How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse in Montevallo, AL

In the event of a zombie apocalypse, residents of Montevallo, AL should have an effective plan for dealing with the crisis. This article offers some helpful advice:

About Montevallo
Montevallo, Alabama is a small town roughly 35 miles south of the city of Birmingham. In a zombie apocalypse, this proximity to a major metropolitan area increases the chances that residents of the town will need to take steps to secure themselves against the horde.

Being a college town centered around the University of Montevallo, the population of the town fluctuates on a seasonal basis. In the summer, the town shrinks dramatically, but this is followed by a swell in early fall with the influx of new students. Since zombie outbreaks are intensified at higher population densities, the risk of a severe zombie outbreak in Montevallo peaks during the fall, and tapers off throughout the rest of the year.

Where To Make A Stand
Ideally, the university grounds are the most defensible position on campus. Most entrances to the campus have wrought-iron gates which can be closed. While these are not likely to keep out an aggressive horde, the gates may slow them down.

A structure known as the Tower provides a central command location. Formerly a historic water tower, the Tower has been converted to office space. There is only one entrance which can be guarded from the inside. Survivors making a stand in the Tower are advised to prepare a fast-access wire-based escape slide to the roof of other nearby buildings in the unlikely event that the Tower is overrun. The roof of the Tower provides a commanding view of the area.

A few dozen meters from the Tower is the Anna Irvin Dining Hall. Since the dining hall must be prepared to serve three daily meals to most of the University's student body, there should be ample foodstuffs. It is unknown how much of the food is nonperishable, so preliminary scouting efforts should take stock of which food will go bad quickly, so it can be used first.

The student dormitories may be a lucrative source of supplies, including the possibility of finding weaponry of various types, but they can be very dangerous places to explore. The dorms are likely to be crawling with zombified students, and the narrow corridors can quickly compromise a human survivor's speed advantage over the shambling horde. Those foolhardy or brave individuals who wish to explore the dormitories during a zombie outbreak are advised to go slowly and try to lure zombies out of the dorm one or two at a time, where they can easily dispatched.

The nurse's office, located in Main hall, may be a source of useful medical supplies, but do note that in the early stages of a zombie outbreak, many newly-infected will make their way to the nurse's station, where they may have succumbed to the zombie virus. Main Hall is also the largest dorm on campus, making it exceedingly dangerous.

Where To Find Weaponry
Montevallo lacks both a gun shop and a Wal-mart, making the acquisition of firearms somewhat difficult. The best places to look would be the city police department and the campus police department.

The university athletics department may be a good place to find bludgeoning weaponry, though it is worth noting that Montevallo's many trees are a good source of limbs which can be fashioned into sturdy clubs.

Where To Go When You Need To Get Out Of Town
Due to its proximity to Birmingham, Montevallo is not a good place for a long-term stronghold. Eventually, the number of zombies in the vicinity will increase to overwhelming numbers. If local and national forces have not been able to contain the zombie outbreak, survivors are advised to get out of town. Heading west is advised, as this route will take you into more rural regions where zombie density is likely to be lower. South is another option, but note that Montgomery, Alabama, another metropolitan area (albeit a smaller one than Birmingham), lies in that direction.

Good luck.