Zombie Action Plans: Supplies

So far in our series on Zombie Action Plans we have discussed where to go in the event of a zombie outbreak and what weapons you need to protect yourself and your companions. In this instalment we are going to cover the range of supplies you are going to need to see you through the situation, if not comfortably then at least safely.

The supplies you need are many and varied. It’s a good idea to think about where you are going, or if you are staying put before you start putting your extended zombie kit together. If you are defending your home you have more options as you can stockpile whatever you like, but if you plan to be on the move you will need to have a portable kit and a way of transporting it to your preferred location. Even if you are ‘bunking in’ it’s a good idea to prepare a portable pack with essentials in case your stronghold is breached and you need to make a quick getaway – you don’t want to find yourself in the situation where all your supplies are in the shed, and so are the zombies!

So, grab your favourite backpack, clear some room in the kitchen cupboards and lets go shopping!

Food and Water

You probably have no electricity. This means you have no oven, no fridge and no blenders, toasters, kettles etc. It’s a good idea to get a portable camp stove and those fantastic 47-in-1 utensils but in the first instance go for things that don’t require preparation.

The food you choose must have a long shelf life (note: nothing is actually non-perishable in spite of what the charity drives tell you. You will need to look at labels periodically and use up your food store and replace it. It’s no good stockpiling only to have the zombies attack and you realise everything canned is actually off as well).

Instant foods are the way to go – things like tinned soups, stews, beans, fruits and veges etc, army rations, nuts, seeds, jerky, dried fruits, chocolate (I’m not kidding – it’s high in energy and long-life), biscuits, chips, powdered milk, and juice concentrates. Be creative but be sensible. It should be high in protein, high in fats and sugar, and cover as many of the major vitamin groups as you can. You also need as much bottled water as you can store /carry.

Also consider a good multivitamin, iron supplements (fresh greens and red meat are going to become a bit hard to come by), calcium supplements (ditto re- access to dairy but you may have some luck with long-life soy products), and maybe those sports supplements like gatorade powder.

Lastly, don’t forget things like can openers (now wouldn’t that be embarrassing!), cutlery and some picnic plastic plates and cups (not essential but useful).

Medical Supplies

Remember there is probably no cure for the zombie virus. The medical supplies are for regular, everyday human stuff (colds, scrapes, machete training accidents, you know, the usual). A good first aid kit should have the basics (and is a good thing to put in your backpack) but you probably also want to stockpile: painkillers, antibiotics, antiseptic, bandages, hygiene items, flu tablets, and caffeine tablets (a sleepy human can rapidly become a dead human). Don’t forget if you or a member of your crew needs medication or health equipment of some kind (asthmatics, diabetics I’m looking at you now) stockpile whatever you need. You don’t want to be stuck planning a pharmacy raid for insulin.

Tools

Start with a good swiss army knife, an even better regular knife, a torch, spare batteries and electrical tape. You’d be amazed the amount of things these can fix. If you’re staying at home then a big supply of nails, wood for boarding up entrances and a hammer and saw are also essential. Also remember stuff you might need to take care of your weapons, so a sharpening stone, gun oil, and of course as much spare ammo as you can get your hands on.

I wouldn’t worry about the allen keys – zombies don’t shop at Ikea.

Entertainment

I know what you’re thinking: “zombies are attacking for goodness sake and you want me to worry about my leisure hours!” but just watch the movies. Bored humans rapidly become stupid humans. They get cabin fever and do dumb things that get themselves and everyone else killed. Pack a deck of cards, some travel board games, a notepad and pen. Books are great if you’re staying in, but are a bit heavy to lug around. No, you can’t just surf the net or read ebooks – you might have managed a back-up generator for electricity, but using it to power your ipod is probably not a good resourcing choice.

Ok, so you’re starting to get some idea. Take this quiz to find out how your survival chances are progressing – and what areas you need to improve on. Post your scores and let us all know if you think you’re going to make it!