Imagine it: you and your fellow prepared survivors are in your vehicle, you have your trusty weapons of choice, and you are laying waste to vast numbers of zombies. Well, that's great, but what next? You canít fight forever. Either your muscles or your ammo will give out before too long. You need to get to someplace safe. These safe places are harder to find than you might think, so we have outlined a few traits you need to look for in a location, before you trust that location with your life.

Accessibility

The first thing you need to think about is accessibility. How easily can you get to this location? Remember, a location that may have been easily accessible to you before may suddenly be blocked by a wall of cars. You can assume that in most populated areas there will be widespread panic, and people will be trying to evacuate the area. This means that the closer the location is to your start point (consider your home, school, or workplace your most likely start points, or other places where you spend a good deal of time) the better off youíll be. However, there may be no truly suitable locations (locations matching the other trait descriptions below) near your likely start point. If this is the case, try scouting out good short-term locations. These locations will be very near your start point, and secure from a break-in, but may not have good access to adequate food and water, so remember, try to bring some supplies with you.

Safe & Secure

What makes a place secure? The first thing to look for is the most difficult to find: a building with no windows on the ground floor. With enough of them working at it, zombies might be able to break through windows. And, while they may have trouble climbing in through the broken windows, itís defiantly not a chance you want to take ñ itís amazing whatís possible with enough mindless flailing. Glass in doors is even worse, since itís easier for the zombies to get through once the glass is broken. A small window in the door may be acceptable, but try to find one that a human arm wonít easily get through. Don't make the mistake of assuming you can board up the window when you get in there, since you may not have time, and you may have other things that need attending to. Plus, the last thing you need during a battle with a zombie is a hammer to your thumb.

This does NOT mean you want a windowless building. Remember, at some point you WILL be loosing electricity. Candles are cumbersome, and an all out fire will probably flood most buildings with smoke, which can be deadly all by itself. You may want to try to acquire some oil based lanterns, and batteries will get you through a few nights, but youíll run out of those supplies much faster if you also have to provide your own lighting during the day. Ideally, your locations will have windows on your floor, but they will be at a sufficient height to prevent break-ins. Many churches have this feature, and some may even have a ready supply of candles for the night.

Remember to take into account all doors in a building. Are they all sturdy and secure on their hinges? How many of them are there? It only takes one forgotten door to let the zombies in. Don't neglect service doors, back doors, or side doors. This is another instance where it pays to have planned ahead of time. You don't want to be checking hinges on the run.

Zombies or No Zombies?

The next thing you want to consider is how likely it is that the location will already have zombies in it. For example, if your location is a school, and the outbreak is in summer, itís pretty unlikely that the building will already have zombies in it, and that is a big bonus ñ if you can get in, that is. Malls, on the other hand, will almost certainly be populated, so you should expect to have to fight your way in. Do not attempt to enter and overtake any structure without sufficient forces! Warehouses may be a good location to consider, since there are relatively unpopulated compared to their size, and many have a clearstory (windows high on the building) for light. Just remember to stick together and check out the whole building once your in -- there may be zombies behind the merchandise or equipment.

Remember to think Long Term

That covers most of what you need in a short-term location, but what about in the long run? If you don't want to rely on a rescue from the government youíre going to eventually need to worry about food, water, temperature, and room for growth, without sacrificing defensibility. So, how in the world do you do that? What you need is a location with a place to actually grow food. One possibility is a roof with an appropriate amount of drainage, good light access, and really, really good structural support. Then comes the arduous task of hauling very large quantities of dirt up on to the roof (dig it up or raid a big garden/landscape warehouse) and spread it. Roof access also gives you the option to shoot from above, and gives you superior scouting ability. Further farming tips will be discussed in a different article.

In some locations, farming outside is hardly a chore and can go on all year round. If you do not live in such a location, consider Malls. I already cautioned you about how populated malls can be, but if this is a second location, you may be able to handle it (again, don't do this without a good plan, several backup plans, and a fast getaway vehicle and a clear route home). Many large malls have indoor courtyards with windows for ceilings. This, in effect, gives you a greenhouse. Get dirt in there, and you should be able to farm fairly well. If you are inclined words farming fish or livestock remember that goats will probably have a hard time walking down a stopped escalator, steep at they are, and so may be confineable to one mall level, and mall fountains could potentially be a place to farm fish. Whatever you do, make sure that any long term location will give you food options when the food runs out.

Available amenities

A few other perks you may want to think about: some buildings, like many schools build in the 60s or 70s, have metal grates that can be pulled out of the ceiling to form a barrier. These grates are sturdy, and most don't require electricity to run (as some indoor door locks do). Also, remember that some locations will have superior access to clothes, or other supplies. Or, they may be near something like a large food outlet store. Also, keep in mind what kind of privacy will be available to the inhabitants. Without a little breathing room, you can expect tension to run even higher than it needs to be. Don't underestimate the danger of infighting.