Surviving a Zombie Outbreak

how about police riot armor

If a real WORLD threatening zombie outbreak took place, it would only one or maybe two nations collaborating with mass air strikes to clear the area. Remember that we as only human (and even zombie) cannot move that fast when compared to tactical mass airstrikes.

Originally posted by Aether
If a real WORLD threatening zombie outbreak took place, it would only one or maybe two nations collaborating with mass air strikes to clear the area. Remember that we as only human (and even zombie) cannot move that fast when compared to tactical mass airstrikes.

Originally posted by Aether
If a real WORLD threatening zombie outbreak took place, it would only one or maybe two nations collaborating with mass air strikes to clear the area. Remember that we as only human (and even zombie) cannot move that fast when compared to tactical mass airstrikes.

I beg to differ. We now have the technology for mankind to travel the entire globe in under one day. Depending on the incubation time, rate, and method of infection, unpatrolled wildernesses, and mass panic, a zombie outbreak could become a worldwide epidemic in mere days.

The decision to nuke a zombified country to slag is all fine and dandy if your populace remained nice and docile and stayed in place. Unfortunately, unless the incubation time is immediate, some individuals, despite all reason and logic, will attempt to flee in the interests of self-preservation. They will hide among boats, planes, trains, automobiles, forests, etc. There will also, doubtless, be those who profit by trafficking refugees, infected or not, across borders.

Additionally, the "bomb the country" approach goes off the assumption that every square foot of the country could be blanketed, including below the groundline, where there are sewers, caves, lakes, rivers, etc. Further, since zombies need not breathe, they can simply wander into oceans and walk to the next beach available for tastyflesh.

Originally posted by proteus33
how about police riot armor

Howabout those suits they wear to train attack dogs?

Zombies are not as well-made as a german shepherd, so you ought to be okay. Even from a dog-zombie.


At least until they ooze on you.

Originally posted by dr_strangecraft
Howabout those suits they wear to train attack dogs?

Well, this would protect you from bites, but not from being pulled apart. It's really hard to move around in those suits as well, so trying to run through a crowd of zombies in one will just get you grabbed, mobbed, pulled apart, then eaten.

To "brute force" your way through a mob of zombies I'm pretty sure it'd take a tank, and eventually it will break down or run out of gas.

Otherwise, stealth, agility, and keeping the high ground is your only real option.

Another thing to consider is dogs. Although it may seem like dogs would be an asset, I believe they could be one of you biggest liabilities. That is, unless you can come up with some way to shut them.

On second thought, a dog that responds well to a shock collar activated by voice could be very useful assuming that animals are immune to the zombie infliction. Actually, a basenji would probably we OK. While dogs would likely not destroy a zombie brain, several dogs could slow down a large group of zombies long enough to give you a very large head start, assuming slow movers.

The issue of dogs (and cats for that matter) in the event of a zombie outbreak should be of quite a bit of interest.

In theory, assuming that zombism were the result of a virus or bacteria, only one species would be affected (namely human), because of the rather vastly different biologies. If anything, for cross infections, primates (chimps in particular) would be particularly worrisome as viable carriers, if not actual zombie apes (as ludicrous as it might sound). If the virus becomes a pandemic, able to transmit and zombify small animals like rats, cats, dogs, etc, we are well and truly screwed.

Sooo... going with the assumption dogs wouldn't become infected, but as living beings would still be an attractive meal to zombies, two conclusions might be reached:

Many housepets will go feral once their owners are gone. Housepets that escape and breed even one generation into the wild will have produced a serious menace to any living humans travelling through the area. (think dingos and bobcats). They will most likely avoid zombies out of innate or learned instinct, but will be desperate for food. A lone wandering human is a great target for a band of wild dogs or cats. Even if one doesn't die from the attack and get eaten, septic bites and scratches becoming infected is a huge problem in a land devoid of hospitals, doctors, and antibiotics.

Dogs might be able to be trained to aid humans in fighting zombies. Their most apparent role would be as "bait" to lure zombies out from buildings, alleys, streets, etc, and towards a waiting band of humans prepared to pick off the zombies with ranged weapons as they follow. If done correctly, the dog wouldn't get injured. They would also be an immense help in finding survivors holed up in places. Their most important role, however, would be as "detectors", using their extremely keen sense of smell to detect infected humans before they turn.

