Identification

The first and most crucial part of surviving the infection is to be able to identify the initial threat. Even the most hardcore survivalist can be caught off-gaurd if not prepared. Many humans will not survive this first step, simply because the last thing anyone will think is that they are being attacked by a zomie and need to deal with it as such. They will not want to kill the thing that they innocently think is a another human being who needs help. You, however, are being warned now to be prepared and recognize the early warnings. This simple step will automatically put you further on the survival scale. So whether you're at the mall, a wedding, or just in your house, know that at any moment the infection could spread to your area. Stay alert. Stay vigilant. Stay alive. Here are some things you should keep an eye and ear out for.

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1. Homicides where the victims were killed by head shots or decapitation. The "murderers" are people like you: those who recognized the threat for what it truly was and dealt with it themselves. They are almost always declared murderers and are punished as such. Be careful of falling to such a fate.

2. Missing persons cases, especially ones in the wilderness or uninhabited areas. Is the story is photographed or preferably televised, pay careful attention to what degree of armament the search parties carry. One rifle, for example, is common. Anything much more may not be a simple case of missing persons.

3. Cases of "violent insanity" where the assaiant attacked close friends or family without any weapons. Try to find out if the attacker bit or tried to bite his victims. If yes, are any of the victims still in the hospital? Have any of them died within days of the injuries? These are serious signs to watch out for.

4. Riots or civil disturbances that began without provocation or any other logical cause.

5. Disease-based deaths in which either the cause is undetermined or seems highly suspect. Be on the alert for suspicious explanations such as West Nile virus or "mad cow" disease. These may be a cover-up.

6. Any of the above in which media coverage was forbidden. A total press blackout is rare in the U.S. The occurance of one is an immediate red flag. Do consider, however, that the cause of zero-press allowed doesn't always mean an attack of the living dead. But any event causing a government as media-conscious as our own to clamp down merits close attention. No matter what the truth is, it can't be good.

Once an event has tripped your sensors, keep track of it. Note the location and its distance from you. Watch for similar incidents around or near the original site. If within a few days or weeks these incidents do occur, study them carefully. Note the response of law enforcement and other government agencies. If they react more forcefully with each occurence, chances are that an outbreak is unfolding.

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Credits to much of this information goes to Max Brooks' "The Zombie Survival Guide"
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