How to actually survive a global outbreak

Day 1

It began and spread with alarming speed. Years later, survivors like you will still be piecing together information, trying to figure out when, where, and how it all happened. Some think it was a virus brought in by a public airline flight, while others are convinced it started in the United States. Some believe it happened simultaneously all over the world.

On Day 1, chaos reigns in cities worldwide. Many people try to flee, only to get stuck in traffic or massive freeway-blocking accidents, becoming easy prey for zombies. But you're smart. As a devoted Infographics fan, you know that if you're not already on the outskirts of the city, the best thing to do is to shelter in place.

In a nuclear attack, you want to get as low as possible, sheltering at the core of a building far from doors and windows. However, in a zombie apocalypse, it pays to have the high ground. You enter the nearest high-rise and make your way up. The power will soon fail, taking the elevators with it, so you'll have to climb dozens of flights of stairs. But this also means zombies would have to do the same. Barricading every door you come across, any zombie or hostile survivor would have to overcome numerous blocked doors to reach you. Being that high up also helps you avoid the attention of both zombies and marauding looters as civilization collapses.

Every office tower in America is stocked with food and water, allowing you to ride out at least a week, maybe two, while waiting for events to unfold below you. Maybe this is only a local event, and the military will soon respond to contain the situation or at least evacuate survivors. Just in case, you make your way to the roof and signal any airplanes or helicopters that survivors are inside. Setting up a big SOS with brightly colored objects looted from the upper floors is relatively easy.

Like an ancient king watching a siege from his tower, you spend the day waiting and watching as the city below falls apart.

Day 3

As predicted, not a single zombie has attempted to climb to your temporary shelter. The streets are still swarming with poorly prepared survivors trying to flee or hiding in unsafe street-level shelters. It's now clear this is not a local event but a full-blown zombie apocalypse and the end of the world.

There's been no military response. Before the power and your phone died, the last thing you heard on social media was that the President had declared a state of emergency and taken shelter in a bunker. Military bases are as overrun with the undead as any city. Some areas are secure, but there's too much chaos to coordinate anything beyond local defense. It might be weeks or even months before a significant attempt to lift the zombie siege of the big cities—if it ever happens. Tens of millions of undead roam, with their numbers growing every time a human falls.

You take stock of your supplies. Before the power went out, you filled every sink, pitcher, container, and even toilet with fresh drinking water. Water is more crucial than food, though your food supply is robust. Every office tower in America has small kitchens, snack bars, and often restaurants. For now, food and water aren't a problem, but you can't stay here forever.

You use your time wisely, setting up rain catches on the roof and keeping your SOS signal clear of debris. A few others from around the building have joined you, forming a small group of survivors. To maintain morale and avoid despair or rash actions, you take a leadership role and assign tasks.

First, you fashion effective weapons and protection. Using duct tape and reams of paper, you create sturdy body armor for yourself, focusing on protecting your forearms, thighs, and chest to avoid stiffness. Infection spreads through biting, so arm and leg protection is essential.

Spears made from mops and brooms won't do much lethal damage but can effectively keep zombies at bay. Unfortunately, there's little to use for effective weapons in an office tower. Firearms or heavy melee weapons like baseball bats and axes are ideal but will have to wait. For now, avoiding fights is best.

You place people on rotating shifts, frequently checking the stairways leading to your shelter. In teams of three, you carefully scavenge the floors below, ensuring you can quickly escape from any unexpected situations. Some zombies, likely people who changed when the outbreak started, are easily eliminated.

You aim for the head out of habit, but other parts of the body are also vulnerable. Breaking a leg immobilizes a zombie, and shattering an arm prevents it from climbing or grabbing. Destroying the spine leaves it grounded. While destroying the brain is ideal, breaking bones is effective too. Using spears, you pin zombies in place while a teammate delivers a killing blow to the head—a good strategy for the few you encounter in the tower, though better weapons are needed for street survival.

Before the power went out, you mapped out every nearby gun shop, army surplus store, and police station. With a crude map and a plan, you're ahead of other survivors.

