Do you think you'd survive the first 48 hours?

Paddy Cow · 26-04-2014 6:14pm #1

So we all have our plans to survive the apocalypse. We've stockpiled supplies and know we'd have to get out of suburbia pretty quick. However, what happens if you are not safe and cosy in your fortress with your family? Say you were in a busy shopping centre in the city centre and suddenly some infected burst in and started attacking other people. Would you freeze and become zombie chow or would you be able to act quick enough to get to safety? Take into account there would be mass panic, you would be unarmed and initially it might not hit you what is happening. After awhile I'm sure we would become desensitised to killing zombies but what if the person you were with turned and attacked you. Would you be able to act quick enough to kill them or would shock and revulsion stop you from acting?

While I like to think I would, I'm not sure I would survive. I hate violence and in the initial chaos I think I would panic and make a lot of mistakes or be unable to fight my way out. How do other boardies think they'd cope?

Taxburden carrier · 26-04-2014 6:19pm

Already dealing with zombies in suburbia, banging on the door and looking for votes

degrassinoel · 26-04-2014 8:55pm

read the charter, stick to the topic.

cerastes · 26-04-2014 9:05pm

Depends, if you were at the epicentre of the breakout then getting away from it in any direction would do, but if it was happening all around you, you could be running to worse trouble, so picking up weapons on the go
fend em off with a mannequin? probably not a success,

Unless you can make a quick escape and get motor transport out to somewhere secure, then anyone running around in a mob could get taken down, especially if trying to move a group. Lock yourself in a shop with a small entrance and barricade the door, preferably a hardware or sports shop and hope there is a back door out.
Check everyone and finish off any zombies in there using a group attack,

are these fastmoving zombies or slow?

Guy:Incognito · 27-04-2014 10:34am

Shopping centre would be ideal . Flip a trolley and turtle out of there is your own little tank.

Tzar Chasm · 28-04-2014 2:25pm

The initial 30 Minutes after you become aware of the situation is the critical point, if you can Survive that then the next 47.5 hours should be a doddle depending on how quickly you became aware of the problem and how well you reacted to it.

Lets face it if you havent got your snit together in the first half hour you are just a Z snack. ideally you should have a plan formulated and enacted after 90 seconds, and this shouldnt take more than half an hour to be operational.

Tzar Chasm · 28-04-2014 2:40pm

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Shopping centre would be ideal . Flip a trolley and turtle out of there is your own little tank.

this gives me an idea, how about some form of portable 'Shark Cage' armour?

heres a quick mockup, basicly 3 shopping trolleys, fromed into a rolling cage, you can make a few secureable flaps so as to stick your legs out the bottom for propulsion and one to shove an arm out to pick stuff up, if you had some form of long pointy metal bar in there with you it should be easy enough to dispatch any Z's that got too close

cerastes · 28-04-2014 3:13pm

If they wait while you hacksaw up a few trollies, doesnt noise attract?
Other than that I can only see one achilles heel to this armour.

Tzar Chasm · 28-04-2014 3:23pm

Well, The assumption would be that you were in a secure enough location before you started, I wouldn't recommend trying to do this in an aldi carpark with a horde bearing down on you.

whats my achilles heel?

ScumLord · 28-04-2014 4:14pm

I don't think it's going to go down that fast, we're talking about a disease here and the likes of a virus needs at least 3 days to start having an effect on the human body.

The idea a zombie can bite someone and they instantly turn into a mutant is just a fantasy. Biology doesn't really work that fast, especially not for viruses that want a host to live in, it's intention is never really to kill its host.

So I don't really see a situation where you'll be walking around everythings normal and next thing you know there's zombies everywhere. It just won't happen like that.

what would be likely is the outbreak has been ongoing for week, international trade has ground to a halt, people have been staying indoors but are now desperate for food. The zombies best weapon in this situation is to not be obvious, being infectious while not showing signs is when a virus is at it's most dangerous. So you would have the fear of not knowing who's infectious and who isn't but hunger forces you into a crowded situation. If someone did go from infected to full blown zombie it would cause instant panic, but not in the way we see in films.

Kromdar · 28-04-2014 10:19pm

Your average supermarket employee will go to work with a cold, flu etc, unless they're really sick. Or hung over. The idea of not making a days wage will make you do funny things. I've done it, as a former supermarket employee. The problem is when the virus is in its infancy and one of these guys just tries to ignore it and goes to work. To elaborate a bit more, I'll give a "for instance"...

