Zombie Preparedness...REI style

Last week I had the pleasure of attending REI's Zombie Preparedness Class at their Cary, NC location and it was a blast.  Employee Si Wilson and his two zombie visual aides did a fantastic job teaching this full class how to have the upper hand when the SHTF.

This class follows the same train of thought as the CDC, Homeland Security, and the military.  That is if you're prepared for the zombie apocalypse then you're prepared for anything.  All major disasters were covered, whether it's a tornado, hurricane, earthquake, disease, nuclear, terrorist, or zombies. 

Anyone who preps for anything probably knows the basics and I'd like to think that I know a pretty good bit about surviving on my own but I definitely left the class with some new knowledge.  Take maps for instance.  Most people probably have a map and a compass included in their bug-out-bag and can probably read a map fairly well but do you know how to give someone actual grid coordinates to your location using only a map and compass?  What about food?  Eventually all the food you brought with you will run out and you will be forced to find other means of nourishment.  No matter where you live there will be plenty of plants that you can use for food and medicine and probably and equal amount that can kill you.  Do you know which plants in your area are usable and which ones to stay away from? 

Do you have a plan for where you are going in the event of a zombie apocalypse or any disaster really?  I do and I'm sure most people do but what I didn't take under consideration is how my plan relates to the situation.  You should have multiple plans for different situations and know all these plans inside out in case you have to implement them at a moments notice..

If I had to take one thing away from this class it would be to have a positive mental attitude.  Finding something positive about everything you do can make the wost situations seem not so bad and you are always at your best performance moral is high.

Thank you Si and the Cary REI store for and awesome class.

http://www.rei.com/stores/cary.html

The Contingency Plan

Zombie Apocalypse Survival

BUYAGIFT.com joins the zombie fight

The folks in the U.K. take their zombie killing seriously. A few weeks ago I reported on the Zombie Shopping Mall Experience and now they have several zombie survival boot camps to hone your zombie bashing skills.


http://www.buyagift.co.uk/Adventure-Zombie-experiences-BN-11vZ1kc.aspx

Zombie Shopping Mall Adventure

So you've got Apocalypse Wars in Canada, Run For Your Lives in the U.S. and now if you live in the U.K. here's some love for you too.  The Zombie Shopping Mall!  So apparently there is an abandoned mall in Reading, Berkshire in England scheduled for demolition and these guys have free reign until then.  They've set up what looks to be an awesome experience.  When you show up you will be briefed by the Police Special Zombie Bashing Unit on exactly what your mission is and you will be armed.  After this you head into the mall and begin to clear out all the undead that are roaming around.  The dates are as follows however this can end at anytime if they decide to demo the mall so get it while the gettin's good.





Friday 10 August 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm   
Friday 23 November 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm  
Friday 7 December 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm  
Friday 14 December 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm  
Friday 21 December 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm  
Thursday 27 December 2012, 1pm-5pm    
Thursday 27 December 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm      
Friday 28 December 2012, 1pm-5pm     
Friday 28 December 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm  
Friday 4 January 2013, 6.30pm-10.30pm
Friday 11 January 2013, 6.30pm-10.30pm
Saturday 12 January 2013, 9am-1pm   
Friday 18 January 2013, 6.30pm-10.30pm
Saturday 19 January 2013, 9am-1pm  
Saturday 26 January 2013, 9am-1pm   
Saturday 2 February 2013, 9am-1pm  
Saturday 16 February 2013, 9am-1pm  
Saturday 23 February 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm     
Saturday 2 March 2013, 9am-1pm    
Saturday 2 March 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 
Saturday 9 March 2013, 9am-1pm   
Saturday 9 March 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm   
Saturday 16 March 2013, 9am-1pm 
Saturday 23 March 2013, 9am-1pm   
Saturday 23 March 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm
Saturday 30 March 2013, 9am-1pm
Saturday 30 March 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm
Saturday 6 April 2013, 9am-1pm    
Saturday 6 April 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 
Saturday 20 April 2013, 9am-1pm 
Saturday 20 April 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm    
Saturday 27 April 2013, 9am-1pm   
Saturday 27 April 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm
Saturday 4 May 2013, 9am-1pm 
Saturday 4 May 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 
Saturday 11 May 2013, 9am-1pm 
Saturday 11 May 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm   
Saturday 18 May 2013, 9am-1pm  
Saturday 18 May 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 
Saturday 25 May 2013, 9am-1pm 
Saturday 25 May 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm

