![]() Greetings Fellow Cyber Travelers! It feels like ages since my last post- been tied up pubbing my novel. But here we are once again at the good ole blog. So let’s get started. This list is for zombie eyes only…So no peeking humans. Today’s top five list is tactics that seasoned zombies have adapted in securing a meal. This list is brought to you by Zom-Plant, a limb donation center for zombies that have sustained damage to a limb or two. No zombie limb left behind! After interviewing several zombies they were quoted as saying “Rrrrh,” “Hhhhaarrrrr,” and “Eeeehhhh.” Unfortunately, I do not speak their native tongue, so I did a few walk-alongs with some experienced zombies to observe their tactics. Below are a top 5 list of these tactics: 1. Be Sneaky: While with Billy—a once mechanic at Spiffy Oil—I observed him roaming around in a supermarket. Billy is the quiet type. He shuffled through the store, almost unnoticeable until you laid eyes on him. It went on like this for days. Finally a man entered the store. Billy didn’t race after his prey—instead he soundlessly shuffled along tailing the ravenous human clearing what little remained on the shelves. Then, just as the man was celebrating his triumphant find with a rare bottle of cheap whiskey, Billy sunk his rotting teeth into the human’s shoulder. Being quiet and sneaky can certainly work to the advantage of the walking dead. 2. Listen for Sounds: Philippe was a zombie that I came across in an abandoned part of town. This area was in terrible disarray, looking as if humans and zombies had ditched the deserted area. I stuck with Philippe for a week and he would shamble around, between buildings and alleyways. Until one day, he heard a glass bottle roll across the ground on the side of a nearby building. Now, I thought that it was a rat or other rodent, but I followed Philippe anyway. He quietly shuffled around the corner of the building and discovered a human. As soon as he laid eyes on the living creature, Philippe broke into a sprint and captured his meal for the day. So, zombies- take stock in what Philippe had to teach and listen for those sounds and don’t be afraid to investigate them. 3. Follow, Follow: Not all zombies are fast. It’s okay. If you are of the slower variety, fret not my undead friend. I met Vanessa a few weeks ago and this living dead girl does not have speed on her side, but she does have two virtues on her side: instinct and persistence. A group of four survivors, were traveling up the road and passed right by Vanessa. Obviously they discounted her as a non-treat due to her speed—or rather lack there of. The group of men continued on foot and soon disappeared in the distance. Several hours later, in the wee hours of the morning, Vanessa was still on the trail of the men that had passed her. She stumbled toward their camp where three unsuspecting victims slumbered. The sound of a twig snapping drew her attention away from the sleepers. She followed the sound, which was backed up by crunching leaves. She came up on the fourth man, just as he was zipping up his pants. Poor guy, never saw it coming. Following humans—in Vanessa’s case led to her next meal. 4. Pick off the Slowest: I met Ginny, near a department store. She would stalk her prey, which typically traveled in herds of six to ten people—far too many for her to take on alone. She would eye them from afar, then when they began to separate—and they always would, she would make her move. She’d pick the slowest, and follow it to the most opportune places, then launch her attack. It worked every time for Ginny. 5. Join the Horde: Sometimes you just have to know when to go at it alone and when to join a group of other zombies. There are times, when you want to attack a whole group of people, and you simply can’t do it on your own. Joining the horde is an option for just this type of circumstance. I met Zeb about a month ago. He wanted to launch an attack on what used to be his group of survivors—when he was human. But in his undead state, he didn’t have a chance. So, he joined the horde. They invaded the camp after dark and well—let’s just say that there are some new members of the horde now. Afterward, Zeb left the horde to do things solo, but he knows that the horde will be there if he decides to come back. Well zombies, that’s it for now. These tips should get you started, but overall follow your undead instincts. Good Luck & stay zombie-fied. Jeannie Rae out.
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In the Zombie Apocalypse, having a radio can be a key item in locating survivors or even finding salvation. Hearing someone on the other end of the radio calling for help or offering a safe haven may seem like a welcomed voice.
