DISQUS

The Flowercast: http://flowercast.net/2008/08/16/big-box-stores-as-shelter-from-the-living-dead/

  • leanne heller · 1 year ago
    Hm. I never thought of food being the cause of death, rather than a must-have for a shelter. Do regular grocery stores have back up generators, in case of power outages?

    What about an apartment building instead of a series of houses, built on the same kind of pier-system that you mentioned in your previous post? That's pretty high off the ground and you'd have a much easier time trying to convince someone to actually build this - for instance, imagine trying to convince your current neighbors that they need to elevate their homes, and could they also please give you open access, just in case of zombies?

    Of course, with an apartment building there's the drawback that (in order to restock) you have to go into either creepy stairwells or the elevator, which is a small metal deathtrap, really. All in all, I think I'd prefer the ocean, although that definitely limits the amount of supplies, and could end in accidental death without experienced sailors.

    Who would have thought that this was so complicated? Good grief. :-P
  • flowersjustin · 1 year ago
    Leanne,

    Great points. As far as the back up generators - I don't think that they regularly do, because I have read about or seen where long term power outages are a big problem for grocery stores. Although I imagine some of the bigger ones might. But, back up generators only last as long as your supply of gasoline.

    The apartment building is not a great idea, unfortunately. For reference you can check out my post on high-rises which is a similar concept: Urban Zombies and High Rises.

    The basic idea is that a tall building is like a can. If you're in one end of the can, and the other end is open - you're in a trap. It makes you vulnerable to attacks from all angles, makes escape nearly impossible, and then of course there's the problem with tall buildings and fires. And, you're spot on about the stairways being death traps.

    The ocean is a great idea. Don't forget to stock up on supplies, fuel, and fishing supplies - and remember that zombies can live under water, and occasionally float!!

    Thanks for the comment,
    Justin
  • smartwentcrazy · 1 year ago
    The thing about the ocean that bugs me (besides the whole floating zombie thing) is hurricanes. What do you do? Where do you go for cover if your only way to land is thick with zombies and there's a cat 3 or worse headed your way? Not only that, but with communication being down, you wouldn't have any warning until the storm was right on top of you.
  • flowersjustin · 1 year ago
    Excellent points. And, to that I'd have to say that there are only so many things you can be prepared for. If you're in that situation, I think it's time to look down and make sure you're not wearing a Red Shirt.
  • smartwentcrazy · 1 year ago
    Haha! Sorry, planning for every possible disaster is a side effect from working at a disaster recovery center for a number of years and I get very indepth with my zombie thinking. Then I started writing a novel and did a google search. Imagine my surprise when I found I wasn't alone in my obsession!
  • Dana · 1 year ago
    In my opinion, I think the only logical place for survival would be a well-stocked, underground bomb shelter in the country. Yes, you'd have to live without sunlight and fresh air for months, even years, but if you planned ahead and rationed the food, you could survive. Perhaps, if you had time to prepare, you could put a periscope in your shelter that would allow you to look around up top and come up every now and again.

    I, for one, would avoid the big box stores. Any place that might attract a lot of people would be just as scary as the zombies. Eventually, people start to freak out and you either get "Lord of the Flies" or crazy evangelicals such as in Marcia Gay Harden "The Mist" - (brilliant performance, btw).

    I'd much rather face my fate outsmarting and hiding from zombies by myself or with a small group than have to deal with a bunch of freaked out crazies proclaiming that the attack was God's will, or even worse, proclaiming themselves as gods.
  • smartwentcrazy · 1 year ago
    I remember that Food Lion! It's something I was thinking of myself. And I imagine that flies and other bugs would be a huge problem too.