According to conspiracy theorists everywhere, this week marks the end of the world as we know it - and, while we might be a little sceptical, there’s no harm in being prepared.
So, as a blood moon swells in the sky, the world is riddled with natural disasters, and a meteorite supposedly plummets towards our little blue planet, Travis Bradberry, author of Zombie novel Cryonic, has shared his five top tips on how to survive a zombie apocalypse.
From location to weapons, this is the only survival guide you’ll ever need – that is, if you’re not lucky enough to have The Walking Dead’s Rick Grimes as your companion.
- Pick a good location
Find somewhere safe - and hole up!
Travis explain: "Like real estate, location is everything to surviving never-ending zombie hordes. Many great sounding locations are ultimately traps. If it has one door (a bank vault, and RV) then your security will be you demise once there are more zombies outside than you can fight through. If it’s small and lacks visibility (a farm house) then it doesn’t matter how many doors you have because you can still get surrounded.
"The best location? A brick office building of about four stories. Most have fewer windows to board up than a house, a great, high vantage point, and multiples exits and floors through which to manoeuver in a hasty effort."
- Pick good weapons
Make sure you're armed AND dangerous.
Travis explains: "As appealing as that AK-47 looks on television, you won’t be able to shoot it with enough accuracy to get the head shots needed to survive. Same with a handgun. Doesn’t hurt to have it but if you think you can just kill shot your way through a dozen zombies you’ll be mistaken (and devoured).
"A handheld weapon that yields kill shots and is easy to swing (like a sword, machete, or crowbar) is your best friend."
- Pick good company
Make friends with the right people - you need to be able to TRUST the folk you're with will make the right decisions in a life-or-death situation.
Travis explains: "You know that friend of yours that’s a little too into weapons and survival? He’s the first person you should seek out in an apocalypse. Your mum, your best friend, and your little brother are going to make sentimental decisions that will get you killed.
"Pick people that are crazy enough to make logical decisions with no remorse. Then get on their good side."
- Have a water source
Don't underestimate water. Not having enough of that stuff will kill you quicker than the zombies will.
Travis explains: "A lack of water will kill you much faster than a lack of food, and most anything (think bugs) becomes food when you really need it. But there’s no substitute for fresh water, and you’ll drink up an entire grocery store’s (which come to think of it might make a good location for #1) worth in time.
"If there isn’t a fresh water source near your hideout, you better find another hideout."
- Stay away from people you don’t know
STRANGER DANGER, GUYS!!! It's very real.
Travis explains: "They are the only thing that will kill you faster than zombies or a lack of water. Once the excrement hits the proverbial fan, the only people you can trust (most of the time) are people you know. Most people you don’t know will kill you to get the great stuff you’ve accumulated in steps 1-4.
"Rick learnt this lesson the hard way when he encountered the cannibalistic survivors at The Terminus."
THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON IS AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY™ AND DVD ON AMAZON NOW.