Checklist for the Coming Apocalypse

The CDC is advising parents to take some very practical steps to avoid the Coronavirus. Wash hands for 20 seconds while singing the ABCs. Don’t travel to China or Italy. Avoid touching your face.

As an avid consumer of post-apocalyptic shows, movies, and books I am here to tell that you that if you follow these tips you may very well avoid becoming sick. But what comes after? Popular culture has taught me that in the aftermath of a pandemic the world is never the same. Society as we know it may end and no one is giving us tips for that.

Don’t panic. We have you covered. There is still time to prepare for what shows like the Walking Dead and books like Station Eleven have taught me.

1. It is impossible to stockpile enough food. Very quickly supermarkets will be depleted, and you need a plan to feed your family. Instead of stocking up on canned goods which will last a couple of months at the most, learn how to plant and grow cops. Find a suitable patch of grass in your yard and get started. Learn how to hunt. Teach your children which plants are safe to eat and which to avoid. If the worst doesn’t come to pass you can still enjoy fresh, organic fruit at your fingertips this spring.

2. When the looting begins, go for antibiotics first. They won’t last forever but since a large number of people are likely to die from things we don’t give a second thought to in this pre-apocalyptic era have some on hand so you don’t survive the Coronavirus only to see your child suffer from an infected bug bite or tonsillitis that can’t be cured. Go for shoes second. There will be a lot of walking in the post-apocalyptic world and your feet will thank you.

3. Know how to defend yourself and your family. It’s unlikely that there will be zombies when the apocalypse arrives, but there will be bad guys who are just as threatening and scary. Get strong. Go to the gym and lift weights. Take a self-defense class. Learn how to use a low-tech weapon like knives or arrows. Guns will be useless after a while because there won’t be any more ammunition.

4. Find sources of freshwater. Water is life. There is no survival without water. Iodine tablets or some kids of personal water filter may be sufficient to last until pollution clears from the waterways.

5. When all order breaks down you may for a new community with a group of other survivors. Whatever the rules are for your community follow them. If you break one of your chosen community’s rules you will not be arrested and sent to jail — you will be kicked out. You will have a much lower chance of survival on your own. Give some thought now to what type of community might be best for you, large or small? One that stays in one location or one that is on the move?

6. Think about what you will need when the world as you know it ends. There will be no internet and no video games. Life will get boring in those moments you are not searching for your next meal. A deck of cards is a good choice since it is light and can be used to play lots of different games. Books are good at staving off boredom but can get heavy so choose wisely. Warm clothes will help save you from dying from exposure.

7. There will be a barter economy. Cash will be meaningless. Think about what you can offer that contributes to survival instead. My neighbors just planted four fruit-bearing trees and have been giving their vegetable garden a little more attention. Growing more food than you need is a great idea. Learning basic medical skills will allow you to provide a service that will be needed. Think out of the box and hone a skill that will be valuable when the apocalypse comes.

The good news is that if TV has taught me anything it is that very quickly a new normal develops after the pandemic had run its course so don’t worry — too much.