You're at a supermarket or shopping centre in a fairly populated town or suburb (sorry rural dwellers, you decided to go christmas shopping in the big town today). You're browsing, as you do, and a staff only door breaks open and a few screaming staff (was that one bleeding?) break out of the room.

Now as it turns out, Jonny over there decided to go inter-railing across Cambodia, with a dozen or so mates from work, where you've heard recently there was some sort of trouble with a new swine flu. Jonny thinks he's gotten out before it all went down, and skipped a trip to the doctor when he came back with "that rash"... Now jonny is back in work, he's got a terrible cold (well, it is ireland) and he's been hanging out in the back stores trying to relax while avoiding the management. BAM. Be falls over, and 2 hours later, is up, and hungry for Debbie the checkout girl, but not in the usual way.

Cut back to now, you're witnessing this snarling maniac in front of you and maybe 20 other shoppers. You can hear screaming in the distance, this Isnt isolated.

GO.

Points to note

1) Its an unfamiliar environment, at least 50km away from your home town/suburb. You dont know the layout of the supermarket (lets keep this generic)

2) Stock Romero/pop sci fi fast shamblers. Incubation time 1-3 days. Transmission saliva/blood/aerosolized mucus.

3) you dont have a trusty weapon on you (you're planning to go out clubbing later or something, i dunno, you left the FUBAR in to the shop to get repaired

)

I think that would suit the Thread topic as a for instance. if not, can a mod mvoe it over to a scenario thread

cerastes · 29-04-2014 12:23am

Tzar Chasm wrote: »

Well, The assumption would be that you were in a secure enough location before you started, I wouldn't recommend trying to do this in an aldi carpark with a horde bearing down on you.

whats my achilles heel?

your achilles heels
and
if it toppled/got pushed over

Tzar Chasm · 30-04-2014 5:41pm

cerastes wrote: »

your achilles heels
and
if it toppled/got pushed over

I mentioned flaps so you could tuck in your arms and legs, if it topples over you just use the long bar to push yourself back up.

the more I think about it tho, I'd be inclined to try and incorporate some form of bicycle into the design. Any suggestions

john the one · 30-04-2014 7:44pm

Tzar Chasm wrote: »

I mentioned flaps so you could tuck in your arms and legs, if it topples over you just use the long bar to push yourself back up.

the more I think about it tho, I'd be inclined to try and incorporate some form of bicycle into the design. Any suggestions

What about steps and the safety mats that shopping centers use so the wheels of the trolley wibt turn and ye can't steal the trollies.

Also, you may be underestimating the weight of a trolley

Holsten · 30-04-2014 7:46pm

Depends where I am really.

Home/work then yes.

Really depends on location though.

Paddy Cow · 30-04-2014 8:13pm

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Shopping centre would be ideal . Flip a trolley and turtle out of there is your own little tank.

I have to say, the more I think about this idea, the more ingenious it becomes. Not only could I turtle my way out of there but so could all the people in my group. I know that it doesn't really offer any protection against a zombie but in the initial chaos there would be so much zed chow running around that they wouldn't notice a few of us sneakily making our way out.

Mr Incognito, you have the brilliance of MacGyver. I would like to offer you a position in my group.

Tzar Chasm · 30-04-2014 8:40pm

john the one wrote: »

What about steps and the safety mats that shopping centers use so the wheels of the trolley wibt turn and ye can't steal the trollies.

Also, you may be underestimating the weight of a trolley

The design would be self supporting, so weight is less of an issue, but yeah terrain woud be an issue, especially steps. Its a work in progress, I've exams to study for at the moment, but I might review the concept in a few weeks, or whenever I need to distract myself from multivariable calculus or electromagnetics.

Micky Dolenz · 30-04-2014 10:42pm

If you are relying on an upside down shopping trolley to save your arse you are as good as dead

.

I was actually in a very very busy shopping centre a few days ago and thought what would I do it it kicked off now. I then had a day dream about raising dead 2 and thought how cool that would be

In reality, I'd head to the many service area corridors. Top tip, follow signs for toilets and you'll find these "exits" into the work areas of the building. They will certainly be less populated. Pick up a highvis jacket as you travel. You'll blend in and security and staff will think it less likely that you are a would be looted. Remember, people will be in a state of panic. Panicked people are far more lethal than any Zeds.

Get out as quickly and quietly as you can.

