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Zombie Outbreak Response Team

Salt Lake Valley, Utah

Planning a Supply Run:  


 
To: Governor Herbert 
 
From: Zack Stidham, Kevin Coulam, Shane Bronson, Jessice Mulder, Jensen Hernandez, 
Sami Sarraj 
 
Subject: How to safely retrieve supplies and avoid dangerous situations away from 
home.  
 
The following dissertation pertains to the average layperson in the event of a zombie outbreak 
or apocalypse, assuming nominal knowledge and skill in relevant fields. Information has been 
deliberately consolidated and organized alongside photos that will endow readers with ample 
knowledge of situations, obstacles, and recommendations that may prove useful when 
organizing resupply ventures. 
 
Unfortunately, staying in one safe location will not be beneficial in any long term survival plan. 
Without restocking our food supply and essential goods, we will become weak and become 
easily overcome by zombies when forced to leave or starve to death. We must be prepared to 
leave our home and security to improve our quality of life and gather necessary supplies. 
Planning ahead will help you and our citizens of the Salt Lake valley avoid the most perilous 
outcomes.  
 
In order to effectively plan your outing, you should start with knowing your destination. Plan 
on how to travel there, and then return back with the needed supplies. What mode of 
transportation will be needed and know the route well in case of an emergency. Before 
embarking on the journey you must decide on Once you arrive at the target site, you should 
scout the surrounding for herds of zombies and potential dangers. Then plan on how to 
navigate the building or how to acquire the needed supplies.  
 
The expected result of the white paper is to give the correct data and assets for a fruitful 
stockpile run. We have provided data on exploring and fundamental things one ought to have 
while being endlessly pursued from camp to camp for an unknown amount of time. Each topic 
spotlights you on what you have to do to be ready for any circumstances that may arise. 
Exploring the goal shows how you scout the zone of where your provisions will be, so as to 
ensure you are sheltered and know the lay of the land. The provisions show how you should 
dress and what you should carry on you while being in the wild for an unknown measure of 
time. The weapons recommended are the ones best for eliminating zombies, alongside advice 
that better prepares us for specific combat scenarios. 
Planing a Supply Run

Scouting the destination


Safety is your main priority during the 
zombie outbreak. However, when your 
survival demands that you venture out of 
your protected home to scavenge food, 
gather resources, or access drinking water, 
how can you be best prepared to venture 
into a fallen and dangerous world? 
Scouting out your area is essential in 
avoiding bodily endangering situations and  (​Image from​ Death is bad)

eliminating many fatalities. 


Preventing a Catastrophe:
Later in this document we will give detailed 
Fundamentals of scouting: information on how to survive emergency 
➢ Know the entrances/exits of the  situations, but how exactly can we 
building and/or area.  minimize their occurrence? Open and 
➢ Prepare how to crowd control  precise communication is critical so that 
zombies if necessary and where to  every team member is on the same page 
lead them  (no matter how large or small of a group, 
➢ Identify potential dangers of the  or how many times you have done this). 
area and when to avoid them in  Know exactly where to go if someone 
emergency situations  becomes injured and can not make it back 
➢ What uncommon scouting tools or  home. This location should always be 
weapons would you have to bring to  checked before entering the target area to 
this specific raid  guarantee that it is still safe and no 
➢ How many survivors and which  surprise, hungry visitors will be awaiting 
ones should accompany you on the  you in your desperate situation. Have a 
mission  plan on how to lead a herd away if their 
➢ Be conscious of how to reckon your  numbers exceed your ability to easily 
way back if an attack occurs overcome them. Leading a herd away can 
be necessary if you have a large party and 
don't want to risk getting caught due to 
You can also lure the zombies away with  moving slower or if someone has become 
sounds like alarms or car horns and large  injured impending them to outrun the 
fires.  zombies. The best way to do so is using the 
zombies against themselves. Do so by 
funneling them into narrow alleyways or 
passages, prepare ways to trip them up 
after you pass so that the first zombies 
stumble and jam up the path for the rest.

