In the past few days, a long-dead French astrologer had people buzzing about a possible invasion. Not a military or alien invasion but a zombie apocalypse. The famous seer, Michel de Nostredame aka Nostradamus, predicted that the dead will walk the earth once more this year. Since many of his prophecies have supposedly come true, people are weary Nostradamus’ zombie apocalypse prediction.
For this year and next, Nostradamus also predicted a great famine, massive solar storms, and a comet that will hit or pass dangerously close to earth. He also said that a massive earthquake will destroy California and the third antichrist will be born right around this time. Oh, and some conspiracy theorists believe he also predicted the coronavirus pandemic though this has been supposedly debunked.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. Zombies are quite a handful already so let’s focus on that one for now. The particular quatrain that is putting people at the edge of their seats goes like this:
“Few young people: half−dead to give a start. Dead through spite, he will cause the others to shine, And in an exalted place some great evils to occur: Sad concepts will come to harm each one, Temporal dignified, the Mass to succeed. Fathers and mothers dead of infinite sorrows, Women in mourning, the pestilent she-monster: The Great One to be no more, all the world to end.”
Nostradamus’ uncanny skill to predict future events is nothing to scoff at. We’re not saying you should be true believer. We just want you to use this as an “excuse” to start preparing.
If you think Matt Groening is a seer or time traveler after the many times The Simpsons predicted the future, then it shouldn’t hurt to be wary of someone who’s been at it since the mid-1500s.
Nostradamus has apparently predicted the death of Henry II, the Great Fire of London, and the rise of Adolf Hitler. He also “saw” the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the JFK assassination. It’s perfectly fine if you feel skeptical since the prophecies are so vague that they can be interpreted in different ways.
The point of all these is not to scare you. Like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we just want you to know how to prepare for emergencies and disasters. It doesn’t matter if it’s a hurricane, an earthquake, terrorist attack, or an alien invasion. What matters is that you’re ready for anything that comes your way. CDC’s Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse Blog just made things a bit more fun by talking about disaster preparedness in the context of a zombie apocalypse.
With that in mind, here’s what we should do if the Nostradamus zombie apocalypse prediction comes true:
Stock Up on Supplies
Food
In zombie shows like The Walking Dead, one potential problem after the dead takes over the world is the lack of food, water and other basic needs. We can see the characters scavenging abandoned houses and vehicles looking for their next meal. Others learned to hunt, fish and forage. Then there are those who ate their fellow humans. Gross.
A true survivalist will do anything to stay alive. But you don’t want to resort to cannibalism even if your friend looks like a bagel. Your best option to last as long as possible is to store as much food and water.
Store canned goods, dried food, MREs, grains, and other foods with long shelf lives. Use the First In First Out system so that your prepper pantry doesn’t go empty. Place the new stock at the back of so you can use the older ones first. Make sure to check your supply regularly and consume the ones that are about to go bad.
Water
Each person needs one gallon of water a day. That’s 365 gallons for one person to survive one year. Of course you have to consider the other members of the household as well as the number of years you want to stay alive.
Store as many bottled water as you can. You can also invest on large BPA-free water containers meant for long-time storage. However, it is quite daunting to store that much water in your home. You must have ways to procure clean drinking water in case the power and water grids fail, which is completely possible in a zombie apocalypse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdONrjvc5dY&ab_channel=SaganLife
One way is to stock up on water purification tablets and iodine. Another is to invest on water filters including personal filter for each one of you. There should also be plenty of matches and other fire starters so you can boil water. Also, create a system for collecting rainwater that you can use for drinking.
Other Supplies
Store other necessities that you won’t have a chance of buying at stores in case the Nostradamus zombie apocalypse prediction is correct. You will need ingredients and condiments for your meals so stock up on your favorite ones. Sweet treats, alcoholic drinks and cigarettes will fetch a fair price when bartering. You’ll also need household items and stuff for personal hygiene.
Hospitals and clinics will likely be closed while drugstore will be wiped clean. If you need special medications, ask your doctor if you can purchase more than usual. Buy medical supplies, too. Make sure you tend to the needs of babies and the elderly, if you have them in your household. Don’t forget your pets, too.
Stock up on survival gear, too. You’ll need candles, lighters, flashlights and lots of batteries once power goes out. Portables stoves will also be necessary. Make sure you have items to keep you from freezing to death.
Weapons
Now here’s the fun part. Most zombie shows introduce us to a particular weapon. In The Walking Dead series alone, you’ll easily spot Rick Grime’s Colt Python .357 Magnum revolver, Daryl’s crossbow. Michonne’s katana, and Negan’s baseball bat with barbed wire named Lucille.
Some weapons make sense. Others like the chainsaw arm in Evil Dead and Planet Terror’s leg gun are out of this world. In real life, you should have different kinds of weapons in your arsenal. You need firearms including rifles and pistols as well as lots of ammunition. Of course, you should train how to use your guns properly. Also, treat them with respect and handle responsibly.
