Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse | Video

Joel Porter | 4/25/2012

He`s the son of a famous Hollywood comedian, but he`s predicting a grim future. Author Max Brooks, the son of Mel Brooks, was in Bismarck this week to teach hundreds of people how to save their own skin if and when they`re attacked by zombies. They attack at once, and they come in great numbers.

"The first thing and the last thing and the only thing you need to do in a zombie outbreak is think. Take a deep breath. Look around, see where the dangers are," Brooks said. "Don`t panic. Panic has never helped anybody."

Many people still haven`t accepted the fate of a zombie apocalypse. Some who have and others who are fans of the books were at the Belle Mehus to hear Brooks share his lessons of survival.

"It`s fun to think about. I don`t take it too seriously, but everybody has a plan, right?" zombie fan Kevin Fanous said.

"I think people are fascinated by zombies, because it`s a great way to explore their apocalyptic fantasies without it getting too real. You can see society break down," Brooks said. "But as long as it`s zombies, you can sleep at night."

"I think it could happen, personally. With the way stuff`s going down and the new viruses that have been coming out or new flus and stuff," fan Trent Brewer said.

Those who live in North Dakota feel safe in a farming state with frigid temperatures to stop any would-be zombies in their tracks. But Brooks says don`t get too comfortable.

"I think this may be one of the more dangerous places, literally because it looks safer than most, because you have a lot of space. Because everybody`s armed. I think that could lull people into a false sense of security. And before you know it, they`ll come swarming in from the coasts," Brooks said.

Brooks says one thing zombie video games and movies leave out: Gasoline, bullets and clean water are in short supply. He says instead, ride a bike and carry a hand tool such as a shovel or axe. However, there seems to be one agreed upon method for putting down the walking dead.

"Shooting them in the head stops the brain activity and drops them dead, rather than pumping rounds into them," Brewer said.

The movie "World War Z", based on the book, will be out in theaters next year. Brooks recently toured one of the movie sets in Scotland and says he won`t be making a cameo appearance.

COMMENT ON THIS STORY

BACK TO NEWS | BACK TO BISMARCK STORIES