Not so fast. Could it be a trap? It's not something that would typically cross our minds, but this will be a whole new world- and in that new world, not everyone can be trusted, even though the circumstances are dismal. Now, of course, I am not saying that the call should go unanswered. Exercise caution before proceeding. Listen carefully to the message being conveyed and if you choose to follow the voice into the rabbit hole, plan ahead. Survey the area in advance and don't forget to bring your weapons. Planning an emergency escape route is a necessity. Once you are armed like a tank, have an escape route mapped out and have thoroughly scoped out the area, then you are ready to get in there and see what the fuss is all about. It's not unreasonable to think that the government or an organized group wouldn't set up a camp and encourage other survivors to join them, but it could very well be a group of raiders that want nothing more than to take what you have at any cost. Travel with caution fellow survivors and while it may sound safest to stick to yourself, there is safety in numbers. Not to mention, survival in a post apocalyptic world is an enormous chore and having the duties of survival spread across many shoulders lessens the burden for all. And for the most part, at least a tiny part of each of us wants to be part of a community. With that said, best of luck with answering the rescue call. If you have a plan in place, escape route and proceed with caution, you may just find a safe haven from the zombies lurking outside. Good luck and stay human. Jeannie Rae out. ![]() Some of these places might seem like a great place to hold up when the zombies are claiming the streets, but you may want to give them a second thought. Read on survivors to check out my Top 5 list of places to avoid. #5: Police stations A police station sounds like a safe enough place, right? There are likely weapons contained within, and it would seem like a secure enough building. This is one of the big reasons to steer clear of this place. Like apartments and banks, others will have this idea and head on over, bitten or otherwise. The more people head in your direction the more dangerous. Just one infected person can really ruin the day. Plus- it is a police station, their weapons (if they haven’t already been taken by the officers that once occupied the station) will likely be locked up tight and might even have additional trigger locks on them. So unless you are a locksmith, you might not even get any of the weapons left behind to work. While it may seem like a great idea to stick it to the man and use the police’s cache to supply your weaponry needs, you might not want to get caught in a police station. #4: A Bank Most of us would love the idea of digging in at a bank. You think that you could stay warm by the heat of a stack of hundreds burning at night—after all, that’s about all money would be worth in the apocalypse. You could sleep in the vault—if you had access to it and the ability to open and close it. But those glass walls... Those glass walls will likely keep out the undead. But would they keep out raiders and competitive scavengers? No way. In fact some may even think that they whole zombie apocalypse thing will blow over and they could stash away some cash for when things get back to normal. A bank is a high risk place, and other than lining your pockets with useless paper, there aren’t really any advantages to being there. #3: Apartments The dank, spooky, apartment building with about a thousand places for baddies to hide and nooks for zombies to pop out on you. Oh yeah, apartments are as bad as they get. There are too many variables when it comes to apartments. You want to be in a place where you can control the exits and the perimeter. Apartments will look like a shining beacon to others and raiders as well, looking for goods and supplies—and all that activity will draw in zombies. Just say no to apartments. #2: High-rise buildings A high rise would seem like a good place to go, they're off the ground and away from the hysteria. You head up flight after flight and are pretty sure you have access to your floor blocked off. You’re all set, right? Well, you are going to need more food and supplies at some point. Let’s say eleven stories up you realize you're trapped with no way to get down. Sure, if the elevator is out, you could use the stairs—unless they are overrun by zombies. Okay fine, take the fire escape—oh wait, there are raiders headed up to take what dwindling supplies you have left? Well, you could channel your inner spider man and leap off the building and hope for the best. What might be best—is to skip high rises at all costs. #1: Cities You’ll want to leave the city in your rearview mirror as soon as possible in the zombie apocalypse. Dangers