For more information please visit  http://wish.co.uk/zombie-shopping-mall/

Friday 10 August 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm    1  
Friday 23 November 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm    1  
Friday 7 December 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm    15  
Friday 14 December 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm    19  
Friday 21 December 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm    18  
Thursday 27 December 2012, 1pm-5pm    20  
Thursday 27 December 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm      
Friday 28 December 2012, 1pm-5pm    20  
Friday 28 December 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm    20  
Friday 4 January 2013, 6.30pm-10.30pm    18  
Friday 11 January 2013, 6.30pm-10.30pm    18  
Saturday 12 January 2013, 9am-1pm    4  
Friday 18 January 2013, 6.30pm-10.30pm    20  
Saturday 19 January 2013, 9am-1pm    2  
Saturday 26 January 2013, 9am-1pm    3  
Saturday 2 February 2013, 9am-1pm    3  
Saturday 16 February 2013, 9am-1pm    13  
Saturday 23 February 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm      
Saturday 2 March 2013, 9am-1pm    18  
Saturday 2 March 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm    11  
Saturday 9 March 2013, 9am-1pm    18  
Saturday 9 March 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm    16  
Saturday 16 March 2013, 9am-1pm    18  
Saturday 23 March 2013, 9am-1pm    18  
Saturday 23 March 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm    18  
Saturday 30 March 2013, 9am-1pm    18  
Saturday 30 March 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm    17  
Saturday 6 April 2013, 9am-1pm    18  
Saturday 6 April 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm    18  
Saturday 20 April 2013, 9am-1pm    18  
Saturday 20 April 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm    13  
Saturday 27 April 2013, 9am-1pm    18  
Saturday 27 April 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm    18  
Saturday 4 May 2013, 9am-1pm    18  
Saturday 4 May 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm    18  
Saturday 11 May 2013, 9am-1pm    18  
Saturday 11 May 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm    18  
Saturday 18 May 2013, 9am-1pm    18  
Saturday 18 May 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm    18  
Saturday 25 May 2013, 9am-1pm    18  
Saturday 25 May 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm    18 August 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm 1 (plus 5 on hold)
Friday 23 November 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm 1
Friday 7 December 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm 15 (plus 3 on hold)
Friday 14 December 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm 19 (plus 1 on hold)
Friday 21 December 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm 18
Thursday 27 December 2012, 1pm-5pm 20
Thursday 27 December 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm 20
Friday 28 December 2012, 1pm-5pm 20
Friday 28 December 2012, 6.30pm-10.30pm 20
Friday 4 January 2013, 6.30pm-10.30pm 18
Friday 11 January 2013, 6.30pm-10.30pm 18
Saturday 12 January 2013, 9am-1pm 4
Friday 18 January 2013, 6.30pm-10.30pm 20
Saturday 19 January 2013, 9am-1pm 2 (plus -2 on hold)
Saturday 26 January 2013, 9am-1pm 3
Saturday 2 February 2013, 9am-1pm 3
Saturday 16 February 2013, 9am-1pm 13
Saturday 23 February 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 1
Saturday 2 March 2013, 9am-1pm 18
Saturday 2 March 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 11 (plus 1 on hold)
Saturday 9 March 2013, 9am-1pm 18
Saturday 9 March 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 16
Saturday 16 March 2013, 9am-1pm 18
Saturday 23 March 2013, 9am-1pm 18
Saturday 23 March 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 18
Saturday 30 March 2013, 9am-1pm 18
Saturday 30 March 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 17
Saturday 6 April 2013, 9am-1pm 18
Saturday 6 April 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 18
Saturday 20 April 2013, 9am-1pm 18
Saturday 20 April 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 13 (plus 5 on hold)
Saturday 27 April 2013, 9am-1pm 18
Saturday 27 April 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 18
Saturday 4 May 2013, 9am-1pm 18
Saturday 4 May 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 18
Saturday 11 May 2013, 9am-1pm 18
Saturday 11 May 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 18
Saturday 18 May 2013, 9am-1pm 18
Saturday 18 May 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 18
Saturday 25 May 2013, 9am-1pm 18
Saturday 25 May 2013, 1.30pm-5.30pm 18

Prepare yourself for a world of zombies with Zombies, Run

Get your running shoes on and prepare for an experience of a life time with the Zombies, Run game by Six to Start.  This game immerses you into world where you have to literally run for your life while you collect supplies and avoid zombies.  Before you go on your run you load the program and put your headphone on and you take on the persona of "Runner 5", one of the few survivors of Abel Township sent out to collect supplies to rebuild your civilization.  While you're on your run you will receive instructions on where to go while hearing zombies all around you trying to get eat you.

"You can hear every guttural breath, every rattling groan - they’re everywhere." -Zombies, Run
"I ran through my neighborhood, and I swear the corner market instantly transformed into the hospital described in the story." -The Clothes Make The Girl

As if you needed anymore motivation, you can load your own playlist to listen to in-between the storyline.
This app is an awesome way to stay fit for the coming zombie apocalypse.

