The popularity of TV shows like The Walking Dead and movies like World War Z are keeping the idea of zombies in the forefront of people’s minds. And that popularity is causing an increase in the number of experts who want to assure everyone that a zombie apocalypse could never occur.
Honestly, though, what’s the penalty iif they’re wrong? It’s like the expert who says the Earth could never be destroyed by global warming. If he’s wrong, who’s going to be around to call him out on it?
So while it’s a long shot that you’ll ever need to put together survival kits and understand zombie behavior to survive a zombie apocalypse, what’s the harm in having the knowledge? And if those experts prove to be right about the impossibility of the existence of zombies, at least you’ll have a good chance to win some bar bets with your inside information.
Zombie Movement
If movies and TV shows have provided any useful knowledge, it’s that most zombies can’t keep up with a human over a short distance. Sure, some movies portray zombies with great speed, certainly faster than a walking human, who moves at about 3 steps per second. And World War Z moviegoers saw zombies that could outrun a human, who can sprint at about 6 steps per second.
But most movies portray zombies who can’t move faster than a walking human. It’s that ability to avoid getting tired and needing to sleep that allows the zombie to pursue the human relentlessly
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Zombie Expansion
The University of Ottawa mathematics department has developed zombie population expansion models based on outbreak scenarios described in movies. While the models are semi-serious, the math behind them is all serious. The time units remain constant from model to model. The various models are as follows:
- Basic outbreak, no organized human response. Zombies outnumber humans within a span of about 3 time units. Humans are nearly eradicated within about 4 time units.
- Outbreak with latent infection. Zombies outnumber humans in about 5.5 time units. Humans are nearly eradicated in about 7 time units.
- Outbreak with quarantine attempt. Zombies outnumber humans in about 6.5 time units. Humans are nearly eradicated in about 7.5 time units.
- Outbreak with development of a cure. Zombies outnumber humans in about 6 time units. Humans reach their lowest survival numbers in about 7 time units, but a much more significant number of humans survive than in other models.
Collecting Food Supplies
While the statistics and models referenced above are best guesses – after all, we can’t study zombies until they appear – there are aspects of dealing with a zombie apocalypse that are easier to predict, based on real-world statistics. For example, finding supplies in a zombie attack will be vital for your immediate and long-term survival, as will having supplies on hand.
If finding food is your goal–which it most definitely should be–keep different grocery stores in mind for which you should be on the lookout. And if you’re lucky enough that you do find food:
- Perishable groceries. People have an average of 9 days of supplies on hand.
- Non-perishable groceries. People have an average of 13.5 days of supplies on hand.
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Also consider some options listed in the attached infographic, including food with extended life spans, such as canned and dried items, nuts, meal bars, soups, or jerky. Serious survivalists also may look for survival kit food options, which will last for several months.
If you’re planning on finding fresh food several months after the outbreak starts you’re almost certainly going to be out of luck. The remaining humans will be battling for any remaining resources, and zombies will have eradicated most sources of fresh meat. And after the season 5 opening episode of The Walking Dead, we discovered what will happen to cannibals during a zombie apocalypse, so food from survival kits is your best bet!
