U.S. Zombie Tactical Squad

The worst case scenario has occurred.  Your safe house has been compromised, your backup is overrun by the living dead or was take over by another group, and you’re stuck with nowhere else to go.

You and your team are still alive, but now you find yourself on the run and in danger of being found by the wandering zombie hordes.  What do you do?  Where do you go?  What do you bring.

Today we focus on that final question as it is probably the most important one.  If you have the right supplies your destination will not be as important.  In fact, many have survived through a zombie infestation without a permanent shelter, utilizing instead, mobility over defense.

Here are lists of items you should have whether you’re on your own, or with a group.

On your Own

No one wants to find themselves alone during a zombie outbreak and if you can, you should join the first group of (non-hostile) humans you can find.  Safety in number is key.  But what if you’re caught unattached during an outbreak?  Get supplies, and get moving.  Get as far from population centers as possible, and bring the following items:

• 1-2 Machete
• Small Caliber Handgun (9mm preferred)
• 250 Rounds handgun ammunition*
• 12-Gauge Shotgun
• 100 Rounds shotgun ammunition
• Rifle
• 500 Rounds rifle ammunition
• Multi-tool
• Compass
• Water Filter with extra cartridges
• Fire Starter
• Travel First Aid Kit
• Bedroll or Sleeping Bag (not both)
• One extra change of clothing**
• 1-5 6″ Hunting Knife
• 50′ Climbing Rope
• 25 Carabiners
• 1 Crowbar
• As much food as you can carry
• Multi-Vitamins
• Cash (as much as you can get your hands on)
• Book on edible plants
• The Zombie Survival Guide

This may seem like a lot of gear, and it is.  You’ll need every piece of it.  You’ll need a crowbar as a secondary weapon and to help you open doors or windows that would otherwise be inaccessible to you.  Weapons should be brought to protect yourself, extra clothing in case of tears or the destruction of your current outfit, etc.

Since you will most likely be travelling alone because you were not at home where you have gear stored, getting these items may be difficult.  Many of them will be available at any camping or military surplus store in your area.  If you’re caught away from home during an outbreak, head there first.

Even a regular retail store (e.g., Target or Wal-Mart) will have some of these items.  If it’s safe, get them there and then get out.  Eventually more people are going to have the same idea as you and head to these stores to get supplied.  Pay for what you have to and then get moving.

Collect any other necessary gear on your way.  Pulling items out of abandoned homes, stores, vehicles, or even off a slain zombie should be considered viable options.  Do not try to take something from another human.  Fighting amongst ourselves is not going to allow anyone to survive.

In a Group

Of course travelling in a group is preferred over making any trek alone.  You have someone to watch your back, you can sleep securely knowing that someone is on watch, and more importantly, humans are social animals and we need somebody to talk to or we’ll go insane.

On top of these reasons travelling in a group allows you to carry fewer supplies per person and thus carry more that will help you once you get to the destination of your choosing.  Here is a list of what your group should be carrying if you’re forced to move:

• 1 Machete/person
• 1 Small Caliber Handgun/person (9mm preferred)
• 100 Rounds handgun ammunition per weapon
• 1 12-Gauge Shotgun/Group of three
• 25 Round shotgun ammunition per weapon
• 1 Rifle/person
• 100 Rounds rifle ammunition per weapon
• 1 Multitool/person
• 1 Compass/Group of five
• 1 Water Filter with extra cartridges/Group of three
• 1 Fire Starter/person
• 1 Large First Aid kit/Group of five
• 1 Bedroll or Sleeping Bag/person
• 1 Extra change of clothing/person**
• 1 6″ Hunting Knife/person
• 100′ Climbing Rope/Group of three
• 10 Carabiners/person
• 1 Crowbar/Group of five
• As much food as your group can carry
• Multi-Vitamins
• Cash (as much as you can get your hands on)
• Small precious items (e.g., gold rings, jewels) for trade
• Books on edible plants
• The Zombie Survival Guide
• Other educational books

One quick note about the small precious items.  Never carry more than will fit in a rolled up pair of socks, and never loot for items.  It’s dangerous, it’s stupid, and it will lead to your death or zombification.  If you find something or have something, fine, but never never never go looking for it.

Now back to the list.  You’ll see that a lot of people are carrying the same things a lone person should.  These are mainly defensive and personal items (clothing, bedrolls.)  You need as many weapons as you can safely carry to defend yourself against a zombie attack.  As for personal items, you’re probably not going to be able to fit into anyone else’s clothing so you’ll need to carry your own.

It’s the larger items (first aid kit, shotguns) that reduce each person’s carrying weight and increase the amount of food you’ll be able to take.  Food is, possibly, the most important thing you can carry with you.  Foraging will be necessary sometimes, that’s why you have the books on edible plants, and should be done to lengthen the stores you’re carrying with you.  But as much as nature provides, she may not be able to give you everything you need at the time your body needs it.  This is also why we recommend getting some multi-vitamins for your trip.

Again, procuring these items should not be too difficult if you’re in a populated area.  But as when travelling alone, you should get in, get what you need, and get moving as quickly as possible.  We’ll be discussing where to go and how to get there in future posts.

*If rifle and handgun are same caliber only recommend 500 total rounds

**Make sure your clothing is fit for the environment you plan on moving to.  Are you headed toward the mountains, the desert, the jungle?  What should you wear for these environments?

Photo Credits:  Katie Harris, Drew Brayshaw