How to Escape Zombies using Three Dimensions

When you are outnumbered and on the run from a horde of mindless Zombies, you need to think your way to an escape.  While Zombies have a drive to close with you and eat you, they aren't good at predicting your next move.  Zombies also aren't good at performing complex functions like climbing, crawling, or squeezing around obstacles.  If you can think about escaping in multiple directions and get out of the box, you can elude Zombies.

Zombie Flash Mob in London - http://www.cgpgrey.com [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Up to Escape Zombies

Sometimes, you can climb to escape Zombies.  For example, you can use a ladder to climb to a roof, pull the ladder up after you, and then escape from the other side of the building.  Similarly, you may be able to use a fire escape or steep cliff face to get up and away from Zombies.

Fire escapes in Cincinnati. Photo shot by Derek Jensen (Tysto), 2005-August-09 {{cc-by-2.0}}

Fire escapes in Cincinnati. Photo shot by Derek Jensen (Tysto), 2005-August-09 {{cc-by-2.0}} 

Down to Escape Zombies

In The Walking Dead, Glenn famously hides under a rolling trash dumpster to elude a horde of zombies.  Earlier in the series, Rick and his party crawled and hid under a tank.  Zombies may not immediately grasp that their prey has executed a complex move to exit from an area.  Instead, they will tend to mill about where they last saw their prey.  Unfortunately, they can mill about for an uncomfortably long time.

By Paul Sableman (Blue Sewer Lid) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Squeezing Through Obstacles

Zombies also do not seem to search exhaustively or methodically for the humans they seek.  You don't see them looking into dumpsters, searching closets, slithering into crawlspaces or climbing into attics.  They typically seem to push into obstacles to find humans when they are attracted by movement, light, or sound.  If you can squeeze through a gate, under a fence, or through an open window, they may take quite some time to figure out how to follow you.

A gap in a fence might be an escape! Photo by David Lally [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

If you are on the run from Zombies, a tool to cut through obstacles can prove worth it.

Inexpensive Weapons for the Zombie Apocalypse

Prepping for the Zombie Apocalypse is not the highest priority in most households.  When it comes to the family budget, money spent on prepping can be hard to come buy during an average pay period.  If you are like most people, you have to think about prepping on the cheap and you have to think about building your supplies up incrementally.  Every pay period, you buy just a little something that makes you more prepared than you were the prior week.  Here are just a few things you can do to get ready and get ready cheap.

During a Zombie Apocalypse Any Club will do!

When it comes to Zombie Apocalypse (ZPOC) weapons, it might seem impossible to get a cheap and effective weapon when you are on a tight budget.  However, you can get a weapon for less than $10.  Harbor Freight Tools usually has an 8-inch survival knife for only $8.  It has a compartment in the handle with matches, a fishing line, and a couple of hooks.  You can find what appears to be the same knife here online and even save money on gas.



Another inexpensive weapon for the Zombie Apocalypse is the baseball bat.  You can likely find well-used baseball bats for less than $10 each at your local thrift store.  I have found baseball bats for less than $5 at a variety of thrift stores in my area.

ESPN Anchor Mary Rivera -photo by Elba Maldonado (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Once you've got your weapon situation sorted out, don't forget to stock up on food staples for the long siege.