Does the movie 28 Days Later really relate to prepping and survivalism? Probably more that you think.I enjoy the zombie craze over recent years and have seen many of the movies. Some are way better than others, trust me. After you watch and enjoy these types of movies for the entertainment value, I'd encourage my readers to go back and watch again from an analytical perspective of what's happening, who survives, how do individuals and the public react would all be questions to look for answers to.
Considering that "Zombies" are a symbolic representation of any type of SHTF situation, you can apply many of the lessons learned and character failures as a lesson for prepping and surviving a catastrophic or less than catastrophic event.
Below is a list of some similarities that I think will be shared when SHTF.
Change in Our Immediate Reality
First, there will be a shock factor where people will find themselves in a mental vacuum of not comprehending what has occurred. Watch news footage of real people respond to horrific events such as 911 and natural disasters. They cannot fathom that a skyscraper just completely collapsed several blocks away, so there mind goes blank and their reaction slows. Many interviews after a tornado or television scenes after someone opens fire in a public setting all demonstrate the "I didn't know what was happening" reaction. There will be a significant change in our reality that we will need to respond to.
Cities are a Danger Zone
Large to medium sized cities and metropolitan areas will become chaotic exponentially faster than other sparse areas. Everything bad will be magnified in these areas whether it is a flu virus, MERS, SARS or other communicable disease simply due to the number of concentrated people. The effects of a natural disasters as well as a simple blackout will erupt in the city. Metro preppers should have a solid plan to shelter in place or evacuate at the first inkling of trouble.
Warnings Signs Do Occur
In the movie, 28 Days, the main character Jim simply wakes up after the virus has spread throughout Great Britain. Unlike this movie scene, too often there are warning signs days (or even longer) before something is going to go down. Preppers are generally tuned in to news and watchful for indicators. This holds true for a hurricane, snow storm, or even an earthquake if you think about it. Most people aren't watching the growing number of seismic activity events as a sign of possible earthquake in a nearby area, but the signs are there is one is paying attention. There are also warning signs for an economic collapse or a CME (coronal mass ejection). We just have to know where to get the information, understand it, and prepare as best we are able.
There Aren't Any Know It All's
Some people are just going to be more prepared and better equipped or higher skilled to deal with and survive various situations. It's an important part of effective prepping to realize this and work to identify and connect through relationships with these groups. The 'lone wolf' survivalist has much greater odds of failure than someone in a family or group in the same situation.
Many military and former military serving in foreign countries can tell stories and describe real SHTF situations with enemies and the way people generally react in bad situations. They make a great resource for us to understand first hand so we can be better prepared. Short of that, I've often quoted Oscar Wilde in that "life imitates art", so unless you have been in, around, or through a real SHTF problem, cinematic art may give the rest of us a glimpse into what it could be like.
Thanks!
