It does depend on what kind of zombie we are using, I'm assuming worst case.

I don't know why you all think people would become lone gunmen with psychological problems in the event of a disaster. Sure, people like this will exist in the event of a catastrophe, but mainly people will be so terrified they will put any differences aside to work together. While there will be a few power-mad people around (mostly internet dwellers who've been waiting for this for years), on the whole it would be a positive thing for society - people of different races and religions would join forces - there will be only 2 types of people, alive and undead.

Gentlemen,

I am writing to appeal for calm. I understand that most of you are fans of zombie fiction, but really all this speculation about the apocalypse is more than a bit silly....oh, wait? What it if isn't silly? What if zombies *really* are after us?

GUNS! Crap, guns! WE'RE GOING TO NEEDS LOTS AND LOTS OF GUNS!! EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF!!

@Alderian - I've never actually done any fencing. That's why I need to get my butt gear and get some SKILLS! One of the drawbacks of rural living is that there aren't terribly many fencing clubs around....but at least we have guns. Lots of guns.

@SYnapse - yeah, people will pull together, just like in hurricane Katrina, right? Or are you saying it will be a situation just like after the fall of Rome, when the people of the empire formed peaceful, autonomous, self-sufficient collectives where they could keep the flame of learning and hope and freeom and love alive?

"@hecks, problem with that fort will be the number of people who all think the same thing and head there. Some of those people won't feel like sharing with you."

Have you ever met people from Maine? It takes strength in numbers to survive these winters. They'll share. Besides, the place sleeps 500 indoors, and there are an additional 5 forts guarding the harbor, one of them now being a self-sustaining summer camp with solar panels, composting toilets, and a fully-stocked greenhouse. Trust me: 10 years after the zombie apocalypse, Maine island society will be ruling the Western Hemisphere. Come with me if you want to live.

I actually imagine the further north (or south if you're below the equator) the less likely the plague will make it passed the first winter. Unless the undead have a way of remaining so after thawing from a hard freeze. And even then, you occasionally send out a few teams to look for the zombicicles and bash their brains in while they're frozen. Assuming that you're well off enough back home that you can afford such excursions in the dead of winter.

I think the backhoe/excavator is excellent. The key to long term survival is shelter and a large trench is a good idea. If you dont have shelter, there will be no sleeping, reloading, sharpening, training or sex. Of course we survivors will need to repopulate the earth, you know?

Wow, two grammatical errors I need to fix in my last post
farther* not further
past* not passed

"I actually imagine the further north (or south if you're below the equator) the less likely the plague will make it passed the first winter. .."

Such a concept is utilized in "World War Z"

Bah...what good is a trench. They'll fall in...then more will fall in...and eventually you have a zombie pool that you can walk across. Temporary fix at best.

but that's a lot of the undead that'll be in your trench, and you could always burn the bodies periodically

Put some kind of columbine setup at the bottom (the farm instrument, not the location of the shooting massacre) and the bodies get ground up as they fall in. But really, if you watch the Resident Evil series, you will note that zombies don't think nor do they climb fences. So an 8' fence, reinforced with razor wire on top is all you need to keep them out. My compound is already equipped.

Solar collectors during the day to charge batteries that keep electric heaters running at night in the north and a deep water well with a mechanical pump to back up in case the electric one fails gets you your water. Grow your own food and become a vegetarian, maybe with some chickens and cows for eggs and milk (be certain you have a bull and be willing to let it breed with some cows to continue the generational line and do the same with some of the chickens and a rooster).

Let's consider a conversion rate of 90% -- 350 million Americans means 315 million US zombies. There plenty to fill your trench.

Draug - agreed on the wall, but through the miracle of conversion, zombie's tend to have an innate ability to find and exploit any weakness within a wall. That's why I'm still pushing the high-rise concept -- stairwells are easier to protect than large, walled-in areas

Also, again referring to the upcoming World War Z zombie movie, zombie will pile up and scale walls...and really, you don't want to be trapped *inside* the walls with fast movers.

In the book they are not fast movers and do not climb. Is anyone concerned about nations trying to nuke the zombies and producing a "nuclear winter" cooling effect and radiation sickness? It happens in World War Z...

What about a biodome? We could kick Paulie Shore out (his scrawnie butt would make good food for the zombies), reinforce the entire geodesic dome, and have a self-contained and self-sustained environment to live for generations (ala Logan's Run).

Hecks - yeah, I know - which I why I commented above that the movie is loosely based on the book. The movie follows one main character I assume, as well, instead of being a collected on vignettes.

@Draug - Dude...if Paulie Shore can both get in and out of the bio-dome, it is hardly secure.

But, you bring up an interesting concept: A Paulie Shore zombie might make a nice pet. re: zombie pets... http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457572/

I have to see that new movie with the zombies that start regaining a sense of humanity. I forget what it is called, but it looks like it could be fun (right up there with Shaun of the Dead).

OK, fine, so I'll start building my secret space station on the far side of the moon now. Then whent he zombie appcalypse breaks out, I'll have the only working spaceship and we can all head there. I've even get some weapons grade plutonium, enough to nuke the earh and vaporize all life, even the zombie plague and the zombies themselves, so after a couple hundred years, our descendants can return.

"Let's consider a conversion rate of 90% -- 350 million Americans means 315 million US zombies." But that assumes all 315 million will be coming for you, in a short period of time. Make your trench big enough considering the local population and your proximity to larger population centers and clear it out occasionally and you should be fine.

