Zombie
Apocalypse Preparation II
So we’ve talked about brains (thinking your way through various scenarios) and conditioning. These are just two tools of survival although two very important ones. Then there is the gear you’d need and I’m not talking about what gear for the base camp or sanctuary, it’s about what gear to take on foraging operations.
The first thing is to pack light – the heavier you pack, the less
endurance you have if you run into something.
Plus, there is the mobility factor to consider. Having a large heavy pack on makes it a bit
hard to bob-and-weave. It’s also
something that can get snagged on something or be grabbed. There is not really only one way to do
something but this is only intended to inspire the creative and thinking
process. It’s a matter of preference for
each person.
If you don’t have something that goes “bang”, forget going out in my
opinion. Yeah, sorry for all the Brits
reading this. I certainly sympathize
with you. Distance and force are your best
option for a primary weapon. Make sure
it’s accurate, has decent range, and you don’t have to reload between
rounds. Yep, semi-auto is the best in my
opinion. The caliber is up to the
individual but it should be based on your ability to wield it and get back on
another target quickly. It’s not much
use if your weapon launches you into the next block each time you fire it –
although that may be a good evasion tactic.
My preference is either the .223/5.56 or .308 version of an AR-15
variant. It’s light, durable, good
range, accurate, and I’m quite familiar with the weapon. I can break it down and clean it in an
instant. The maintenance is a breeze. Now, if you can get into an armory, so much
the better. An auto is nice, along with
the multitude of gear that can be found J. Auto only works though if accuracy is not
fully required. Headshots will be
limited if multiple rounds are leaving the barrel. Get familiar and accurate with whatever you
choose.
A handgun is a nice option for a secondary weapon. Again, the caliber is a personal preference
but I prefer the 9mm as it’s a nice combination between stopping power and
accuracy. Plus, you can carry more
rounds in the mag. I would also carry a
crowbar just for the purposes of getting into locked doors of a building. This would make pretty short work for
that. Yes, a machete and knives for that
last stand moment. No way would I enter
a melee with a machete by choice. Now
this is assuming you are fighting zombies.
Keep in mind there will be bad other bad guys out there as well.
Additional items to think about:
A multi-tool
A small coil of insulated wire
A long coil of 550 cord – parachute cord
D-rings
Dehydrated food and water in case you have to hole up for a few days
Flashlight – attached to your primary weapon
Batteries for the flashlight and whatever optics you are using
NVG’s are always a nice thing to have
Compass
Binoculars
Laminated map of the area
Radio – each member should have one
Tac vest or flak vest if bad guys are around
Gloves – thick enough to not cause rope burns
Leather coverings for the arms and shins – or similar
These are just a few thoughts and only give a glimpse. The main purpose is to just think about
possible scenarios and have the gear to open up options just in case. Avoidance, stealth, and quiet are the best
options. Just don’t weigh yourself down
covering every option.
John O'Brien is a
former Air Force fighter instructor pilot who transitioned to Special
Operations for the latter part of his career gathering his campaign ribbon for
Desert Storm. Immediately following his military service, John became a
firefighter/EMT with a local
department. Along with becoming a firefighter, he fell into the Information
Technology industry starting two large casinos in Washington as the Information
Technology Manager and becoming the Network Manager for the Washington State
Legislature, the Northwest Information Technology Manager for the Federal
Aviation Administration, and the Network Systems Manager for Hollywood Video.
Currently, John is self employed with his own Information Technology consulting
company consulting and managing various businesses with their information
technology needs. He also volunteers for a local youth center managing their
computer lab. As a former marathon runner, John lives in the beautiful Pacific
Northwest and can now be found kayaking out in the waters of Puget Sound,
mountain biking in the Capital Forest, hiking in the Olympic Peninsula, or
pedaling his road bike along the many scenic roads.
Web Site
http://anewworldseries.com/Facebook Profile
http://www.facebook.com/JohnWBOBrien
Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/A_NewWorldBooks
A New World: Chaos
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004W0CL2Y
A New World: Return
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005OSXDE8
A New World: Sanctuary
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006PY6ZAY
A New World: Taken
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007NP3XUE
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All six of us -
Todd Brown, Mark Tufo, Ian Woodhead, Armand Rosamilia, John O'Brien and Dave
Jeffery - hope you'll keep following us on the Summer of Zombie blog tour, and
comment as we go along.
