Shelter During Zombie Outbreak

by Denny
(Dayton, OH, USA)

Zombie Master,

Since you hold the title of Zombie Master, I guess that knocks me down to #2. I have read a lot of your entries here and must say you definitely know your zombies.

I have had a fascination with zombies since I was a little kid and it keeps growing stronger and stronger. I have read The Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z numerous times now and am ready for an outbreak. I have all of my own personal opinions about what I am going to do when there is an outbreak and out of all of them I have one that I wanted your opinion on. Shelter.

If there was an outbreak and there is only 2 places left go for shelter, where would you choose? The options are first Walmart, which has food, liquids, clothing, descent amount of weaponry (but watch your ammo count), and comfort, but not much to barricade yourself in with or to barricade the doors. Second there is Home Depot, which doesn't have clothing, doesn't have food, most likely has water fountains for hydration, but has lots of weaponry to defend yourself with that doesn't require ammunition which is very helpful and has plenty of supplies to make sure nothing or no one is getting in there after you. You can't move to another area, those are the 2 options, which would you choose?

Denny - Dayton, OH, USA

Denny,

I would like to begin by thanking you for the kind words and to encourage you to remain vigilant in your preparations because you may be the only one in Dayton that is up to speed on the latest tactics. This isn't The Highlander, there can be more than one.

Now to your question: Hypothetically.
My first response is to say Home Depot mainly because I practically live there already and I know the place like the back of my hand. One problem that cannot be dismissed however is the lack of a food section. Survival must be our first priority and it will not matter how many stoves you have in the appliance section if there is nothing to cook on them.

I do not know what kind of Walmart you have in Dayton, but in Millington, TN we have a SUPER Walmart. Half of the store is groceries. So, The back of the store has heavy access doors that are easily locked and blocked. The front has two double entrances that will need to be barricaded but the panels from the desks and bookshelves in the Home Decor area along with saws, drills and hammers from the Hardware and Tools area will make short work of them. The Garden center will have to be strengthened but we do not want to block it because we will want to use the grills outside. They have a good sized Automotive section with a three bay garage for upkeep of the transportation, that is until the gas runs out. They have a well stocked Pharmacy for illnesses and injuries. The Sporting Goods section has a good supply of rifles, shotguns, and ammo and when they run out don't forget the drills, hammers, and saws that we used to barricade the place. Bats, golf clubs, pool cues, tire irons, Celine Dion CD's, all of these can be used rather efficiently as weapons when the gun ammo starts to dwindle.

I mentioned the word "Hypothetically" earlier. The reason is that when the inevitable happens and the zombies start to take over I will going "Ted Kaczynski" on everyone and going to a remote cabin that is well stocked and become the "hunter-gatherer" that every red blooded male was born to be.

Good hunting and aim high,

The Zombie Master