If The Zombie Apocalypse Happens, Scientists Say You Should Head For The Hills

Tech Insider ^ | October 31, 2015 | Kevin Loria

[DogByte6RER]

If the zombie apocalypse happens, scientists say you should head for the hills

If - or when - the zombie apocalypse comes, those of us in big cities are in trouble, according to research presented at the American Physical Society March meeting on March 5, 2015.

Starting in a big city like New York or Atlanta would mean you are basically screwed from the start if the epidemic had already hit there, according to Alex Alemi, a graduate student at Cornell University and part of the research team.

You are much better off starting further away from people, they say, which gives you a better chance of avoiding infection. Ideally, you'd escape to an almost empty region like the Rocky Mountains.

"I'd love to see a fictional account where most of New York City falls in a day, but upstate New York has a month or so to prepare," Alemi said in the APS press release.

Authentic disease modeling

Alemi and colleagues used standard disease models to estimate the zombie infection rate around the US, assuming that humans would need to be infected by a zombie bite (of course). Also following standard protocol, zombies travel only by walking and wouldn't die naturally but would need to be "killed," presumably with a well-placed blow to the head.

Essentially, they used a realistic model that's very similar to the way epidemiologists calculate the spread of other viruses, but using fictional parameters unique to zombies. They did make some assumptions, including a transportation infrastructure collapse. It's hard to imagine airports staying operational for long in such a scenario.

[DogByte6RER]

[DogByte6RER]

[max americana]

So iron maiden was right?

[SkyDancer]

Same scientists who proclaim global warming is real. As for me, stock up on 12ga. stuff.

[angcat]

LOL ... Who was the retard that researched this?

[Drew68]

For most Americans, heading to the hills only means that while zombies won’t kill you, a thousand other things will, primarily the inability to provide for yourself food and shelter.

[max americana]

Yup. probably the next article will be “When aliens invade, hide in your house”.

[Old Sarge]

For your edible-cation...

Also note DogByte6RER’s epic pic!

[Blood of Tyrants]

If there were a zombie apocalypse, you only need to last until the zombies decompose away into nothing. A few weeks at the most.

[556x45]

LOL, ya...but they dont know enough to figure that out. Once they get to ‘the hills’ Im sure there will be many thousand ‘not what?’ accompnied by dumb looks. At least the bears will be well fed.

[palmer]

Essentially, they used a realistic model that's very similar to the way epidemiologists calculate...

Essentially, GIGO.

[DogByte6RER]

Agreed!

How come the TV and movie zombies never show the walking corpses covered with flies, maggots and other vermin?!? I would also expect that the crows, vultures and other carrion would make quick meals out of all of them in just a few hours.

[Mastador1]

For most Americans, heading to the hills only means that while zombies won’t kill you, a thousand other things will, primarily the inability to provide for yourself food and shelter.

Or inbred cannibal hillbillies!

[circlecity]

I really don ‘t think it takes a “disease model” to establish the patently obvious.

[needmorePaine]

How come the TV and movie zombies never show the walking corpses covered with flies, maggots and other vermin?!?

You answered your own question.

[JimRed]

Amazing that so much time is wasted talking about this topic as though it were real!

Or am I wrong-thinking and it’s just for fun?

[VanDeKoik]

I’ll be so glad when this stupid Zombie fad ends.

[ConjunctionJunction]

For your zombie ping list.

[hal ogen]

Even without anjy zombie apocalypse you are better leaving the cities as soon as you can. Ferals/Zombies...what’s the difference?

[TomGuy]

"I'd love to see a fictional account where most of New York City falls in a day, but upstate New York has a month or so to prepare," Alemi said in the APS press release.

Except that is is Los Angeles, that is what AMC's Fear the Walking Dead is trying to show. The 'virus' inflicted LA and within 11 days, it had spread to several other states.