The Lay of the Land: a threat. Next you are going to want to 
Gathering information about where you  identify any entrances or exits, including 
intend to scavenge can be life saving if a  windows if necessary. Consider boarding 
situation doesn't go as planned. Having  up or blocking some areas or entrances if 
escape routes and knowing of secure  they pose a hazard. Now that you know the 
locations to seek refuge if needed can  outside is clear, try and draw out any 
make all the difference. Its true that being  zombies that may already be inside by 
out in the open and exposed to danger is a  making fairly loud noises, however be 
risk itself while scouting your destinations.  careful to watch around you for any extra 
However, the time spent planning for worst  zombies in the vicinity to be drawn as well. 
case scenarios will always be beneficial and  Once you have cleared the open area of 
help identify when the stakes are too high  zombies, enter the building like a swat 
for low rewards. Our very terrain can be a  team would storming a room, always 
major ally or deadly hazzard if we are not  having someone watch your back and in an 
prepared to face the likely outcomes of  aggressive fighting stance. J. L. Bourne 
zombie attacks, becoming cornered, having  emphasised that sticking close to walls and 
an injured ally, ect. We have mountains and  corners is the last thing you want to do. 
the valley to consider taking advantage of  Being in the open is much safer because 
but forests might provide zombies the  there will be fewer treacherous surprise 
ability to move undetected. Prepare a way  attacks and you will have more distance 
to funnel large masses into smaller groups  between you and unseen lethal bites (Day 
so that you can reduce a zombie herd to  by Day Armageddon-Shattered Hourglass). 
nothing but lifeless corpses. Having a hide  Clear every room before collecting what 
out until it's safe to travel again is always  you came for and consider taking a quick 
essential if things don't go as planned.  break to rest once the building is safe. 
Stashing weapons or emergency supplies in  Becoming too fatigued will put your life at 
various locations can be helpful as well. If  risk on the journey back.
this information is clearly defined and well 
known by everyone in your group,  What you're looking for is never worth 
decisions can be made easier under high  sacrificing a life over, so plan accordingly 
stress and dangerous scenarios, especially  and avoid unnecessary risks by learning 
if the group gets divided.  and respecting your terrain 
 
 
Scouting a building:  
Before entering a building you should take   
a lap around the perimeter and check for   
zombies on the outside that could become 
Plan of travel 
During a zombie outbreak staying in one 
place can be considered more of a 
disadvantage than an advantage. Unless 
you have a stable and running fortified 
base/bunker and have considered all the 
possible zombie scenarios, it’s probably a 
good idea to plan out travel days and have 
a goal in mind. Whether it’s finding supplies 
or finding other people. Keeping yourself 
planted in one place has its eventual 
downfalls like a supply drought and 
uneasiness. 
 
Lay of the land and limitations:
Utah is known for the large mountains that 
surround us. The Wasatch range can either 
be our best asset or our worst. The 
mountains can be our best friend when 
traveling. Although it does take more time 
to walk through, avoiding the main streets  You can use Topographical maps like this on of 
and highways where zombies can be. Utah  the Wasatch front. They use green and white 
colors to distinguish wooded areas from cities 
has its valleys and mountains so when 
and contour lines to represent changes in 
elevation. 
 
 
you’re traveling, you have to consider if 
hiking up a mountain or   
walking around the mountain would be the 
best option in terms of time and distance. 

Distance to Destination:
Usually a map should have a scale to
measure the distances ( Miles or km )in
between cities. This map has it on the top
right corner showing the equivalence of 40
miles. A neat little trick you can do to
measure distance is to take a strip of paper
and line it up with the city you’re in and your
destination. For example, you’re in Payson
and want to get to Price, make a mark on
the strip of paper with both cities on it like I
have with the picture on top left. Take the
paper and use the scale in the top right to
measure how far it's going to be. We have
to travel more than 40 miles according to
the map scale.

How long:
Studies by Yong Yang, PhD and Ana V.
Diez-Roux, PhD, MD shows general
population groups usually take 15 minutes to
walk a mile.​(Yong Yang, PhD and Ana V.
Diez-Roux, PhD, MD, “Results”)​ This is what
we are going to base our time of travel on. Of
course, it’s going to vary to every person
because of what they can and can’t do, but for
now we are going to use this research
provided to us to measure our time of travel.
From Payson to Price a rough estimate is 55 miles depending on where you start. Every mile is
15 minutes so 15 * 55 = 825 minutes, converting that to hours, it’ll take roughly 13 hours and 45
minutes on foot without breaks. A car would significantly reduce these times, but for now we are
considering worse case scenario without a car.

Transporting the goods back:


In terms of something potentially lightweight
and able to carry a lot, a backpack is the way
to go. A backpack can be found almost
anywhere around you. Whether it's a school
backpack or hiking backpack. The difference
between a school backpack and hiking
backpack are the school pack puts the weight
on your shoulders and the hiking pack puts
the weight on your hips allowing you to carry
more weight for longer distances comfortably.
Considering how school is mandatory
between the ages of six to eighteen.​(FindLaw
Team, "Utah Compulsory Education Laws")​ A
backpack designed to carry school books can
quickly become a medical bag . It’s not too straining when walking unless too much weight is
added. For storing liquids, things like jerry cans and canteens would make for good storage. A
car would be the preferred method for anyone when it comes to transporting goods, but if you
don’t have access to one a sled during the winter or a hand wagon of some sort could do the
trick.
 
