Big Box Stores as Shelter from the Living Dead

August 16, 2008

Zombie Mall I’ve been having a conversation on the Shelter from the Living Dead post with Jacob.

Jacob thinks that a big box store like Wal-Mart, Sam’s or Costco would be a great shelter because of the ready access to supplies and because of the limited entrances.

Most recently he made a good point about the entrances:

well you do know that cosco has the same consept as walmart but the front doors are all metal lift doors like storages and there imployee do only have handles from the inside so no one could break in.

I thought I’d respond with a full post.

Jacob,

No, I didn’t realize that – and it’s a good point. A building with metal door covers would be a great boon. Things to keep in mind are marauders (who could find a way to break through the metal lift doors) and spoiling food.

Several years ago, in my neighborhood, there was a Food Lion (a grocery store that used to be well known in the southwest) that had to close its doors because it was going out of business.

The owner of the store closed and locked the doors without doing anything. In other words, he didn’t get rid of any of the food. The power was turned off, and the food was left to rot on the shelves.

Several weeks later, the neighbors started complaining about the noxious smells.

In the end, a team of haz-mat protected workers with masks and full body suits had to go into the store to clean up the mess. The gas coming out of the rotting food was too poisonous (aside from being gross) for anyone to face it without gas masks.

If that gives you an idea of the dangers of fresh food in supermarkets, it would be for the best. Technically it’s possible to spend the time and effort to remove the food – but, you won’t have that luxury during the first wave of the zombie apocalypse – and, the first wave might last long enough to put you into a bad situation with the food.

And, after spending weeks clearing out the rotting food (probably through the roof and down the wall) – and after smelling it as it rots outside for many more weeks, you would eventually find your shelter surrounded by thousands of starving undead.

You would be trapped, and eventually a well-supplied, well-armored group might come along, fight their way through the zombies, tear down your thin metal drop doors, and hold you at gun point while they take all of your remaining supplies.

In the end, they would probably either kill your group or leave it unprotected and without supplies in a sea of zombies.

Now, I realize that’s the pessimistic view, but I think it’s better to know what’s possible.

I still say that a fortified series of houses, well stocked, and high off the ground are the perfect shelter. They may be unrealistic, and not likely – but they are the best protected from all threats.

Thanks again Jacob.

Posted by flowersjustin | Filed Under zombies

Comments

leanne heller

Hm. I never thought of food being the cause of death, rather than a must-have for a shelter. Do regular grocery stores have back up generators, in case of power outages?

What about an apartment building instead of a series of houses, built on the same kind of pier-system that you mentioned in your previous post? That's pretty high off the ground and you'd have a much easier time trying to convince someone to actually build this - for instance, imagine trying to convince your current neighbors that they need to elevate their homes, and could they also please give you open access, just in case of zombies?

Of course, with an apartment building there's the drawback that (in order to restock) you have to go into either creepy stairwells or the elevator, which is a small metal deathtrap, really. All in all, I think I'd prefer the ocean, although that definitely limits the amount of supplies, and could end in accidental death without experienced sailors.

Who would have thought that this was so complicated? Good grief. :-P

flowersjustin

Leanne,

Great points. As far as the back up generators - I don't think that they regularly do, because I have read about or seen where long term power outages are a big problem for grocery stores. Although I imagine some of the bigger ones might. But, back up generators only last as long as your supply of gasoline.

The apartment building is not a great idea, unfortunately. For reference you can check out my post on high-rises which is a similar concept: Urban Zombies and High Rises.

The basic idea is that a tall building is like a can. If you're in one end of the can, and the other end is open - you're in a trap. It makes you vulnerable to attacks from all angles, makes escape nearly impossible, and then of course there's the problem with tall buildings and fires. And, you're spot on about the stairways being death traps.

The ocean is a great idea. Don't forget to stock up on supplies, fuel, and fishing supplies - and remember that zombies can live under water, and occasionally float!!

Thanks for the comment,
Justin

smartwentcrazy

The thing about the ocean that bugs me (besides the whole floating zombie thing) is hurricanes. What do you do? Where do you go for cover if your only way to land is thick with zombies and there's a cat 3 or worse headed your way? Not only that, but with communication being down, you wouldn't have any warning until the storm was right on top of you.

flowersjustin

Excellent points. And, to that I'd have to say that there are only so many things you can be prepared for. If you're in that situation, I think it's time to look down and make sure you're not wearing a Red Shirt.

smartwentcrazy

Haha! Sorry, planning for every possible disaster is a side effect from working at a disaster recovery center for a number of years and I get very indepth with my zombie thinking. Then I started writing a novel and did a google search. Imagine my surprise when I found I wasn't alone in my obsession!

Dana

In my opinion, I think the only logical place for survival would be a well-stocked, underground bomb shelter in the country. Yes, you'd have to live without sunlight and fresh air for months, even years, but if you planned ahead and rationed the food, you could survive. Perhaps, if you had time to prepare, you could put a periscope in your shelter that would allow you to look around up top and come up every now and again.

I, for one, would avoid the big box stores. Any place that might attract a lot of people would be just as scary as the zombies. Eventually, people start to freak out and you either get "Lord of the Flies" or crazy evangelicals such as in Marcia Gay Harden "The Mist" - (brilliant performance, btw).

I'd much rather face my fate outsmarting and hiding from zombies by myself or with a small group than have to deal with a bunch of freaked out crazies proclaiming that the attack was God's will, or even worse, proclaiming themselves as gods.

smartwentcrazy

I remember that Food Lion! It's something I was thinking of myself. And I imagine that flies and other bugs would be a huge problem too.