Zombie Lessons part 2

LESSON 2- Travel, morality and survival

The decision has been made as to where we plan to go.  In our case this is our Uncles farm which is 165 miles from our current location by normal travel however to avoid major areas and interstates we mapped out a path that while it adds 75 miles is safer. (we mapped out on a physical map the route we would take then used google earth to look at each small town along the way to gage an idea of amenities and safe routes in case of problems)

My Uncle agrees to our family coming to stay there. He says he has room for 4 more able bodied families if they don’t mind living in the barn/outbuildings while the land is worked and property fortified.

Questions-

   Who do you decide to quietly invite on the trip?

 How do you justify your choices?

   What supplies and amenities do you expect those that you chose to provide for themselves?

Knowing what is available at the farm our first priorities are fuel to get there, food for the coming months, any possible canning/food storage supplies and any and all medical supplies we can find.

The RV has a 55 gallon tank and gets 12 miles to the gallon average, how much gas will we need to insure that the RV will make the trip?

(a minimum of 20 gallons but should try to keep it filled and gather any possible extra for generators etc that we can get)How do you justify your choices?

   What supplies and amenities do you expect those that you chose to provide for themselves?

What food supplies do you feel would be important? Why?

My examples are-

Dried beans- they are shelf stable for long period of time and provide excellent nutrician

Dehydrated herbs and spices-they add flavor and help to keep up the immune system as well as moral

Canned fruits and veggies-shelf stable and needed for nitrician

Canned milk-safe for 2-3 years

Dry pasta-shelf stable carbs

Dehydrated meats/jerky- preserved meats can be used for stews easily

Flour

Cornmeal

Oats

Sugar

Honey

Peanut butter

Grits

Cocoa

Coffee

Cooking oil

baking soda/powder

Corn starch

Farina

Dry milk

Rum/vodka/whiskey-serves both medical and non medical needs

Yeast-full on starter will need to be maintained whenever possible also can be used for small beer to make drinking water safe

What medical supplies would you see as needed?

Cold and allergy meds

Ulcer/acid reflux meds

Rubbing alchohol

Peroxide

Pain/headache meds

Vasoline

Soap

Silk thread/needles

Sheets for bandages

Antibiotics if possible

Feminine hygene needs

Bleach

borax

washing soda

quart and pint jars-sterile storage as well as canning needs to possibly come

tooth paste

hemmeroid cream

duct tape(yes it is sterile and VERY multi-purpose)

Packing the van needs to have any supplies immediately needed going in last, people will have to do their best to fit in around the supplies. With the extra people and needs do you feel a second vehicle would be needed or would it be better to try to stay together? If we are taking extra vehicles we can possibly gather more supplies, however its makes defense and logistics change....is it worth it? Security of our people and supplies is the most important thing so after weighing the possibilities what is better, multiple vehicles or a single larger carrier?

After figuring out the moral questions of who and why we chose to take certain people we have to  decide if the needs of our group surpass the need to maintain civil morality by not stealing the things we may need? Would you feel okay taking the neighbors propane tank? What about taking food or fuel? Raiding a vets office for medical supplies? What are your arguments for or against?

Travel will be slow no matter how many vehicles we are taking. The overload of vehicle weights, the need to travel rural roads, and security means travel will be at 35 to 45 mph turning it into a 5-6 hr trip. Slower speed does allow for a spotter and shooter to be on the RV for safety. The decision does need to be made ahead of time what we will do should we encounter other travelers. If they act peacefully do we simply pass without suspect? If they are stranded do we stop and offer help from our own meger supplies? How do we assess the risk of stopping? What if we encounter hostile non infected people? Are people in our party comfortable with deadly force? Shooting an infected will be VASTLY different than shooting a hostile but normal human even if they are bent on doing you harm.