As for high rises, anything over 3 stories should suffice. Practitioners of parkour could even demo some of the lower flights of stairs and rely on their climbing skills to get in and out. We've got local apartment complexes here where you can fairly easily climb up the balconies. Knock out a few walls to join 2 or more upper level apartments and you've got your group a place to stay.

" I have to see that new movie with the zombies that start regaining a sense of humanity. I forget what it is called, but it looks like it could be fun (right up there with Shaun of the Dead)." Warm Bodies? As I said before, my roommate went to see it and came back needing to watch Zombieland to recover.

It looks like it does to zombies what twilight did to vampires.

Also, 90% presumes that 90% die as a *direct* result of zombie attack. It disregards deaths not converted to zombieism because of suicide, starvation, diseases spread through lack of sanitation and rendered untreatable because of the high demand on the health system, heat stroke in southern cities when the A/C goes out, freezing to death in the north, people who die in fires that can't be put out due to clogged roadways, and people killed in looting and hoarding, not to mention accidents.

High Rise - Higher the better - more supplies, room to share with others (espeically desparate hot chicks...)

Draug - the movie is "Warm Blood". Ick...looks horrible..
Also, space ship...are you going to scren out demented liberals and create a new capitalist Uptopia on the far side of the moon...in which you are supreme dictator? (or just the supreme dic...?)

DO NOT USE AN AR-15 FOR AN APOCALYPSE GUN

USE AN M14 (or its civilian cousin, the M1A)

The AR-15 is an unreliable, under-powered piece of shit that should have never made it off of Eugene Stoner's drawing board. For an apocalyptic scenario, it offers no advantages over the earlier M14.

The M14 offers far superior stopping power, accuracy, and reliability for the negligible expense of two more pounds of weight and five more inches of length.

The M14 is a simple, reliable, easy-to-maintain design that field-strips for cleaning in seconds. It accepts the M6 bayonet (perfect for close-in zombie attacks) as well as the new Beta C-Mag 100-round magazines. The Sage Tactical Stock system can transform the weapon from an archaic but effective warhorse to a modernized zombie killing machine.

An ideal loadout for a zombie apocalypse would consist of a selective-fire USGI M14 rifle equipped with a Sage Tactical stock, with a foregrip to help control recoil. The USGI flash suppressor should be retained because of its integrated bayonet lug. Optics should be left up to the preference of the user, but iron sights offer a distinct advantage in a zombie apocalypse because batteries for electronic optics may be scarce, and the standard M14 iron sights are adjustable for both windage and elevation in addtion to being user-friendly. A flashlight should also be mounted on the 3 or 9 o'clock rails for night use.

The user should wear some sort of MOLLE tactical vest, possibly with ballistic plates and as many full, new USGI M14 magazines that can be carried. The M6 bayonet (which can double as a survival knife) should be carried as well. A new 1911-style pistol (preferably Kimber or Wilson Combat, but Colt's Manufacturing makes good ones as well) chambered in .45 ACP should be carried on a thigh or chest holster for quick, easy access, also with plenty of spare, brand-new magazines.

A lightweight backpack not to exceed 35 pounds should carry vital supplies such as food, water, and first aid to the user's preference. A 100-round Beta C-Mag for the M14 should be included in the backpack if weight and space allow it. A short, lightweight aluminium (Little League specs) baseball bat should be strapped underneath or on the outside of the backpack for easy access as a melee weapon. Failing that, a common hammer can be used.

M14 for most situations. M1911A1 for CQC/backup. M6 Bayonet for super-close quarters combat with the M14. Baseball bat/hammer for silent and/or individual zombie kills. That's it for weapons.

Most shotguns are designed for hunting and have limited magazines, in addition to being unsuited for rigorous apocalyptic scenarios. They are tricky to reload and while ammunition may be plentiful, you cannot carry that much on your person. Shotguns are handy and easy to use, but have numerous disadvantages.

Assault rifles are good for zombies but are underpowered for fellow hostile survivors. Most assault rifles are also unreliable compared to the M14.

Sniper rifles are heavy and inconvenient, and take a lot of practice to get good with.

M14.

I think I'm going to become Gunfighter's bitch in the Zombie Apocalypse... Bitch I may be, but I'll be alive...

I got you krellin lol. I'll be a good guy in the apocalypse, cleaning up the streets with my '14. Ideal group would be six survivors, preferably with military or outdoorsy background. Lowest profile for the highest safety.

I was always a great scrounger (think James Garner in Great Escape) and can handle a rifle (former MArine. Post M14 days, but I learned to shoot with simple sites, not a scope, on a selctive fire M16A1 before the three burst A2).

Gunfighter, thanks for the good tips, I'll be looking to a procure an M14 in the very near future. Do you have any thoughts about autoloading shotguns? I'm a bit concerned that if I don't have time to develop much accuracy with a rifle then a shotgun could be helpful.

As to defensive living quarters, there are no buildings higher than 2 stories within 25 miles of my home - excepting water towers and grain elevators, neither of which are particularly suitable for quick conversion to living space, so a backhoe is going to be essential for constructing a defensive retreat. On the positive side, a much sparser population means there probably won't be large enough numbers of zomies to fill in the trench. Unless they migrate en masse from Chicago - is that a realistic possibility? I suppose guarding the Mississippi bridges would be possible, but blowing them would safer.