Now let’s be realistic here. WHEN the zombies show up, no one is going to have time to stock up, steal additional guns, or form a zombie killing party. The scenario would most likely be you’re in bed sleeping, probably naked, and you’ve got one gun loaded and nearby. That should be the starting block for most zombie scenarios…the worst case scenario.
I’m a new gun owner, but I became a gun owner BECAUSE of zombies. And even though I’ve only owned my new guns for less than a year, I have my Glock 21 within reach from my bed, a 12 gauge pump in the closet, another 12 gauge in the basement (in case I’m caught off guard on the wrong floor of the house), and a loaded clip secretly stashed in 6 of my 11 rooms. I have ammo stockpiled on both floors just in case I get cut off. But even this is not good enough.
Zombies can come through doors and glass…but apparently not through a wall (even though walls are easier to get through than most doors). Keeping this in mind, everyone should have a stockpile of ¾” ply to board up windows. It would be best to secure the sheets with 3” deck screws if you are attaching them from the inside of the house. If your windows are not secure, then no amount of ammo is going to help.
Once all the windows are boarded up, the doors should be secured with no less then 3 2x4’s. Again, 3” deck screws are preferable. The doors are of the utmost concern because this will most likely be the entry point for desperate non-zombie citizens who need refuge. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE do you allow additional people to board with you unless they are family or life-long friends.
Now that all entry points are secure (which shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes), you will need to fortify different rooms for different purposes. Things to be concerned about:
1. Potential breach points and respectable fall-back points
2. Fire, both external and internal
3. Fortified cover from potential air-strike blanketing
4. Emergency exits when all else has failed
Once all these issues have been addresses, you should stockpile water in every container possible. There is always the possibility that the water can become contaminated, but highly unlikely within the first few hours of a zombie outbreak. Food is your last concern. If everything else is secure, you should be able to sustain for several days.
For those with connected garages only:
If you have a connecting garage, and if your car is already in your garage, this area should be fortified next since it is (1) very secure, and (2) the most logical exit as long as you don’t drive a Pinto. Collect any gas you may have (siphon from mowers if necessary) and fill you tank. Next, protect your radiator! If you have to plow through a horde of zombies, there is a good chance your radiator will be punctured. If that happens, it’s all over. Secure angle iron, 4x4’s, 2x4’s, or whatever you have to the nose of your vehicle. Do not worry about the damage to your vehicle since that is the least of your worries. A V-plow design works best as it will “cut through” the mob. You can spend time barricading the windows, but no at the expense of weighing your vehicle down too much. Small cars should less than 500 pounds of fortification attached to them. The shocks need ample room to rebound after rolling over bodies, and acceleration is greatly reduced. Your goal is a quick plow and then outrunning the masses.
Once these measures have been taken, you need to go to the roof. Preferable, the roof entrance/exit should be connecting to the garage. This can easily be created with a standard axe. Once you are on the roof, you should survey the situation BEFORE you start plugging away at the walking dead. If you have family members with you, one should ALWAYS be in the house maintaining the houses integrity. 2-way radios will help communication between the roof-man and the house-man (or woman).
When all T’s are crossed and I’s dotted, you enter the maintenance stage. During this stage you should ration out the food and create a timeline. If the phones are still active, only now do you attempt to contact loved ones. The best thing to do is sit and wait. However, food supply will dictate the duration of your maintenance stage and your next move.
There are only two situations that should force you from your compound: food or the undeniable end. If it is for food, the scenario works best with 4 people. One remains on the roof as a lookout, both for the best departure time and when the food-runners return. One remains in the garage. This person will need to open the garage door if it is not automatic. If the door is automatic, then you still need a gunman when the food runners return. Two should leave in the vehicle. The driver never gets out. The other is the runner who must go into a store, retrieve food, and return.
If it is the undeniable end, everyone must go. Chances are you will not be able to return. Plan a destination that is feasible to reach with the amount of fuel you have. Do not depend on a gas station being open. Everyone other than the driver should be armed (preferable with a shotgun) and ready to shoot oncoming zombies. Expect express ways to be blocked, particularly the on and off ramps, so be aware of back-road possibilities. Your destination should be something better than what you are leaving. Do not drive blind. If you are lucky enough to live in the northern part of the US, head further north. The populations are lower, the temperatures lower, and the possibilities greater. However, avoid passing large cities as there is likely to be millions of zombies. And avoid bridges that enter into other countries (Canada) or Upper Peninsulas (Michigan). They will most likely be blocked by those who live on the other side in hopes of protecting their own land.
Last, but not least, have mêlée weapons. At some point you will need them. Broad swords are best as they can take a head off with one swipe. But if you are using this weapon, it is really only a matter of time before you are overrun. Kiss your wife good bye, chop off her head, and then run the sword through the bottom of your jaw upwards through your brain. You can use the weight of your body to accomplish this.
I hope this helps.