Available on your Android, Iphone, and Windows phone.

https://www.zombiesrungame.com/

Apocalypse Wars:The Running Dead in Canada

Unable to get to the Run For Your Lives Zombie 5K because you live in Canada? Don't fret, Apocalypse Wars: The Running Dead will be in Calgary, Alberta Sat August 11, 2012.  Seems like a very similar experience to the Run For Your Lives event only this time you don't just have make it to the end alive.  A plane containing medical supplies and a cure for the zombie apocalypse crashed and the goal is that you and your team recover this cure that has been scattered, within a time frame of course.  Along the way there will be multiple zombies to stop you I imagine.

These guys are doing this for a good cause.  100% of all ticket purchases goes to charity to help kids.



  
VIDEO WRITTEN, DIRECTED, FILMED AND EDITED BY RUN RABBIT ENTERTAINMENT - www.runrabbitentertainment.com

http://www.apocalypsewars.ca/

Tips For The Best Zombie Escape Plan

The guys from 401AK47 have put in the man hours to write the best post ever on what you need to do to prepare for the zombie apocalypse. Not only would this be helpful for zombies but certainly for any biological or natural disaster. Be sure to check out their site and kudos to them for putting this together.
http://401ak47.com/

Do You Have What It Takes To Survive The Apocalypse?

Think you have the ability to survive a zombie infested world?  Find out for yourself at the Run For Your Lives 5K zombie filled obstacle course.  It's going on now in select cities from Washington down to Florida.  Here you can test your speed and whits against all types of zombies, from the slow Night of the Living Dead creepers to the 28 Days Later run your ass off killers.

At the start of the race all of the participants will be given a belt with a certain number of flags. Along the way you will encounter zombies that will be trying to take your flags away. If you lose all of your flags you are considered "dead". When you complete the course you are given a medal, either a survivor medal or a zombie medal, depending on living status.  The real kicker is that when you cross the finish line "dead", you become a zombie and then try to take other people flags away. That being said, the longer it takes you to complete the course the more zombies you will have to contend with.

This event is as realist as it gets without actually being eaten by a real zombie.  All zombies are instructed to grab flags and not chew your face off.  In the unlikely even that someone does get hurt they do have medical personnel standing by.

If you think you have what it takes, find out for sure at the next event.
http://runforyourlives.com/

All images courtesy of Run For Your Lives and Happy Go Lucky

http://runforyourlives.com 

Where to go when the zombies come

Typically in situations similar to these (not necessarily a zombie outbreak but any other wide spread illness) the CDC will set up "safe zones" where people can reach out for assistance. Usually the red cross will be there providing food and medical care. I touched base on this before in an earlier post. These "safe zones" are only effective if the outbreak is in a relatively small area and is easily able to be contained. User @zombietraining recently hit me with an interesting fact on twitter, "Even if only 15% of the worlds population became zombies, that's over 1 billion undead."  There isn't a fence in the world big enough to keep out a fraction of those numbers and I don't plan on being within that fenced in area when it gets breached.

population

population density

Try to avoid any heavily populated areas and stick to back roads if possible. Undoubtedly travel will become difficult as abandoned cars start to litter the road.  Take under consideration the population of the area you are in. Heavily populated areas are much more difficult to get out of and the outbreak will probably spread fairly quickly. Above are 2 charts, the first one shows the top 15 cities by population. The second shows the top 15 cities by population density (average person per square mile). At the bottom of this density list coming in at number 275  and probably the safest place (by safe I mean low population) is Anchorage, Alaska. It only has a density of 171/sq mile. In addition to a low population the climate is a lot milder there and the winters are much colder. Zombies tend to not move so well in temperatures below freezing consider that they have no blood flow to keep them warm. Keep in mind that it's just as cold for them as is it for you. Unless you really know how to survive in cold weather or you bring some sort of heat source or generators you'll likely freeze to death soon after the zombies.  Suppose you live in Florida and Alaska is a bit of a drive for you, I would suggest any area of low population such as farm lands or large forest. My personal pick would be somewhere in Minnesota, however, a true survivor must be able to adapt to life anywhere.

Best laid plans of mice and men....and zombies

Exactly what might someone need to survive the initial zombie outbreak? While there is no definite right answer there are a few things that can increase your chances of survival.
Ideally you will need enough supplies to survive the first few days until you can hold up somewhere. Undoubtedly the CDC will set up safe zones. Approach these with caution, safe zones are only effective if the outbreak is contained quickly. If they become overrun then its nothing more than a buffet line for zombies.
So what should you take with you? Basic supplies should include a weapon of some kind (additional ammo if required), water (1 gallon per person per day), food (high calorie nonparishable), identification, medicines (prescription, over the counter, and antibiotics), change of clothing (Socks especially. Take care of your feet, if they fail you then you become a sitting duck), and last but not least sanitary supplies (bleach, paper towels, etc.
Ideally you want to have these items ready to go in a moments notice in what we like to call a bug-out-bag. You can add whatever items you think you may need. This list is designed to support you through the initial first few days of an outbreak and is able to be carried by an average individual on foot. For more information on additional items and the preferred method of packing a bug-out-bag check out this link.