Apocalypse Man: Survival Tactics Analyzed [ Part 1 ]

Just a few days ago, I was just watching TV on random channels until I hit the Armageddon Week in History Channel and find a particular interesting short documentary namely Apocalypse Man. The host is Rudy Reyes abbreviated into R.R for easy references, whom had served 7 years in Recon Marine, fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. So basically, he demonstrates all in 2 hours show on how to survive after the Armageddon strikes.  The shows you how to survives if there are no government after 72 hours, no law, no order . . . . .  After the Internet research, from what many people believed, it is filmed in Detroit.

Now, I am going to approach the show from ex-Pengakap point of view (S.T.O.P = Stop Think Observe and Plan !) and truly advices you what to do from the normal person perspective.

1. Proceed to the big city after the Apocalypse

R.R arguments:  Survival basis can be found there at the most surprising places even after a major disaster

STOP: In events of apocalypse, most peoples tries to flee the cities and loot the cities clean. Okay, maybe he is correct about finding the survival basis that looters may overlook, if you can outsmart them. Let's move on and see what we got in the dead city. 

2. Stay off the main highways, keep to the railroad

R.R argument: It is the places that let's you move quickly enough without any major obstacles and also       it is the less traveled route. Also, try to retrace your steps and try not to use same route twice. 

STOP: Travelling about during Armageddon will be much tougher and much more dangerous. So, railroad is less traveled route but beware of other survivors who are equipped with firearms as you do not have any covers to protect yourself. But, it is still generally safer compared to highways. Generally, you must do some exercises to increase your stamina.

3. Blend and hide with your surroundings, cover your tracks

R.R arguments: In apocalypse, people will become desperate no matter how biblical the people may be before apocalypse. They will try to fight with what the little left that you got. 

STOP: Yup, beware with all the people surrounding you and the first people you can trust is yourself. Stay clear from people unless you can ascertain they are not some shady characters. You can be never too careful. Covering your tracks is important as well to lose the people who may follow you secretly.

4. If you encountered a cut off bridge, use grappling hook to get across

R.R arguments: In Armageddon, Government will try to cut off access to limit movements. River will be too poisonous to swim across due to chemicals, sewerage and toxic poisons. Using a crowbar and ropes tied into butterfly knots between intervals, use it as an improvised grappling hooks. Keep steady and climb up and keep your concentration in check until you reach to safety.

STOP: First, the idea of using grappling hooks is dangerous as swimming across the rivers. In case that, if you fall into the river, you may be  drowned or suffer broken limbs in addition of aqua poisoning. It will be slow and prolonged painful death. Unless you are muscular and highly trained to do this stunts, never try it unless you are that desperate. Or if all else fail, try to build a makeshift raft. It is probably the most sensible idea or options that we have here.

5. Do a security sweep when you enter the building for shelter during the night

R.R arguments: You don't know who's been here and who is still been here. In case, you might meet peoples with bad attitudes, the  flash light could be your melee weapon. 

STOP: It is a good idea as you could survey the general layout of building to make sure that the building you stayed is completely devoid of people except you and companions. For the flashlight, to keep it going requires new batteries so I recommend the heavy duty hand cranked /solar powered flashlight as electricity is going to be very scarce.  

6. If possible, make your safe room on the 2nd floor

R.R arguments: It is high enough to hear voices/footsteps and it is low enough to jump off from that building in order make that hasty exit. 

STOP: Agree with that as you probably wouldn't be hurt much by the fall from 2nd floor (asides sprained ankles) unless you are fit enough. If possible, you can break the fall by using items around you such as mattress,bush or similar items. In addition, the place you stay must be secluded and secured. The safe room is also the place where you can defend yourself in case of intrusion and also the easy to get to exit in case things turns out wrong. 

7. Using a fine grade steel wool and 9 V batteries, you can make a fire tinder.

R.R arguments:   Fine steels that will glow hot during the frictions of power sources like batteries.

STOP: It may be great for starting fire but think about the availability of fresh batteries and steel wools. Plus, the batteries is greatly depleted from each usages of fire making therefore it is way much better to use bow drill fire methods just like old methods from scouts. 

8. Use bricks to cover the fire light and damp cardboard to absorb smokes

R.R arguments: You can keep yourself heated and safe and you might not want unwanted attentions from other people. 

STOP: Apart from keeping the people away from the fire akin to the moth who are attracted to light, there are possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning when burning inside the building. Hence, to build the fireplace, choose the place where it is near the window to allow air circulations. You might not want to suffocate under carbon monoxide poisoning which may lead to death or worst, brain cell damage due to poisons accumulated in the brain. 

9. Elevator shaft is one of the way to escape stealthily 

R.R arguments: It is one of the strongest construction elements in the building. He claims that techniques is easier than you think as you need to jump about 1/2 meter and grab it tight and slide down slowly

STOP: It is the strongest construction elements in the building, no doubt as the lift can support up to 1200 kgs but there is caveat, somehow if there are leakage from pipe makes the cable slippery to hold. Also if the pillar beam supports the cable is corroded, you might as well jump to your death as the pillar is furthermore weakened by your weight and breaks . Also, you also must be sure that your arms stamina can support your weight until you reach the 1st floor at least. 

10. If you stumble across residential area, you may forage what is left behind

R.R argument: The house with doors/windows intact may offer rich pickings and also while inside the house observe for any signs of life in the house such as forced entry door, stumped cigarettes butts, shoe/foot prints different from yours. You may found items such as canned food in basement, Sterno fuel , bicycle pump, anti freeze and even drain cleaner which you might find uses later. As the old proverbs say: " one man junk is another man treasure !" . Throw your morality asides, there are no police to watch you anymore. 

STOP: It is a great idea but in raiding houses for resources beware of the occupant that might not react too well into intruding their territory although originally, it may not be their home at first place. Just be quick and extra careful when forage in this conflict intense areas. Pray hard that luck on your sides. The last thing you want to attract is the other survival mobs who attracted to your door kicking noise and hot lead spew to your face.

11. Salvage any valuable info that can be traded from library

R.R argument: In apocalypse world, the electricity didn't exist anymore to supply the Internet, cellphones or laptop. Hence, an old hard copy books is still the best to get the information. R.R also states that in Katrina disaster, none of the public library reported being looted. Library also provides informations that couldn't be found anywhere else. R.R also finds some maps which will definitely make  travelling more easier.

STOP: It is the best idea and I absolutely agree with R.R on this one. Also, with widespread of blackout information, those with more informations rules and if possible you can trade infos that you had with other survivors. In the documentary, R.R mentions about Dewey Decimal System and I presents the most important Dewey number that will probably saves your life later. 

380- Commerce, Transportation and Communications

520 - Astronomy

540 - Chemistry & Allied Science

610 - Medicine

640 - Home economics

620 - Engineering

630 - Agriculture

900 - History, Geography

12. Travel across sewers to reach your destination

R.R arguments: Sewers follows an exact same route as the road above. Sewers will be more cleaner since it is no longer being used with flushing. They will be more cleaner and you may be able to set your home here.

STOP: What? Sewer is a sewer no matter how relatively clean it is with all that bacteria and viruses. Also, sunlights also didn't reach to most of the sewer area parts which will be an effective disinfectant to kill most viruses. If you met other undesirable people in the sewer, question is how to fight in tightly enclosed space and also there are no place to go to unless if you run backwards which will probably run back to point zero.

Stay tuned for part 2, survivalist. 

*****UPDATE***** : 
Sorry for inconveniences and broken link ,  here is the link to 2nd part of the article 

http://zeushammer.blogspot.com/2010/07/apocalypse-man-survival-technique.html