NEW IDEA!!!
Ok, haven’t heard anything remotely like this in 4 pages, so I’ll be the first:
1:flashlight
2:Best ladder available
3:bottle of water
So here’s my theory: I think anyone not carrying a light source is making a mistake. If it’s pitch black like the premise says (besides exit lights which don’t do much in a huuuuge store like home depot), you’ll need this at least at the beginning to get where you want to go, especially if you intend on hiding at all. so, here’s what I do: head straight for the breakroom using my flashlight, and rip out the plumbing to whatever sink/water fountain is there.
Then I find a high spot that’s not climbable by any means except a ladder (I.E. not climbing the shelves). Preferably something you can’t knock over (something you could do to shelves). Hang out up there until everyone is dead. That’s what the water is for, so you can last longer than the other guys. It should give you at least an extra day or so of life. I’d bank on no one else having this idea, since I haven’t seen it presented anywhere else on here.
It seems like about half the people wouldn’t have lights, since half of you guys suggested you wouldn’t, so your early move to the breakroom is likely to be successful, since the non-lighted guys are gonna be moving slow at the beginning. No traps will be set early on.