. For most of us, melee combat will prove most effective and the tools easier to obtain. Baseball bats, axes and nail-studded boards are all far easier to find amongst the ruins and requires no training to swing into a zombie’s brain.

Seek Survivors

There is power in numbers; working in a unit will increase your chances of survival. The team should be balanced in skills sets: each person should be assigned a role. Scavengers, medics, soldiers, planners, sentinels — these are all integral roles from which a leader will arise. Prove your usefulness lest you want to become an expendable pawn to aid the group’s survival. Trust will come with time, but in a ruined world, always keep one eye open.

Supply Kit Checklist

• Food: Canned goods, rations, non-perishables — all crucial chow for survival. This is about the only time where fresh fruits and vegetables aren’t going to cut it.
• Water: Zombie apocalypse or not, you’ll need your eight glasses a day. A canteen will come in handy whenever you find a water source and are in need of a refill.
• Medication: Stock up on prescriptions and painkillers to keep your body functional and pain-free. Raid the local pharmacy before all the good drugs are looted.
• First aid kit: Adhesive bandages, antiseptic and saline, splint, gauze, trauma shears and tweezers should be the minimum contents in your kit.
• Tools: Flashlight, Swiss Army knife, radio, batteries, duct tape, a coil of rope — take these, and whatever else you may need, with you at all times.
• Toiletries: Pretend that you’re going to a sleepover — one that may never end. Get some soap, towels, a toothbrush and some deodorant, so that you don’t attract the walking dead.

A big thanks to our guest blogger, Dean Walpole, for this article!