Originally posted by thelibra

Dogs might be able to be trained to aid humans in fighting zombies. Their most apparent role would be as "bait" to lure zombies out from buildings, alleys, streets, etc, and towards a waiting band of humans prepared to pick off the zombies with ranged weapons as they follow. If done correctly, the dog wouldn't get injured. They would also be an immense help in finding survivors holed up in places. Their most important role, however, would be as "detectors", using their extremely keen sense of smell to detect infected humans before they turn.

The "detector role" for fido is brilliant. Stars for you!

One of the problems with sand-tabling a zombie event is that we have so little information to go on. Personally, I suspect that dogs would be terrified of zombies, for a couple of reasons. First, a human that doesn't interact with a dog and give reassuring body language will probably frighten a dog. Then there's the disagreeable odor, a la Weekend at Bernie's.

Second, if there is any supernatural component at all to zombification, folklore suggests that dogs have an innate aversion to the undead, and more especially, evil spirits.

Third, a dog's barking might attract zombies, since we've discussed how zombies move toward noise and commotion. If this idea holds, then dogs might help the human population by distracting zombies, but would of course endanger themselves.

It would suck if your guard dog actually alerted and attracted every zomb in a five mile radius . . .

.

Originally posted by dr_strangecraft
[Third, a dog's barking might attract zombies, since we've discussed how zombies move toward noise and commotion. If this idea holds, then dogs might help the human population by distracting zombies, but would of course endanger themselves.

It would suck if your guard dog actually alerted and attracted every zomb in a five mile radius . . .

.

Thats why I brought up Basenjis and bark collars

Thats why I brought up Basenjis and bark collars

One step ahead. as usual. Carry on then.

Messenger Pigeons.

They could end up being quite useful. At least for finding the locations of other packs of survivors.

Maybe a trained bear? That would tear some zombies up.

I think that a dog would be very useful for someone who is unable to find shelter in the Zombie outbreak. If you're forced to sleep outside, a dog is more likely to wake up, and wake you up if a zombie hoard stopped by.

Originally posted by Rasobasi420
Messenger Pigeons.

They could end up being quite useful. At least for finding the locations of other packs of survivors.

How so? I thought that when released they would travel strait back to "home base."

Maybe a trained bear? That would tear some zombies up.

Yes! Amazing. The mental image of 2 attack bears charging a crowd of 40 zombies total earns you 5 stars.

tigers could help out too.

Nice, i love this thread. Thanks thelibra.

I've been asking myself this same question ever since I played Resident Evil 2.

Originally posted by cavscout

Originally posted by Rasobasi420
Messenger Pigeons.

They could end up being quite useful. At least for finding the locations of other packs of survivors.

How so? I thought that when released they would travel strait back to "home base."

Okay, rather than sending them out to random spots, an individual could take one with them on scouting excursions, and send it back home to the base to inform a survival group of safe passages, and locations


[edit on 24-5-2007 by Rasobasi420]

Originally posted by Rasobasi420
Okay, rather than sending them out to random spots, an individual could take one with them on scouting excursions, and send it back home to the base to inform a survival group of safe passages, and locations

Fair enough.

Good save.

Originally posted by cavscout

Fair enough.

Good save.

Thanks

you all seem like you would survive fairly well in the "traditonal" zombie apocolypse but has any one taken into consideration the Lyassavirus X theory. because Lyssa X is a normal virus, it doesnt destroy the frontal lobe of the brain, as suggested by the "solanum" virus in the zombie survival guide, you're pretty much dealing with normal humans that are simply unreasonable and will attack you given the chance. although this does give some advantages such as a chest shot will kill so u dont have to simply aim for the head and they will feel pain so u can slow them down easier, there are several severe draw-backs. the "zombies" will be able to get you quicker. they will run most of the time. they will be harder to spot given that they will look like normal humans. because of this, it will spread easier because infected will be able to get on a plane and travel before symptoms kick in. also, if you find yourself in a class 1 outbreak and manage to kill one, chances are once it's over the local law inforcement will get you for homicide. so, pretty much this is gunna give you the 28 days later zombie but a good bit smarter. they should be able to use stairs with no problem. they shouldnt be able to lock/unlock doors but chances are door knobs wont take long to giver out, if they even take the time and dont just knock it down. one final good thing though is their skitzofrania will cause them to stay away from other infected so traveling may be slightly easier than a traditional outbreak

Lyssa X / Lyssavirus X: A fictional member of the Lyssavirus genus, and cousin to Rabies, Lyssa X is characterized by its severely reduced incubation period, cutting the time of flu like symptoms to a few days, as opposed to rabies which can take months to years to take effect. Other than that, the symptoms and behaviors are almost identical. Those infected with Lyssa X will be severely mentally retarded and highly aggressive and violent. They will have little difficulty climbing staircases or operating doors, and will be able to pick up and use relatively simple weapons (possibly even guns, as long as no cocking or loading is required, though this would be very unlikely and uncommon), but will not be very effective at climbing ladders or aiming weapons, and will probably not be capable of much speech or communication.
(ozzort.org/terminology/index.php)

Great post, Danny, and welcome to ATS.