can lurk in every window and in each dumpster. Cities have too dense a population to stick around for long. Imagine sneaking around a corner with your little group of say—four people, only to stumble upon a horde of fifty. Game over. Get out of the city. Travel through the smaller towns or better still—on the outskirts of towns and keep your exposure to zombies at a minimum. Don’t forget that in the zombie apocalypse, zombies aren’t the only ones you have to be weary of. Raiders, looters, robbers—or whatever you want to call them, can be an even larger threat to you than zombies. Travel light and quick, my fellow survivors and stay away from these places. Good luck and stay human. Jeannie Rae out. Sure, we’ve seen some really impressive inventions to prepare for the Zombie Apocalypse, chainmail gloves to prevent hand bites, retrofitted sedans with all the bells and whistles to fend off the horde and even bicycles tricked out with chainsaws. But whether you are a hardcore prepper or the average citizen, sooner or later you’ll need to seek out a hideout. Here is a top five list of possible hideouts to keep your limbs attached and to keep you from joining the legion of undead. ![]() #5: Supermarket- Ah, a supermarket. Plenty of food and water, four walls to keep out the baddies and lots of space. Seems like the absolute best place to hideout from zombies, right? Not so much. You are not the only genius with this idea. Others will gather to this spot, if they haven’t already. Remember Y2K? Before anything happened, gas stations and supermarkets were inundated with doomsday preppers gathering supplies. A supermarket should only be a last resort, as even days and weeks after the zombie apocalypse has begun, people will still be going to the market to see if there are any leftover survival supplies and food. This place will attract regular Joes and raiders alike. And human activity will attract zombies. That’s why a supermarket is number five on the list, because of the dangers involved with this hideout. ![]() I give this hideout idea one star on the survival meter- if you have to go to a supermarket—make it a quick trip. ![]() #4 Caves- A cave can be a decent place to hideout for a while. If it’s up high on a hill or mountain, it can be a deterrent for outsiders. While providing shelter from the elements and giving an element of safety, a cave can provide a level of defense from zombies and outsiders. You would likely only have to defend from one side which will prove to be advantageous. The drawbacks to a cave are—well, it’s a cave. In addition to the creepy-crawlies already dwelling there, there is no plumbing and you’d have to protect yourself from wildlife that may want to invite themselves to your cave. If picking a cave, try to keep the length of your stay to a minimum, if possible, only because of the energy needed for cave survival. ![]() I give this hideout idea two stars on the survival meter, because while it is better than nothing, cave living is still a little too much work. You can probably do better. ![]() #3 Cabin- Hiding out in a cabin can be a really great option. It can offer most of the comforts of home, warmth, comfort, supplies—like pots and pans, maybe even electricity, and let’s not forget—a water source. The fact that it is out in the sticks, actually adds to the benefit of a cabin. With a little perimeter defense, you can dig in here and hideout for quite some time. ![]() I give this hideout idea three stars on the survival meter for comfort, and sustainability. ![]() #2 Boat- A boat can be a solid hideout keeping you isolated and safe from flesh-eating zombies. Outsider issues should be at a minimum. As long as you know how to fish and the water supply hasn’t been contaminated, you can stay fed and hydrated. If your boat works, you can try to head for an island or other area and see if it’s all clear. But travel with caution, my seafaring friend, approaching other boats or land masses could be the end of you. ![]() I give this hideout idea four stars on the survival meter because the life of a sailor could help you outlast. ![]() #1 Farm/Ranch- When it comes to hideouts, a farm ranks high. Not only do you have all the advantages of a cabin, but depending on the type of farm it is, there should be a perpetual food source. Whether it's cattle, hogs, corn or potatoes, there should be something that can provide a food source. Additionally, there would be plenty of room to add more crops and then you can really get to farming and keeping you and anyone in your group secure and well fed for a good, long time. So long as you don’t call too much attention to yourself and you take security measures, such as a perimeter fence, and guard duty, you could be just fine. Remember, the more you have, the more you have to