If I were caught in a high populated area, stadium, concert, shopping centre, city centre, my chances of survival drop by about 36.5%.

john the one · 30-04-2014 11:05pm

Tzar Chasm wrote: »

The design would be self supporting, so weight is less of an issue, but yeah terrain woud be an issue, especially steps. Its a work in progress, I've exams to study for at the moment, but I might review the concept in a few weeks, or whenever I need to distract myself from multivariable calculus or electromagnetics.

not really if your looking at using a "stick" to prop yourself up again if you happen to fall over.

Although i will admit that the principle has something to it, a man powered portable humvee of sorts. keep the bottom wide and very low, try make it out of some form of alloy.

Could a prototype be made i wonder

RiderOnTheStorm · 27-05-2014 11:59am

If we take the most dangerous situation, ie a very fast spreading virus (seconds / minutes) and you are in a shopping centre or cinema (dense population, and away from your bug-out-bag / shelter / vehicle) ..... then I think your priority is to survive the first hour. The next 47 will take care of themselves. I think (no practical experience of a ZA!) that height will be your saving in the first 60 mins. Get up a tree, or up into the beams / air-con pipes of the cinema / shopping centre. To all expectations, Z's dont climb. Always keep an eye out for an upward exit wherever you go .... thats my thinking anyway.

PucaMama · 27-05-2014 6:43pm

Kromdar wrote: »

Your average supermarket employee will go to work with a cold, flu etc, unless they're really sick. Or hung over. The idea of not making a days wage will make you do funny things. I've done it, as a former supermarket employee. The problem is when the virus is in its infancy and one of these guys just tries to ignore it and goes to work. To elaborate a bit more, I'll give a "for instance"...

You're at a supermarket or shopping centre in a fairly populated town or suburb (sorry rural dwellers, you decided to go christmas shopping in the big town today). You're browsing, as you do, and a staff only door breaks open and a few screaming staff (was that one bleeding?) break out of the room.

Now as it turns out, Jonny over there decided to go inter-railing across Cambodia, with a dozen or so mates from work, where you've heard recently there was some sort of trouble with a new swine flu. Jonny thinks he's gotten out before it all went down, and skipped a trip to the doctor when he came back with "that rash"... Now jonny is back in work, he's got a terrible cold (well, it is ireland) and he's been hanging out in the back stores trying to relax while avoiding the management. BAM. Be falls over, and 2 hours later, is up, and hungry for Debbie the checkout girl, but not in the usual way.

Cut back to now, you're witnessing this snarling maniac in front of you and maybe 20 other shoppers. You can hear screaming in the distance, this Isnt isolated.

GO.

Points to note

1) Its an unfamiliar environment, at least 50km away from your home town/suburb. You dont know the layout of the supermarket (lets keep this generic)

2) Stock Romero/pop sci fi fast shamblers. Incubation time 1-3 days. Transmission saliva/blood/aerosolized mucus.

3) you dont have a trusty weapon on you (you're planning to go out clubbing later or something, i dunno, you left the FUBAR in to the shop to get repaired )

I think that would suit the Thread topic as a for instance. if not, can a mod mvoe it over to a scenario thread

fast shamblers or fast runners? the shamblers yes id survive but not the fast runners

bushball · 27-05-2014 6:46pm

RiderOnTheStorm wrote: »

If we take the most dangerous situation, ie a very fast spreading virus (seconds / minutes) and you are in a shopping centre or cinema (dense population, and away from your bug-out-bag / shelter / vehicle) ..... then I think your priority is to survive the first hour. The next 47 will take care of themselves. I think (no practical experience of a ZA!) that height will be your saving in the first 60 mins. Get up a tree, or up into the beams / air-con pipes of the cinema / shopping centre. To all expectations, Z's dont climb. Always keep an eye out for an upward exit wherever you go .... thats my thinking anyway.

Climbing could backfire though, sure you might avoid the intial chaos but when things die down you'll be surrounded be zeds with little chance of escape if even just one sees you

RiderOnTheStorm · 27-05-2014 9:30pm

bushball wrote: »

...but when things die down you'll be surrounded be zeds with little chance of escape if even just one sees you

yup, thats a risk. But you will be safe up there while you come up with a plan. And they might get bored, or distracted by other survivors / runners / fresh-meat.

The risk of running away while the mob gets infected is much higher (imho). One trip, one lucky grasp by a Z, one wrong turn .... and its over.

southcentralts · 03-06-2014 2:40pm

I would give myself pretty good odds of surviving the first 48 hours, weapon and git teh fook outta dodge, using the most uncommon travel possible, steal a boat or float down river in a barrel.

bushball · 03-06-2014 3:01pm

Reading too much 'Apocalypse Z' are we

southcentralts · 03-06-2014 3:08pm

Ain't nobody got no time for book learning's while zombies be on the loose.