The Lyssa-X zombie virus is one of those "crap your pants" scenarios that forces one to reasses the entire scenario. We might even presume that the zombies are not incapable of complex tasks like opening doors, climbing ladders, and even working in tandem with other zombies to breach defenses.

So, your post has me thinking, let's approach this from an entirely new angle, a worse case (not worst) scenario than the Solanum zombies.

Let's assume our zombie enemy:

is an infected human.

is as fast, strong, and agile as an athletic human.

is capable of working in cooperation with other zombies.

is impervious to pain, or highly resistant to it.

is highly contagious via its fluids.

is compelled to eat, prefers human meat to all else.

is capable of being "killed" via trauma to vital organs besides the brain.

is capable of coitus, and even breeding.

can operate doors, climb over obstacles, climb up ladders, etc.

can pull/push things out of the way (ie. rip apart a barricade)

cannot use complex tools (but a bludgeon or a rock would be possible)

cannot reason or be reasoned with by humans.

lacks any and all traces of empathy and sympathy.

One problem that has occurred to me since "28 Days Later" is that in a scenario where the zombies weren't dead humans but merely insane, infected ones, they have to eat to obtain nourishment, and their preferred meal is human flesh. Yet the virus also obviously compells them to infect others as well, and they do not appear to attack other infected humans. If they are capable of being wounded and killed via trauma to organs and blood loss, this means that they can't just eat and run and have a human rise up from the corpse, unless they'd only taken a few nibbles.

This presents an apparent conflict of interest for the zombie. Infect, or Eat? What if there's no one left to infect? Would they eat each other or starve to death. Presumably in this situation, the drive to eat would be primary, and infection would result from injured prey that got away, but this means that the spread of these kinds of zombies would be highly held in check by the mortality of its victims and the fact that they would be willing to eat each other as well.

So one might only have to deal with a fraction of the number of Solanum zombies, but the Lyssa-X zombies would be so much more formidable opponants, their effects would probably be far more devastating and horrific.

This does indeed cal for a whole new strategy in how to confront them.

This new Zombie has me thinking, and makes me wonder about a few things. I'll bring up The Libra's list below.

Originally posted by thelibra

is an infected human.

is as fast, strong, and agile as an athletic human.

is capable of working in cooperation with other zombies.

is impervious to pain, or highly resistant to it.

is highly contagious via its fluids.

is compelled to eat, prefers human meat to all else.

is capable of being "killed" via trauma to vital organs besides the brain.

is capable of coitus, and even breeding.

can operate doors, climb over obstacles, climb up ladders, etc.

can pull/push things out of the way (ie. rip apart a barricade)

cannot use complex tools (but a bludgeon or a rock would be possible)

cannot reason or be reasoned with by humans.

lacks any and all traces of empathy and sympathy.

Many of these qualities are ver similar to the classic Romero zombie. However some things stick out to me. Specifically the aspect of zombie biological reproduction. Since we'll assume the virus will affect the brain in a manner that will result in only the very base instincts to come through, this leaves a whole new method of infection. The zombies could either reproduce with one another, or they could take the assault to a new level through zombie rape, thereby turning the virus into an STD. Although most infections would be through a bite, it's interesting to think that some could come through a zombie rape scenerio.

Originally posted by Rasobasi420
The zombies could either reproduce with one another, or they could take the assault to a new level through zombie rape, thereby turning the virus into an STD.

Good God! That'd be horrible!!! I can't even begin to imagine that kind of trauma.

I suppose the general idea is that the disease would act as a sort of permanent rabies that doesn't kill the victim, but rather specifically attacks the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in such a way that sets the human back to a cannibalistic cave-man mentality. Kill. Eat. Mate. Repeat. The virus would presumably not be sentient in this case, and the creature itself would probably have no concept of infection, or that it is infection. So further infections would probably happen quite by accident along the process of other actions.

So I guess it'd be plausible. Presumably since both are human, and the brain, rather than the genetics themselves, would be affected, impregnation could result, though god knows what sort of abomination would result from the union of a human and a zombie.

(shudder)