And so, just like that, we’re once again at the finale of another Walking Dead season. After the skull-crushing cliffhanger from this time last year, what exactly can we expect from this Sunday’s send-off?
With as many loose ends as Negan has enemies, the extended episode should at least tie up a few of those and so, too, a lot of burning questions will be answered: Will Dwight and Daryl ever see eye-to-eye? Who exactly can Rick, and indeed Negan, trust? And, most importantly, will Rick ever snare a darn deer?!
Whilst the comic will inevitably throw up a number of theories as to how the season will close, here are some of the best bets for the storylines that will keep fans on tenterhooks until its return in October:
Friend or Foe? No longer will Dwight kneel. Not for Negan anyway. After uncomfortably kowtowing to the Savior leader for the whole of the season, it seems a tad unfair on the guy that the first request of his new savior, Rick, is for him to ‘get on his knees’. At gunpoint, no less. Having said that, he did launch an arrow through Denise’s eye – albeit accidentally – so fair’s fair. Not that that’s any consolation for Daryl, his intended target. It remains to be seen whether Dwight really has switched allegiances or whether he is some kind of dastardly double-agent, but the finale should go some way to clearing that up.
All Hell breaks loose: It’s safe to say that this finale – as with every preceding edition – will be action-packed, blood-soaked and yet, hopefully, cliffhanger-free. Ever since the mid-season finale, Rick has been on a relentless crusade to recruit numbers for Alexandria’s cause: to dispatch of Negan and his cronies. While that is - let’s be honest - unlikely, we’re still likely to see a fight unlike any that has gone before. With Alexandria, Hilltop, The Kingdom, Oceanside and the Scavengers all heeding the call to ‘rise up’, the Saviors could be about to get a taste of their own medicine. Negan, however, may be more prepared for the impending chaos than any of those groups would like to believe…
Divided loyalties and ‘little birdies’: In the penultimate episode of the season, Negan divulged to Sasha that a ‘little birdie’ had told him that Rick and his gaggle of cohorts were ‘up to no good’. With so many divided loyalties right now – Eugene and Dwight being the prime examples – it is unclear as to who Negan’s snitch is. Or indeed if he is simply bluffing. Could it be one of Alexandria’s allies? A Kingdom know-it-all, perhaps? Possibly a gossiping Gregory? Or maybe, just maybe, a Judas in the form of Jadis, the Scavengers’ leader? One thing’s for sure, as the old adage goes: snitches get stitches
With a six month break between the upcoming finale and Season 8, now is the perfect time to kill two birds with one stone and fill that zombie-shaped hole in your summer.
Fun, but functional, The Walking Dead Survival Kit and ZPAK combo is perfect for Walking Dead fans. Contained within a high quality military style messenger bag, the survival kit could prove to be invaluable in a Zombie apocalypse or, indeed, more generic emergencies, providing 72 hours worth of supplies.
Supplementing the survival kit in this value-for-money combo is the ZPAK or, to give it it’s full name, the Zombie Preparedness Apocalypse Kit. Contained within a ZPAK branded water bottle are the perfect additions to the survival kit. Contents include a custom carabineer, emergency whistle and other essential survival items, while there’s even Walking Dead-inspired ZPAK artwork included to tide you over until Rick and his pals return in the Fall.
Have you established new year’s resolutions for 2017? Creating new year’s resolutions is a great method to hold yourself and your family accountable for the things you’d like to accomplish throughout the year ahead. Is improving your family’s safety among those resolutions? Have you developed a strong safety plan should an emergency or disaster situation occur? Even if you’re not a fan of setting new year’s resolutions, any step to help improve the safety of you and your loved ones should be implemented.
To strengthen your road towards family safety this year, you will want to:
Getting informed and staying informed on the many potential dangers within your area of residence is a key component to protecting yourself and loved ones this new year. According to a study by FEMA, “[only] one in three (32 percent) of the respondents reported being familiar with their local hazards.” These statistics indicate that a large percentage of families across the U.S. are simply unaware of the dangers their surroundings present. It remains that families of all sizes should be conscious of local hazards to able to prepare accordingly.
Since winter weather can change in an instant, it is also important to stay up-to-date with local weather changes as well. Not sure where to get the information you need? You are not alone. Structure your family’s safety and preparedness plan by utilizing information from trusted resources like FEMA and the American Red Cross.
As we know, natural disasters can strike at any moment. Right as we welcomed 2017, California experienced an “earthquake swarm” in Brawley, California where more than 100 earthquakes were felt across the region. The importance of being prepared for emergency situations like earthquakes is ever-increasing, yet still many Americans fail to take proper precautions. In the same FEMA study, they share, “52 percent of individuals reported having supplies set aside in their home for use during a disaster.” While we’re glad to be slightly above the halfway mark, as safety seekers, we should continue to work towards reaching the goal of 100 percent. Securing your home and vehicle with essential supplies not only increases family safety, but also increases the likelihood of survival should a disaster occur.
Strengthen your motivation to stay prepared throughout the year by setting a few safety-related new year’s resolutions. Keep in mind that emergency preparedness and family safety go hand in hand and do your part to stay prepared. Start the year off on a safe note, and continue that mentality all year-long!
We wish you a year full of safety for you and your entire family, we're here to help.
Winter is officially here, are your prep kits up to date? Make sure your kits have what you and your family need to survive the cold winter months should an emergency or disaster take place. We created a checklist to help you as you customize your home and car preparedness kits, take a look and stay safe!
❏ Emergency Water
❏ Emergency Food
❏ LED Flashlight
❏ First aid kit
❏ Multi Use Pocket Knife
❏ Mylar Space Blankets
❏ Emergency Weather Ponchos
❏ Emergency Body Warmers
❏ Glow-sticks for emergency lighting
Special needs/Elderly
❏ Medications and special items such as hearing aids (with extra batteries), glasses/contact lenses, canes etc.
Babies and Pets
❏ Baby supplies (formula, baby food, bottles, diapers, medicines etc.)
❏ Pet supplies ( pet food, collar/leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl, medicines etc.)
Outdoors/Weather
❏ Tools/supplies for securing your home in case of heavy winds
❏ Sand for flooding
❏ Warm coats, gloves/mittens, hats, boots, extra blankets and extra warm clothing for all household members
❏ Alternate heating methods (fireplaces or wood/coal-burning stoves)
More
❏ Extra batteries
❏ Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
❏ Sanitation/personal hygiene items
❏ Family and emergency contact information
❏ Copies of personal documents for all household members (medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
❏ Cell phone with chargers
❏ Extra cash
Remember to always add what is necessary for your family's specific needs. Stay warm and stay safe!