lose. You’ll need to be really careful at securing your perimeter and selective about who you let in. ![]() I give this hideout idea four stars on the survival meter for sustainability and having the comforts of home. *Until the day comes when scientists develop a zombie repellent, good luck and stay human! Jeannie Rae out. ![]() When coming across a settlement that is already intact, make sure you make your presence known as soon as possible. Announce how many people are in your group and if not commanded to leave by a gun toting guard, immediately ask to speak to someone in charge. They may not be taking in a new people, if that’s the case, see if you can negotiate based on your skills or the skills of those in your group. They may just need someone with your shooting skills or with Ginger's medical knowledge. A settlement may only have enough food and supplies for their existing people. So if you’re a master farmer or scavenger, let them know! Assuming that you convince them to let you in, don't be surprised if they keep you away from the supplies or security area for a while. Just as you’ll be checking the place out to see if you'd like to stay, they’ll likely be checking you out to make sure you aren't infiltrating their settlement to feed info back to a group of raiders. Remember that you are the newbie here, and it will take time before they trust you—but you should be equally cautious as well. You want to make sure that this is the kind of place where you want to stay. In the event that they do not let you in or command you to leave as soon as they spot you, leave as directed. Remember, they are trying to protect the settlement and will use any means in defending it—as you would likely do if in the same spot. So, unless you want to escape a barrage of bullets like avoiding raindrops falling from the sky, you might want to move on and look for the next one. Good luck and stay human! Jeannie Rae out. ![]() First things first, in the Zombie Apocalypse, you’re going to want to evacuate highly populated areas like large cities. Cities themselves will be a bigger nightmare than the undead. Between the sheer number of zombies and competitive scavengers you’ll be lucky to make it out of highly populated areas with your life. A better option would be rural areas, try to make your way by vehicle or on foot to a smaller town nearby. The more out in the country it is—the better. Not only will you be far less likely to encounter zombies, but raiders/looters as well. During the zombie apocalypse, you’ll find the undead to be a formative danger, but an even bigger threat to your safety could be fellow survivors. If the area you chose to make camp is flattened out a bit, you’ll be able to see across the land and detect any zombies or outsiders approaching from a distance. This way, you can either send out a party to intercept/receive them or prepare for their arrival. An abandoned house in a grassy area or out in the sticks would be an ideal location. Or you can make camp and see about possibly using local resources to build your own shelter. (Not recommended, but it is a very exhausting option.) Live near hills or mountains? Scout out that area. Not only are you relatively higher than the surrounding area, but rough terrain is a good thing. It will take on comers more time and energy to make it up to you. This could give you a window of time to prepare in the event of an attack. If you come across an occupied residence, proceed with caution. You have no idea who or what may be lurking inside. There might be people terrified of outsiders that could try to turn you away. Negotiating skills will come in handy here. See if they may be willing to start a settlement and let them know what skills you and your crew bring to the table. If all else fails, ask if you can at least make camp for the night. If you find that they want nothing to do with you, it might be time to move on and keep looking. Once you set up a base camp or secure a shelter, the next step is to secure the perimeter. Your best defense is a sky nest. Something that is relatively high with a 360 degree view. A rooftop or a tall, sturdy tree could serve as your sky nest, lending a view of approaching dangers. A perimeter fence is also something that should be on the forefront of your mind. While not impenetrable, it will offer your crew a sense of security and a small time cushion, should enemies make it all the way to the fence line. You can tie noisy things to the fence to serve as your alarm. Use whatever is handy, aluminum cans or plastic bottles, dried out tree limbs, or branches with dead leaves on them. The cans will clank, bottles will crumble, limbs will snap and the leaves will crunch when stepped on—and that could be your very-low tech alarm system. In addition to your defensive