Zombies are so popular these days, everyone and their grandma is jumping on the bandwagon. Even the CDC offers a handy guide to surviving the apocalypse, but it can be hard to know what to do when it comes to your own terrain.
After the walking dead invades the streets, how will you protect yourself on your home turf?
Experts say to get to the country where the infection is less spread out, but if you intend on staying put in the Rocket City, here are some helpful places to set up shop.
Huntsville Zombie Survival Guide – Build a Colony
#1 Hide Out in the Local Mall: Madison Square Mall/Parkway Place Mall
Like in Left 4 Dead or Dawn of the Dead, holing up in a local mall isn’t the best idea (where are you going to escape if the undead corner you in Lady Foot Locker?) but it could act as a good base in a pinch.
Just have enough people in your group to potentially eliminate a big nest of zombies. Madison Square is probably the best bet.
#2 Clear Out an Assisted Living Home: Redstone Village/Magnolia Living
It’s less glamorous to clean out a whole building of elderly zombies, but with any luck it will be like shooting infected fish in a barrel.
Just a week or two of cleanup duty, and voila! A whole apartment complex for your crew, complete with cafeteria and game room.
#3 Build a Colony in an Old Cotton Mill: Lincoln Mill/Lowe Mill
One of your best bets for shelter is in one of the few mills still left in North Alabama.
With enough people in your group, it can be transformed into a Terminus like fortress, cannibalism optional. There might even be a community garden like the one at Lowe Mill already in place.
#4 Head for the Hills: Monte Sano Mountain Cabins/Land Trust Caves
Besides hightailing it to the countryside, experts agree that the next best place is a densely wooded area.
Less people means less potential zombies, and nature made strongholds like Huntsville’s Historic Three Caves are practically move-in ready.
Just make sure that someone in your crew knows how to live off the land.
#5 Hold Down the Fort in a Real-Life Amusement Park: U.S. Space and Rocket Center/Southern Adventures
Granted, this is not the most practical choice, but what could be more fun?
Now you get the chance to combine carnival rides with another fun past time: shooting zombies.
As long as you don’t let the fun get out of control, your gang won’t get stuck in a Zombieland-like situation. At least one person in every posse needs to be assigned to infected carnie duty.
#6 If All Else Fails, Nuclear Fallout Shelter: Downtown Square
Sometimes time is not on our side. For people that need to get to a safe place fast, the Law Library on the Eastside Square and the Madison County Courthouse both have nuclear fallout shelters.
They can also be handy in the event of other apocalyptic like disasters.
Looking for a more extensive map? Check out www.mapofthedead.com, where survival maps are tailor made to your specific location.
Good luck surviving the Zombie Apocalypse Huntsville!
Guest blogger for We Are Huntsville. Are you interested in writing a post for our site? Email katelyn@wearehuntsville.com.
Fun article, thanks! Don’t forget you can’t throw a rock without hitting a church building in this area. Some are basically compounds for the living, complete with kitchen, non-perishable goods stash, lots of firewood (for power outages), lookout/sniper tower, and the list goes on. There are plenty around so we won’t all be in one place. They’re available inner city, in the burbs, or in the country.
Get to the attic and pull up the ladder!
Great ideas, Living Dead! When the SHTF, we’re calling you!