But to escape a populated area during a zombie outbreak using standard modes of transport would be suicide. If in Dublin for the outbreak, just how far down the road do you think you would get before encountering a blocked road, everyone jumped up on adrenaline driving as fast as possible. There is no need to move at top speed, just travel the right way - along a railway line with a weapon to deal with any z's you encounter and you will be fine. The less people you encounter the less zombies, sticking with the herd will get you killed.

Tzar Chasm · 03-06-2014 6:13pm

Especialy when that herd becomes a horde.

Micky Dolenz · 03-06-2014 6:19pm

Where I live now is zombie/ people proof. No way they could get in unless I let them.

Now to stock up on 6 months food and drinks, sorted.

john the one · 03-06-2014 6:19pm

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Where I live now is zombie/ people proof. No way they could get in unless I let them.

Now to stock up on 6 months food and drinks, sorted.

Where is that?

Micky Dolenz · 03-06-2014 6:25pm

Well, location is a bit of a problem. I live in Rome so it's population heavy. My apartment is on top floor with two entrances. One directly off a lift, the other onto a stair case. Both doors are heavy metal with 8 locking bolts fitted in. All windows and doors to the terrace have shutters fitted. They are electrical so not much use to me. Hardly needed anyway. If someone managed to get on to the terrace, they deserve to get in.

Paddy Cow · 03-06-2014 6:51pm

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Where I live now is zombie/ people proof. No way they could get in unless I let them.

Now to stock up on 6 months food and drinks, sorted.

That's great but what happens if you are not at your apartment when the sh1t hits the fan? What if you make your way back only to find other people have taken it over? Having a good zed proof base is a start but it doesn't help you if you aren't in it!

Micky Dolenz · 03-06-2014 6:57pm

There is little chance of people occupying my gaff without keys. I suppose the old porter guy could get in. I may need to neutralize him now or maybe just get the keys he has off him.

If I were far from home I probably wouldn't try to get back. I'd hit the road and make for the sticks. This would not be ideal as my local knowledge is poor and the plan would need to be constantly improvised. Not a good place to be.

Paddy Cow · 03-06-2014 7:04pm

I have the same problem. My place is fairly secure and private and would serve me well if I was at home when things went wrong. It I was out and about though, I don't know how I would fair.

Being trapped in a big city would be a nightmare and severely reduce your chances of getting out. If you knew the city, that would be a small advantage but if you were just visiting for the day you would be fcuked. I think the best bet in that scenario would be to head to the sewers and try to meander out of the city by going under it and head for the country. Zombies never seem to look down.

ScumLord · 04-06-2014 3:32pm

Paddy Cow wrote: »

Being trapped in a big city would be a nightmare and severely reduce your chances of getting out.

Your pretty much screwed if you're stuck in a city when the poop hits the fan.

I don't think anything can happen that quickly though. You'll have days to deal with the problem.

john the one · 05-06-2014 3:57am

ScumLord wrote: »

You'll have days to deal with the problem.

What happens when we assume?

ScumLord · 05-06-2014 12:12pm

john the one wrote: »

What happens when we assume?

It's not really an assumption, its just based on the fact a virus can't take over in the space of a few hours. Even the fastest acting virus needs around 3 days as far as I'm aware.

There are physical limitations that make instantaneous transformation virtually impossible. Even if it was possible it would be a completely self limiting thing for a virus to do, with instantaneous transformation or even if it happens within a day the virus just won't be able to spread. It would get stopped pretty much where it started.

Under normal circumstances the virus will spread hidden and by the time it shows symptoms it would have jumped continents.

RiderOnTheStorm · 05-06-2014 9:37pm

ScumLord wrote: »

...Even if it was possible it would be a completely self limiting thing for a virus to do, with instantaneous transformation or even if it happens within a day the virus just won't be able to spread. It would get stopped pretty much where it started....

Thats if its a natural virus. If it was man-made (like Rage) or an alien virus, it could behave very differently. Its not as if we are dealing with a known virus. There are zombie-like viruses out there, but its not the known stuff that will cause the Zombie Apocalypse (imho), but rather a new and different virus.

degrassinoel · 06-06-2014 12:09am

RiderOnTheStorm wrote: »

Thats if its a natural virus. If it was man-made (like Rage) or an alien virus, it could behave very differently. Its not as if we are dealing with a known virus. There are zombie-like viruses out there, but its not the known stuff that will cause the Zombie Apocalypse (imho), but rather a new and different virus.

or a wizard!