needs, fresh water is key. Where ever you do decide to settle in, be sure that you are near a creek, stream or water well. (As long as it’s not contaminated) Divide your camp into sections, sanitation, galley, weapons & security, common areas, and private areas. The people in your group can be assigned to areas or be on a rotation, depending on your numbers and skill levels. Try to make it feel as normal as possible. Once you find a base camp that you are planning on staying in, keep up the work on increasing security. Remember that no base camp in entirely impenetrable from outsiders or zombies, so be sure to have an escape plan in place—just in case. Good luck, and stay human. Jeannie Rae out. The Zombie Apocalypse Keepers...![]() 1) The Leader: This may or may not be you. Either way, it’s incredibly important to have a chain of authority. So obviously, there should be a second in command and so forth. Despite what some may think, there must be one leader. Decisions that affect the crew should be discussed, but ultimately, the leader makes the final decision. Having one commander makes things easier when there are split opinions within the crew. 2) The Muscle: A few well-conditioned guys or gals are necessary for some of the heavy lifting and to serve as solid defenders in the event of an attack. 3) The Medic: A medic or at the very least someone with medical skills. In the zombie apocalypse, life will be a battle for survival and there will be injuries and illnesses. You’ll find that someone with these skills will be very much needed in your crew. 4) The Hot Shot: Guns will be necessary, but they have their drawbacks. Sound and ammo supply will be the biggest drawbacks when relying on this type of weaponry. While it’s an excellent idea to have everyone in your crew trained to make head shots, having one or even a few crew members that really excel in this area, can be a lifesaver. If you can get your hands on a sniper rifle, the hot shot can take a high perch to get a birds-eye view of a new location and take out zombies before they are able to get near the team. 5) The Security: This could be just one person or a whole task force. If you have a semi-permanent or permanent base camp, they could oversee guard duty and set up perimeter traps and alarms. An alarm system could be as simple as cans attached to a fence or wire. There should be rotating watch duties and readily made perimeter checks. 6) The Brains: It is important to have someone in your crew that can think outside basic survival instincts and come up with new ideas to format vehicles, security systems and plan for supply runs. An analytical mind is needed to try to understand every scenario before action is taken. 7) The Mechanic/Engineer: With all the ideas that the brains are thinking up, you need someone who can actually implement them. Having someone that can rock out your vehicles into virtual tanks with little tools and scrap metals is an invaluable asset to your crew. 8) The Scouts: The scouts in your crew should be fast and fairly low profile. Having somewhat quiet, swift vehicles with ease of maneuverability will aid in their scouting. A motorcycle or even a dirt bike would allow them to travel ahead of your crew to scout for potential hazards, scavenge sites, or check out a possible base camp location. If you are lacking in wheels, then they would have to be a speedy runner with plenty of endurance, and have the ability to keep their eyes peeled. Even a bicycle would be quicker than scouting on foot and require much less energy from scouts. If this is the case, always be on the lookout for a motorbike to get them mobile. 9) The Newbies: Stay on the lookout for new possible crew members to join your group. There is always some work to be done and an extra pair of hands can lighten the load for everyone. Plus, you never know what their skill set may be... If you stumble upon… a veterinarian say, they could join your medic staff or even serve as the closest thing to a doctor in your group. It's a clever idea to have probation period for new members once you have some solid numbers in your group. (See infiltrators, below) 10) The Nurturer: While this person may not seem like a must have in your crew, you might be surprised. If you’re traveling with children, the nurturer could come in handy. This person could be looked upon in times of grief, offering some guidance and a kind ear. Even though the world may not be what it once was, from time to time, we all need a little nurturing. Who to steer clear of… While most of us would like to think that in a Zombie Apocalypse humanity would band together and help one another- it’s simply not likely to happen. That being said, there are a few characters that you may want to steer clear of or at the very least, use caution.
