# Running from zombies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [August 30, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-zombies/633204 "2012-08-30T23:38:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-zombies/633204/1 "2012-08-30T23:38:27Z")
In the article [How long will electricity last during the zombie apocalypse](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2165/when-the-zombies-take-over-how-long-till-the-electricity-fails) the staff explored the idea of how long we would have before we ran out of power in the grid. My question is if you’re running from the zombie onslaught surely having a functional GPS would be useful (head for Alaska zombies have no body head so they’ll freeze like corpsicles). How long do I have to get to Alaska before my GPS stops working. I assume the satellites would last a while but my understanding is ground stations are also very important to the GPS system. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-zombies/633204/2 "2012-08-31T00:52:57Z")
Ground stations refine the signal: You know really well where the ground stations are, and so if the GPS in the ground station says it’s ten feet west of where it’s supposed to be, then you adjust all readings near that ground station ten feet east. The system thus won’t be as accurate without them, but it should be plenty accurate enough to enable you to find the Alcan Highway. Remember, the system was invented to guide soldiers through hostile territory, and in hostile territory, you wouldn’t have the benefit of any ground stations. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-zombies/633204/3 "2012-08-31T01:07:03Z")
Much as I enjoyed _Zombieland_, I just didn’t buy that the electricity would still be on that long. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-zombies/633204/4 "2012-08-31T02:48:59Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Much as I enjoyed _Zombieland_, I just didn’t buy that the electricity would still be on that long. How long did you think? From the column: > [@](#): > > Bottom line? My guess is that within 4-6 hours there would be scattered blackouts and brownouts in numerous areas, within 12 hours much of the system would be unstable, and within 24 hours most portions of the United States and Canada, aside from a rare island of service in a rural area near a hydroelectric source, would be without power. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-zombies/633204/5 "2012-08-31T04:12:20Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Much as I enjoyed _Zombieland_, I just didn’t buy that the electricity would still be on that long. I’d believe anything **Emma Stone** wanted me to. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-zombies/633204/6 "2012-09-01T03:08:38Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > I’d believe anything **Emma Stone** wanted me to. :: sigh :: Oh, Emma. Emma Emma Emma. Now you’ve got me sighing wistfully. The movie was taking place a month after the zombies started munching, according to the Columbus character, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![jmrcm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7c8e57/32.png) [@jmrcm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmrcm)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/running-from-zombies/633204/7 "2012-09-05T20:59:16Z")
If you need a GPS to find Alaska, God help you. I think you’ll be one of the first zombie lunches.