Awareness is everything when the Zombies drag themselves towards your hideout!

So you bugged in! But don't be blind. Situation awareness is key to survival. You need some things to help you stay on top of the situation and make the most informed decisions you can. Here's a list of gear you need to have.

1. A Radio Frequency Scanner. Let's you listen in on local fire, police, TV stations, FRS Walkie Talkies, CB radios and Ham. Why? Because listening to what others are seeing and doing is most valuable information. In the SoCal Blackout the author used a "scanner" to determine where power was restored and gas stations were reopened. Others using the popular FRS radios on hill tops were reporting where power was restored all across the region. This is an essential item for any zombie prepper. Uniden makes a great Digital scanner for this purpose.

2. Motion detectors. Get them. Optex makes a model for outdoor use that can be up to 1000' from your receiver. These will give you early warning that zombies or refugees have crossed on to your property. You can set up four zones with different tones so you know "where" they are coming from. It's best if you're not surprised during the darkness. Best of all these are battery powered so they keep working after power plants have been over run.

3. Cameras, just a nice touch to work along with the motion detectors. Sometimes it's best if you can see the zombies' movement but they can't see you watching. They won't last long with the power out.

4. Communication - two things; you might not know who is a zombie or not. You wouldn't want to blast someone not infected. Get a bull horn so you can speak to strangers and keep your distance. Second, get some of the new 900mhz walkie talkies called "TriSquare eXRS" they use 10 million privacy codes and they are actually secure unlike FRS "privacy codes". You'll be able to follow any FRS conversation on your scanner and so will others. that means if you disclose your plans to a family member over an FRS walkie talkie your safety may be compremised. With a eXRS radio, it scatteres your conversation 7 times per second and is virtually impossible to listen to from a distance of 50' except by government agencies. This is a good investment for bugging out during the zombie apocalypse!

Be ready.

Zombies vs. Alligators - Perimeter Security

I saw this in Mexico and it is a great play on an old security concept, the moat. In this tip you will be building a moat around your house or a very least across the front side.  In Mexico at this little resort they added a new twist which is brilliant. They posted signs warning of alligators in the water. I don't think they actually had alligators but I'd bet money that anyone considering a swim through the moat to get in the resort would change their mind! In the case of zombies that can't read you will need hungry alligators to eat the zombies as they cross. One has to wonder if a zombie bites one of your alligators will you have zombie alligators that don't require regular feeding?

Securing your front door against a zombie attack!

You have to understand that most front doors are weak against true attack. They provide a false since of security. If your home or apartment is like most, you have a wood frame door. The problem is that with a little bit of force the door frame made of wood will split and the dead bolt will bust through leaving your door open. If you have seen any episodes of cops you can see how easy this is to do! The last thing you want is a heard of zombies piling up and busting in. So what can you do?

Well the best option and most expensive is to replace the entire door and structure around it with a steel frame  with 3 foot footers and a steel door. While this is the most expensive option, it would take some zombies with explosives to get through your door.

Here is a link to a steel door. What's nice is that you don't want your neighbors knowing your house is zombie proof so they make them to look like wood doors by putting a wood lamination over the front and back surface.

These guys (master security doors) sell a high security front door that would be perfect for the zombie apocalypse!

http://www.mastersecuritydoors.com/?tpage=technical&tvideo=4&ttitle=%20DIY%27s%20-%20Best%20Security%20Door%20I%20Have%20EVER%20Seen!!!%20%20As%20featured%20on%20the%20DIY%20Network


Now if you're on a budget there are a few things you could do to make your existing door a little stronger. Even though a strong front door will usually send zombies to your windows, you have to secure the front door!

1. Install a steel dead bolt stress plate like this one: http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1295025

2. More important is to reinforce the wood door frame where the dead bold force is put upon. First take off your door molding on the inside of the door (lock side only) Then install a Strong-Tie secured with 3" screws into the 2x4" framing around your door to prevent the dead bolt from busting through.

Here is the Strong-tie metal strap to help keep your door closed!  http://bit.ly/HPHTTs

3. Replace existing short wood screws located on the hings with extra long top grade steel screws.

4. On the door hinges you can remove one screw from each hinge on the door frame side. Then install a longer screw in the exact same position, opposite side of the hinge (door side of the hing). Leave this long screw sticking out 1/4". Now drill a 1/4" hole where the screw on the door jam side used to be that you took out. Now when you close the door the protruding screw from the door side will go into the hole on the door frame side. This will prevent someone from opening the door by removing the pin in the hinge because that long screw will act like a dead bold into the door frame (hinge side).

Or you can buy one pre-made like this: http://www.stanleyhardware.com/default.asp?LEFT=left_cht_specialty.htm&PAGE=cht_specialty.htm&TYPE=STATICLEFT


Remember be prepared!