Day 7

Fires started days ago from unattended appliances, car crashes, and other minor incidents. With no fire department to contain them, the situation grows increasingly dangerous. Some in your group want to stay, but you explain that staying means eventually burning when the fires reach your building.

You briefly consider using the city's underground service and sewage tunnels to avoid zombies. However, without knowledge of these tunnels, like entry points or destinations, this idea is impractical. Instead, you decide to use the streets.

The underground garage has cars, but keys are nowhere to be found, and cars would draw attention. It's best to move silently. The chaos outside has lessened as the zombie "all-you-can-eat buffet" ran out of easy prey.

Daytime offers better visibility, but also for zombies. You opt to move at night, dressing in dark clothing. Armed with spears, you skirt along buildings' edges to reach a police station four blocks away.

Sticking to the shadows, you avoid most wandering zombies. Many have followed the initial rush of refugees out of the city, acting like predators following migrating prey. This makes the city less of a death trap. Occasionally stumbling into zombies, you overpower them easily with your spears.

At the police station, it's clear others had the same idea; it's barricaded. Fortunately, the survivors let you in. It's not as safe as your high-rise, despite now having access to a few pistols, but it's further from the encroaching fires. However, it's clear this isn't a long-term solution. To survive, you need renewable food and water—neither of which are available in the heart of the city.

It's clear you all need to leave, but where to go?

Day 9

After two days of deliberation, the group is split on how to proceed. The fires are dangerously close, and you need to leave within 24 hours.

One group wants to head to the nearest military base, hoping it's secure or reclaimed. However, thousands of others likely had the same idea, potentially creating another large concentration of people and zombies. If the base is secure, it could be a refuge, but that's a big if.

You've watched Infographics for years and know something others don't: without warm blood, zombies can't handle the cold. Once the temperature drops to freezing, even the fastest zombie becomes immobile. Explaining this to the group, you advocate heading north. Sadly, they're too influenced by TV characters' poor decisions during zombie apocalypses and don't listen.

Agreeing to disagree, your group loads up two police SUVs with supplies—mostly food, water, and gasoline siphoned from other vehicles. Surprisingly, there's little in the way of weapons or ammo left; likely taken by cops acting on their own survival plans.

Your goal is to head north. Survival depends on getting as far north as possible.

Day 10

The two groups wish each other luck and drive in opposite directions. Navigating past wrecks and small hordes of zombies, you wisely avoid freeways, sticking to surface streets until you make it out of the city.

Day 12

It took 24 hours to escape the city due to numerous roadblocks. Only stopping to refuel, you take driving shifts until reaching open country. You raid the first gas station you find for paper maps of the state and North American freeway system. Your goal is Alaska, and you need to get there before winter traps you.

Though tempted to loot big department stores, you wisely reconsider. They're bound to be full of supplies—and zombies. You aim for rural America before looting large stores.

Day 15

Thanks to your paper maps, you're making better progress, avoiding freeways. In rural areas, the apocalypse seems less evident until encountering wrecks or signs of families torn apart by the undead.

Far enough from major population centers, you risk raiding a big box store. Previously, you've hit small gas stations and convenience stores, but you need better weapons and more food supplies.

Entering as a team, you move in formation, reminiscent of ancient Greek warriors. Drilling during rest breaks, you employ an effective strategy: a wall of spears to impale zombies, then step aside for killing blows with axes or hammers. This ancient method works brilliantly.

You never split up, despite the temptation to cover more ground. Together, you score camping equipment, rifles, and rounds, plus practical survival gear like fishing poles and lures. Grabbing warm weather gear and first aid kits, you're preparing for life in the cold.

Day 25

You've made decent time despite avoiding freeways. Fall approaches, and snow follows soon after. Reaching Canada, the situation mirrors the US—zombies respect no borders.

Some want to stop here, where the weather is milder than in Alaska. But you know better. Cold is exactly why you're heading north. Staying far from temperate areas for at least a year is crucial. By then, zombies in most places will be neutralized by winter. You'll have time to prepare for what's next.

Plus, if you can survive in the far north, your story will likely make it. For now, though, you'll settle for just staying alive.