The Raiders: Raiders, Rioters, Looters call them what you will, but these people are in it for themselves. They will likely band up into small to medium size groups and stay on the move. These baddies are looking to stock up on food, meds, gas or anything else that we’ll all need during the Zombie Apocalypse. The major difference between the Raiders and the rest of us -is that they will use any means necessary to take your goods from you. It is imperative that safeguard your crew and base camp from Raiders and avoid contact at all costs. The Infiltrators: These individuals might be scouts for other crews or for the Raiders. They will likely wander upon your group ‘by accident’ and either be alone or in pairs. The goal of an infiltrator is to join your crew and find out as much information as possible, then sneak back to their real crew and pass along vital information. While there is really no real way to tell if a newbie to your group is just an innocent looking for a place to survive or an infiltrator, it would be a smart idea to keep them away from the security, engineering, medical and tactical areas. Assigning them to a benign area like cooking or sanitation for a few weeks might be a fine option as a probationary period. Most infiltrators will likely want to learn all the details quickly, so they may be reluctant to stay long. Equally important- is to make sure that everyone in your crew knows not to reveal vital information to newbies until they have surpassed a probationary period. If a newbie vanishes, be sure to investigate their conversations with other members of your crew and be on the lookout, in case the return with a crew of their own. The Zombies: Obviously you want to stay away from these guys. If on the move or scavenging, having scouts survey the area ahead- can help your crew avoid an attack. At base camp or a permanent location, preventative security and maintenance of security systems is essential. Make sure that you have an emergency plan in place in the event that a horde makes their way to your location. Lastly, know that no place is entirely permanent; make sure that you have an evacuation plan in place for each crew member in the event that you must flee. Best of luck and stay human! Jeannie Rae out. ![]() Greetings fellow cyber travelers… Below are five quick tips for surviving the Zombie Apocalypse. These are by no means everything you need to know, but these tips could set you on the right track. Stay tuned for more information and details of how to make your way in a post apocalyptic world. 1) You need a weapon. Think as light weight as possible, yet something heavy duty. While a gun would give you the most stopping power from a distance, what happens when you run out of ammo? What if the sound attracts the attention of a horde of zombies? Ideally a sword would be perfect, but you won’t just find one in any ole abandoned vehicle. Think smart. An axe, baseball bat, long bladed knife, tire iron, even a pipe or a shovel will all allow you to get a little distance between you and the undead. 2) If you have a gun, try to save your ammo for emergency situations and scavenge any extra ammunition you can find. Remember, just because they're undead doesn’t mean that they can’t hear the echo coming off that shot you just fired. It’s like ringing the dinner bell for the zombies to come and eat you. 3) DO NOT USE FIRE. Zombies can sustain just about any damage you throw at them, unless it is a direct attack on their brain. Fire will not immediately take them down. What’s worse than being chased by the undead? Being chased by the undead on FIRE! 4) Additionally, do not expect that the undead can be drowned. With what little oxygen their brains need at that point, they are expected survive for extended periods of time under water. You can push them off a bridge into a creek or river as an escape tactic, but if you are going for the kill, you’ve got to get the brain. 5) Scavenge what you can- medicine, food, shoes and team up with a group or start your own. Surviving the zombie apocalypse will be nearly impossible for a lone wanderer to make it on their own. You need a group, so that you can pool your resources and survive this new crazy world. I know it’s going to be a tough life out there, but keep in mind the undead are the monsters -not us. We have to look out for each other. They may take our cities from us, but they can never take our humanity-well unless they bite us. Survivors be safe, Jeannie Rae out. ![]() Greetings fellow cyber travelers, Zombies! When the time comes to protect yourself from an impending zombie attack, will you be ready? Are you prepared? In addition to preparing a complete defense plan, it is essential to have a decent plan in place in the event of a zombie invasion or in case of any disaster. Now is a good a time as any to make an emergency kit- if you haven’t already. And if you have one, it might be a good time to give it a solid once over. Swapping out spare batteries, checking for any leaky bottles and making sure all medication or food products are still well within the expiration date could save you time and energy during an emergency. So, for those of you who have not created an emergency kit, it should be relatively easy to get started and you could pick up things along the way to add to it. First off, let’s start by reasoning why one might need such a thing. Well for starters, the Zombie Apocalypse- of course. When the Zombies are shuffling about the streets you are not going to want go out there! Or… if there were to be a black out in your area, or an unexpected natural disaster, an emergency kit might come in really handy. Ready.gov recommends that you create a kit that includes three days’ worth of water, food and medication. Below is a list of items you could include in your kit. A basic emergency kit could contain the following recommendations:
Remember you could start out by gathering a few extra bandages and supplies from your medicine cabinet and supply closet- then add to it from there. For a more comprehensive list of supplies for your emergency kit and keeping it up to date click here. In the event of an emergency or stumbling Zombies surrounding your home, you’ll be glad you have it. Jeannie Rae out. |
AuthorI am Jeannie Rae, not so plain & almost never simple. A person who is just as flawed as I am skilled. One who loves my family with all my heart in good times and in bad – through celebrations & times of tremendous grief, achievements and disagreements. A woman who knows how short Archives
March 2015
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