It is no secret that the zombie apocalypse is coming. Everyone knows it. It is all over TV, movies, social media, so it must be true. The first thing you have to decide is: will I be a “first waver” or do I intend to survive this with my family intact? In case you don’t know the lingo, a “first waver” chooses to “go” in the first wave of attacks and not survive. First Wavers, there is nothing I can do for you. So, assuming you chose the second answer, here are 5 tips to get you and your family on the road to surviving that pesky zombie apocalypse.

1. Don’t Get Infected

No kidding, right? But, not as easy as it sounds. Yeah, yeah, we all know about good hand washing techniques and covering our mouths when we cough, but do we really do it? I would hazard a guess at not often enough. Otherwise, why do we catch colds and come down sick so often?

The key is to keep your eyes open for severely sick folks and animals. See, scientists predict that a virus will cause zombie-ism. Just like any virus, these tips will help:

• avoid contact with sick people
• don’t touch dead/sick animals
• wash hands thoroughly
• avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with hands
• disinfect hard surfaces regularly

If infection is going around, avoid crowded places like malls or movie theaters. That’s what Amazon and Netflix are great for: prepping for the end of the world. Order same day delivery of hot cocoa or wine and hunker down with a good flick. Drink lots of water and eat nutritious foods. Maybe you will be the savior of the world by having the immune system that resists the zombie virus and results in a vaccine.

2. Stay in Shape

I’m not going to sugar-coat this for you. The time may come when you need to run from zombies. You never know when you might have to scale a tree or jog a mile home to safety. Make this fun for your family. The trees are gorgeous in fall and hiking is a great way to check them out. Lapham Peak adds in a climb to the observation tower for some extra cardio and has trails for cross country skiing in the winter. Sledding or tubing with the family makes working out fun, especially if you pull the little ones back up the hill. Paddle boarding or kayaking trains you to navigate the waterways while you flee the zombies AND keeps you in shape.

3. Home Security

It cannot be stressed enough that your home needs to be secure. Consumer Reports offers several ways to keep your home secure; here are a few of the most helpful. Hold a household meeting and explain the importance of locking doors and windows whenever you leave or go to bed. Stress not opening the door to strangers, uninvited or unwelcomed, or especially not zombies…even if they are bearing gifts.

Lock doors if you go for a walk or work in the front or back of the house. Leave spare keys and remotes in smart places not near the doors. Eliminate high shrubbery where zombies can hide. Replace weak locks on doors and make sure your doors are sturdy. Zombies are clumsy and you don’t want a simple fall to result in an accidental entry. Lock your cars so zombies cannot use the remote to enter through the garage.

4. Family Disaster Plan

The most important part of having a disaster plan is knowing how to receive alerts or notifications. If you are unaware that the zombie apocalypse is happening, you are prime fodder for the zombies when you leave your home. Set up disaster alerts to your phone. Monitor radio/TV if something is happening in your area. Keep a hand crank emergency radio in the event the zombies invade the power station and you lose electricity.

Equally important is meeting with your family and determining which responsibility belongs to each family member. Younger kids can gather pet food and supplies in the event evacuation is needed.  Older kids can pack bags or fill water containers. Parents should make sure medications, important papers, credit cards, cash, are together and ready for a quick getaway. Don’t forget your insurance papers for your home; zombies can be very destructive and when the infection passes, you want your house back as soon as possible.

Have a predetermined number for your family to call in case your family is not all in the same place. My family calls a cousin in Idaho to say they are safe or need help. The same goes for a meeting place. Where will you all meet if you have to leave your home and you are not together? Have an evacuation route planned. And, remember, you must plan your route in all directions. The zombies could be on the train that derailed behind your house or cause the chemical truck crash on the highway in front.

Ready.gov has great resources for you and your family in disaster planning. The zombie apocalypse will be a huge disaster.

5. Supplies

Be ready for anything.  Have a list of essential items for sheltering in place to avoid zombies and a list of items to take with you when your yard is overrun with the dead.  Include:

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio/a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert/extra batteries for both
• Flashlight/extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air/plastic sheeting /duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps
• Cell phone/chargers/inverter or solar charger

Remember your pets and the items in your family plan. Sometimes, we can’t predict when we will return.

Surviving the zombie apocalypse can be achieved with a little preparation.  And, imagine how prepared you will be for something as simple as a flu outbreak or flood if you plan in advance.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!