Supplies  
 
Clothing  
Always dress for the worst weather   
conditions, it is recommended to wear 3   
layers. First, Wool or synthetic material for   
an underlayer is really good because they   
retain the least amount of sweat. The   
second is a fleece layer, this is the 
insulations and what will trap the heat in. 
The last is a loose layered clothing to shield 
yourself from wind and rain. (How to Dress 
in Layers, REI). Lean towards colors that 
blend in with your environment.  

 
Making a Fire  

 
Survival layers  

Pack
Making a Fire Having a daypack to a backpack is essential 
In order to make a fire you first need to  if you are going out for a day trip or 
either have waterproof matches, a lighter  possibly longer. A survival knife could have 
or flint and steel. Other additional items  many different purposes, the most 
that you can have on you are a striker so if  important is cutting anything, making 
you do have matched you have a clean  kindling for a fire, cutting up your food, 
surfaces to strike a flame. A candle is only  cutting rope or using it against predators. 
essential for when you are stuck in the  Always carry a first aid kit in you back you 
dark, a candle (even a small one) can burn  should have the supplies to treat a wound 
for at least 4-6 hours.    caused by the largest weapon you carry. A 
  compass and a signaling mirror are 
  important for seeing what direction you are 
  going in and if you need to flag someone 
down. Rope is important for climbing or 
catching, two cords are the best one should 
be at least 15m long and can hold your 
body weight. 
 

Figure 2 What do have in 

Figure 1. Best Bags   Shelter


A tarp would be the best option that would 
take up the least amount of room. Sleeping 
Food bag like a mummy bag is the best option if 
You should always have some sort of food  you have room to carry and are unaware of 
to make up for the calories you lose while  how long your journey is going to be. 
being out. The best is anything high in  If you have to take shelter on the ground 
calories so you can maintain your body  do so at the top of a hill inside a car with 
weight. At least 1 pot to boil water, either  your hand on the e-brake, that way if you 
to filter the water make something.   get over run you can pull the brake and roll 
down hill. In small numbers they are no 
problem, but in more than 10 they can 
bash the car open and pick you out of it like 
lobster meat from a shell(Day by Day 
Armageddon-Shattered Hourglass).

 
Homemade granola bars  
 
 
Survival Shelter  
 
 
 
 
 
Weaponry Close-Range Bladed Weapons
Very effective in close range, swords can 
Effectiveness and efficiency​ is  create sweeping motions and potentially 
paramount when dealing with a savage  take out multiple threats at the same time. 
threat like a zombie. Where they may have  Knives are similarly effective in one-on-one 
some physical strength, they are no match  encounters and have the added 
for strategy and intellect, or firearms.  convenience of being pocketable. 
Ordinarily, zombies are dealt with using an 
incredible array of weaponry, which may 
come in many forms: 

Close-Range Blunt Weapons


Fig. 2 Katana Fig. 3 Tactical Knife 
Many situations may call for a blunt 
weapon when dealing with zombies. Up 
The trauma inflicted by a short 
close and personal distances are great 
blade boasts ample sufficiency 
examples of a time where one would use a 
in penetrating flesh. (Paiva, 779) 
blunt weapon. A mace, sledgehammer, or 
Fig. 4 Brainstem Injury by 
any hard, sturdy end that can be used 
Penetrating Head Trauma with a 
against a zombie.  Knife. 
  Knives and swords also suffer from lack of long 
range and are seldom effective in combat 
  scenarios involving more than one zombie. 
 
 
  Handguns
  Handguns are some of the best weapons to 
  have at all times because of their diverse 
  usability and compact form. Regardless of 
  whether at a short or medium distance, a 
  handgun is fit for managing in excess of a 
Fig. 1 Mace  few zombies in a short period of time. 
Due to their reliance on a short form factor,   
weapons such as the mace shown above are   
not well suited for any zombie encounter with 
more than one or two enemies. 
 
 
 
  
 
Fig. 5 Semi-Auto Handgun 
Handguns carry the detriment of low 
ammunition in a single magazine, as well as 
being less powerful and accurate than their rifle   
counterparts.   Grenades
Grenades provide an excellent response to
groups of zombies. The explosion will blast
Mail the fragments into zombies, tearing through
Chainmail is an excellent defense any of them within a short blast radius and
against the rough, unforgiving teeth of causing serious trauma. One of the best
the undead. As their teeth clash against methods for controlling crowds.
 
the mail, they will not pass through the
 
strong metal.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fig. 7 Grenade 
Fig. 8 Chainmail 
Hand grenades are a one-time use weapon, 
Chainmail bears significant weight to any user 
making them significantly less efficient than 
that wears it, making it only ideal in intense 
firearms.
combat situations. 