Bladed weapons are must-haves. Every everyday carry kit should include at least one pocket knife and a multi-tool with blade. For your stash at home, you should have machetes, axe, hatchets, swords, daggers, Bowie knives, and trench knives. Kitchen knives and some garden tools should also work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeY-wtC0lWU&ab_channel=BaseballSavings
Blunt or trauma weapons include baseball bats, sledgehammer, batons, mace, hammer, crowbar, lead pipes, and even cast iron pans. When push comes to shove, you can improvise and use any household item or tool as a weapon.
Fortify Your Home
Another way to stay safe in case the Nostradamus zombie apocalypse prediction comes true is to fortify your home. If you can get everyone to help out in securing the whole neighborhood then that would be a lot better.
Your initial defense against zombies (and home intruders) is a wall. A fence can only do so much. Chain-link fences eventually topple over from the strength of a relentless zombie hoard. But hey, if you already have a fence, no use taking it down. Just reinforce it and build additional lines of defense such as cinder block wall or a moat filled with molten lava.
Okay, we’re just kidding with the molten lava part. A moat, however, is actually a good idea. Hire a backhoe to dig around your property. You can fill it up with water or place sharpened sticks to the ground. The problem is if you’ll be allowed to build a moat.
If you’ve noticed in the Netflix series Kingdom and again The Walking Dead, the humans used bamboo or sharpened branches to build Czech hedgehog-like defense. If you’re not familiar with Czech hedgehogs, they’re the cross-like metal thingy used during World War II to keep ships from landing on shore. They also kept tanks and even soldiers from advancing.
Next step is to secure the house itself. Always make sure that the doors and windows are locked, especially before going to bed. Install steel bars on your windows and reinforce your doors. If you have a garage, make sure the garage door is properly secured, too.
A security alarm will help deter intruders and notify the police. In a zombie apocalypse, however, the cops will not likely come immediately since they’ll be busy dealing with the dead. Plus, the sound of the alarm may attract more zombies. Still, you should have a security system installed since you’re not only preparing for zombies. Just disarm it if necessary. What you can also do is set tripwires that will silently warn you of something approaching.
In case the zombies get in your home and you can’t immediately get out, your best option is to get on top of your roof. If you have an attic, that’s a better place to hide. Just make sure you grab the ladder so they can’t climb up, in case they have that ability. Also, grab your bug out bags before hiding.
It’s a good idea to have a panic room. Make sure your safe room is intruder-proof by installing a solid door and high quality locks. There should be a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, weapons, and lots of supplies in the event that you can’t leave immediately. You should have an emergency escape in case exiting through the door is not an option. Plan this one out thoroughly to make sure your escape hatch will not compromise your safety inside the panic room.
If you reside in an apartment, your best defense is to block or destroy the staircase. That is if you live on the upper floors. First floor residents will have to block the main entrance or be forced to move up and depend on their neighbor’s kindness and supplies
It’s a good idea, therefore, to establish rapport with your neighbors. You’ll have more people working together for the same objective – to survive.
Sheltering in place is good idea if you have enough supplies to keep you thriving for years and if you are self-sustainable. That means you grow and raise your own food right at home. When your food and water runs out, you need to go out on a supply run or find a better place. You need a way to come and go in the safest way possible so you should plan this out at the onset. You should also have an evacuation plan.
Create an Evacuation Plan
Even if you turned your humble abode into an impenetrable castle, you should still be ready to evacuate when the need arises. First, you need an evacuation plan. Figure out where to go. Ideally, you should have a bug out location, which is a place you have prepared for you to stay in when SHTF. Your emergency shelter should have food, water and other supplies. Of course, it needs to be zombie-proof.
Fill your vehicle with lots of supplies, too. Always fill the tank and keep it in tiptop shape. In case the Nostradamus zombie apocalypse prediction does come true, you can’t risk your car breaking down in the middle of the road.
Before taking a step out of your home, study the dead well. The more you know about them, the better your chances of evading them during your escape. George Romero zombies are slow and unable to climb stairs, walls, and steep slopes. World War Z zombies, however, can run, climb stairs, and hitch a ride on helicopters. In case you do evacuate but can’t reach your emergency shelter in time, you should know the best places to hide while waiting for a chance to get moving. If you don’t have any other place to go, aim for high ground. The mountains are not as crowded as cities so there’ll be fewer zombies around.
Build Bug Out Bags
Pack your bags with non-perishable food and water enough for at least three days. Don’t forget your camping and survival gear such as tent, sleeping bag, portable stove, fire starters, multi-tools, paracord, and compass. Pack weapons, too. Be ready to fight off both the dead and the living.
The CDC started their zombie preparedness blog as some kind of a joke. They probably figured how much some people are into the zombie genre that they could use it to promote emergency preparedness. Whoever thought of this should be given a high raise and an honorary George A. Romero Award.
As scary yet farfetched the thought of the dead walking this earth is, you still need to be prepared in the slim chance that Nostradamus’ zombie apocalypse prediction does some true. Learn more about emergency preparedness over at Gentleman Pirate Club.
