Zombie Survival Kit: Getting prepared

So, you're now thinking about the coming Zombie Apocalypse. Good. Remain vigilant, or whatever. You should now be thinking about putting together a Zombie Survival kit.

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Now, I'm going to tell you something about me. I don't even have a stocked first aid kit, let alone a emergency preparedness kit. In fact, the other day I need a band-aid, and I didn't have any. I used a piece of gauze and scotch tape. Because that's how I roll. So this research I'm doing is as much for me as it is for you.

Lets talk very basic emergency kit and work our way up to our Holy-crap-it's-Zombie-time kit (What? What do you call your kit?).

The easiest way to start your Zombie Survival kit is to just go buy a ready made one. Look, here's some from Amazon:




Sure, you could probably just go buy all of this stuff for much cheaper, but it would more more time consuming and wouldn't come in a convenient package (some of them portable! very important for when you need to leave before the Zombies overrun your home). If you want to put it together yourself, you will need the following things at least: Water (and/or water purification tablets), Food (non-perishable!), Manual can opener (for your non-perishables), Crank flashlight (It would suck to be eaten by Zombies because you're out looting for batteries), crank radio, Extra keys, for house and car, a first aid kit, Cash in small bill and Special needs items - medications, baby formula and diapers, and equipment for people with disabilities.

Next, you'll want to add some or all of the following:

• Change of clothing and footwear for each person
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
• Pet food and pet medication
• Garbage bags and twist ties
• Multi-tool or basic tools (hammer, wrench, screwdriver, etc.)
• Duct tape
• Plastic sheeting
• Scissors or pocket knife
• Whistle
• Hand sanitizer
• Personal hygiene items
• Important family documents (copies of birth and marriage certificates, passports, licenses, wills, land deeds and insurance) 

Now you are ready for all disasters that are not zombies. Well, I guess you're prepared for the beginning part of the zombie uprising, assuming you've fortified your home. Or live in a fortress. Or a house on stilts. You could hunker down and wait out the initial panic. Of course, this also may not be the best idea, because it gives time for their numbers to grow. Anyway, if there's a hurricane you should be good and prepared.

Ok, lets talk weapons.

Obviously, you're going to need some weapons for zombie survival. First, I want you to remember: Guns are only as good as the person who is using it. Unlike shooting a regular human being, you need to be able to execute a head shot. Every time. Otherwise you'll just waste ammo and probably get yourself and everyone you love killed. This is not as easy as movies make it seem. If you know (no, not think, know) that you can do this, then you probably know way more about guns then I do, so I wont get into guns. You know what you need.

Now, for the rest of us.

Because we've had to rule out projectile weapons, we're going to have to get pretty close to the enemy to attack. For that reason, running is always a better option then fighting when it comes to zombie fights without guns. That being said, always be prepared to fight, just in case.

Here is a quick (kind of awful but very informative) video with some weapons you may want to consider:



You should keeps a few of these with your Zombie Survival kit. I'd also suggest stashing some around the house. You know, crowbar under the kitchen sink, baseball bat under the bed, machete in the bathroom drawer...those sorts of things. (This should go without saying: If you have children, please stash weapons responsibly!) And if you only remember one thing, make it this: as cool as hacking threw zombie brains with a chainsaw looks (totally epic), it's noisy and messy. You'll be alerting all the other zombies in range to your location and you'll probably get zombie blood in your mouth or eye or something. FYI: That would be bad.

That's really all you need in your kit, but there is always room for more.

Other items you may want to consider:

- Dust mask and safety glasses (You know, infected blood splatter and all.)
- Local map
- Compass
- Gas mask (available at army surplus stores and online)
- Ear plugs (for better sleep, and also because all that undead moaning might literally drive you insane)
- Long lasting glow sticks
- Rope
- Tarp (8 x 10 at least)
- Paper towel
- Burlap sacks
- A deck of cards
- A journal or notebook, pens & pencils

Congradulations, you're prepared!

Is there anything that I left out that you'd put in your Zombie Survival Kit?