RiderOnTheStorm · 06-06-2014 12:29pm

degrassinoel wrote: »

or a wizard!

...or voodoo!

Tzar Chasm · 06-06-2014 1:31pm

What about a walking dead type airborne virus, so it takes the first 48 hours to infect, then once you die, instant zombification

ScumLord · 06-06-2014 1:36pm

RiderOnTheStorm wrote: »

Thats if its a natural virus. If it was man-made (like Rage) or an alien virus, it could behave very differently.

Not really, if it's a virus it's going to work a particular way, you have to remember to a virus your body is a continent, it can't travel from one end to the other and do the work it needs to do in hours, it is a physical process limited by physical and chemical processes.

I'll have to look into it again but I'm pretty sure a virus can't even begin it's work proper for the first three days inside a body.

There is a very real physical limitation that would prevent a virus working that fast. I think if you want something instant you'd need to look to something like a bacteria that could produce some sort of venom/chemical drug. The venom will give you fast acting behaviour changes and the bacteria will do the important work of taking over the host.

A virus is probably to destructive and specific to zombify things, bacteria is much more complicated and as we know is good at manufacturing and converting things into other things.

Paddy Cow · 06-06-2014 2:43pm

A 28 Days Later type virus only takes 20 seconds to infect someone.

ScumLord · 06-06-2014 5:00pm

Paddy Cow wrote: »

A 28 Days Later type virus only takes 20 seconds to infect someone.

Yes, but that was a movie, in the real world 20 seconds is so far beyond the realms of possibility that it's really not worth worrying about.

RiderOnTheStorm · 06-06-2014 5:32pm

Maybe it will be a virus. Maybe it will be bacteria. Maybe it will be nanites controlling our brains. It may not be the traditional zombie experience. I find it best to plan for the worst. I hope I am planning for all versions (including the ones that are not currently possible). If I am wrong, and its a 3 day bite-me-virus, then I will be ahead of the game. If you are wrong ...... ;-)

ScumLord · 06-06-2014 5:48pm

RiderOnTheStorm wrote: »

If you are wrong ...... ;-)

Unless the laws of physics change I'm not wrong.

Sorry for being pedantic but I'm just that kind of bollox.

Micky Dolenz · 06-06-2014 6:04pm

The creation of Zeds would need a physics and biology change.

kiffer · 06-06-2014 6:24pm

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

The creation of Zeds would need a physics and biology change.

Except for that fungus that makes zombie ants...
or that worm that makes zombie snails.
Or toxoplasmosis which makes mice and rats attracted to cat urine so that they can get eaten so its life cycle can complete inside the cats stomach...

ScumLord · 06-06-2014 8:15pm

kiffer wrote: »

Except for that fungus that makes zombie ants...
or that worm that makes zombie snails.
Or toxoplasmosis which makes mice and rats attracted to cat urine so that they can get eaten so its life cycle can complete inside the cats stomach...

there is a Wasp that uses its venom to turn cockroaches into zombies so their larva can eat them.

AlanS181824 · 10-06-2014 3:04am

This has to be my new favourite forum!

On topic, I think I would survive at least the first 48 hours anyway as I'm relatively athletic so escape should be easy enough, as for being violent eh...

Not so much :pac:

Kess73 · 10-06-2014 11:06am

Of course there is the response time of the emergency services/government etc to take into account. A fast acting virus might need a minimum of three days, but how quickly would a nationwide reaction to anything be? Plus what are the chances of something being reported or seen as some sort of flu outbreak.

Then once we have the dead or infected starting to wander about there will no doubt be a mixture of either blind panic or media spin that could allow an outbreak the chance to get a foothold.

Then we also have to look into the chance of an outbreak not being one that consists of the truly undead, but rather simply being one of "changed" humans. So we could be talking anything from a Romero style shuffler to a 28 Day Later style Rage sprinter.

The slower the infected, the better the chances of surviving the earlier stages obviously enough, but what will give people the best chance of surving any sort of outbreak will always boil down to one simply thing. Location at the moment when the outbreak gains a true foothold.

Paddy Cow · 10-06-2014 3:33pm

ScumLord wrote: »

Yes, but that was a movie, in the real world 20 seconds is so far beyond the realms of possibility that it's really not worth worrying about.

A fast acting virus is unbelievable but zombies are?

Do you think you'd survive the first 48 hours?

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