 
Rifles  
Rifles are important for fighting hordes of   
zombies from medium or long range. They   
can hold large magazines so there is plenty   
or ammunition during a sustained   
encounter with zombies.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fig. 6 AK-47 
Rifles require much more room to store and go 
through ammunition much more quickly than a 
handgun. 
Quick survival tips for your Journey

The building you are gathering in is best chance of rescuing the trapped people 
surrounded... is to distract the horde away from the 
If by some chance you had the forethought  building. You can do this using various 
to prepare for the possibility of being  forms of noise. If you have multiple people 
surrounded. You should have setup a  and vehicles, this job is made a lot easier. 
sound lure, like a remote controlled siren  You can have one person honk their horn 
or alarm clock somewhere nearby(Day by  and maybe fire off a few shots To get the 
Day Armageddon), but not too far away  hordes attention. When the horde moves 
from the building so you can trigger it  towards them, they should slowly start 
when you need to make an escape. But if  driving away leading the horde with them . 
you didn’t have the chance or tools  When the majority of the horde has left, 
available to set it up. You're not shit out of  the rest of the people in your group can 
luck yet, There are still a few options  start killing the stragglers before the 
available to help you escape.   trapped people come out.  
   
If you are lucky enough to have only a  However, if you are alone and need to 
small amount of zombies surrounding you.  rescue someone trapped. You can attempt 
You can try to sneak out during the night.  a modified version of the previous plan. 
However, you will want Night Vision  You will still need something to bait the 
Goggles to reduce that chance of running  horde away from the building. Explosives, 
into a zombie you didn't see.   Car Alarms or even a loud alarm clock 
  could be used as a lure. If by chance you 
If it looks like there may be a thunderstorm  don’t have any of those tools available, you 
coming. You should wait so you can use the  could try using the horn of your car and 
thunder to mask the sound of your shots or  driving away slowly to draw the horde away 
any other loud noises during your escape.  from the building.The tricky part of this 
It should be noted that non silenced  plan is finding a point to turn back and 
weapons will be audible over the sound of  race towards the survivors to pick them up. 
the thunder at close distances. Even  This turning point needs to allow you a 
silenced weapons may be audible at  path back to the survivors that does not 
extremely close distances(Day by Day  require you to plow through the horde, but 
Armageddon-Beyond Exile).   far enough away that you can get back and 
  pick up the survivors before the horde 
catches up to you. While executing this 
You come across someone trapped in plan don’t forget to let the trapped 
surrounded building... survivors know what you are doing so they 
If you come across someone trapped inside  can be ready for your return (Day by Day 
a building surrounded by Zombies. Your  Armageddon). 
 
(Isolation)
 
You come across a horde on the highway...
If for some reason you are traveling down a clogged highway and come across a horde of 
zombies. You could attempt to climb on top of a Semi trailer and lie down. You will have to 
remain very quiet and still as you wait for the horde to pass by (Day by Day 
Armageddon-Shattered Hourglass).  
 
If there happens to be an empty sleeper Semi truck nearby, you could climb inside, close all 
the curtains, and hide in the back keeping out of sight(Day by Day Armageddon-Ghost Run). 
The problem with this plan is that if they discover you are inside and don’t move on. You will 
become trapped inside waiting for the inevitable where they either break through the doors to 
get inside or you starve to death waiting for rescue.

Citations

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Bourne, J.L. Day by Day Armageddon: Beyond Exile. Narrated by Jay Snyder, Audible, 2010.
Audiobook

Bourne, J.L. Day by Day Armageddon: Shattered Hourglass. Narrated by Jay Snyder, Audible,
2012. Audiobook

Bourne, J.L. Day by Day Armageddon: Grey Fox. Narrated by Jay Snyder, Audible, 2014.
Audiobook

Bourne, J.L. Day by Day Armageddon: Ghost Run. Narrated by Jay Snyder, Audible, 2016.
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https://statelaws.findlaw.com/utah-law/utah-compulsory-education-laws.html

https://boreal.net/articles/survival-training/critical-survival-items.php

Keitetsi, C., Antonelli, P., & Jackson, R. (2014, October 29). AK-47 (Mikhail Kalashnikov).
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​ ttps://zombie.fandom.com/wiki/Melee_Weapons.​
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Chainmail (n.d.) Retrieved from


https://www.amazon.com/Medieval-Renaissance-Haubergeon-Replica-Chainmail/dp/B00
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