Could the zombie apocalypse be approaching? The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention has issued guidance in the event of a zombie outbreak in the United States.
In a Monday blog posting, “Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse,” Assistant Surgeon General Ali Khan writes, “There are all kinds of emergencies out there that we can prepare for.
“Take a zombie apocalypse for example. That’s right, I said z-o-m-b-i-e a-p-o-c-a-l-y-p-s-e. You may laugh now, but when it happens you’ll be happy you read this, and hey, maybe you’ll even learn a thing or two about how to prepare for a real emergency.”
The rise of zombies in pop culture has given credence to the idea that a zombie apocalypse could happen, Khan added.
“In such a scenario zombies would take over entire countries, roaming city streets eating anything living that got in their way,” he wrote. “The proliferation of this idea has led many people to wonder ‘How do I prepare for a zombie apocalypse?’”
Radiation leaks
CDC spokesman Dave Daigle told Fox News that the idea behind the campaign stemmed from an inquiry they received in the aftermath of the Japan earthquake and whether zombies would be a concern following radiation leaks.
“It’s kind of a tongue-in-cheek campaign,” Daigle told Fox News. “We were talking about hurricane preparedness and someone bemoaned that we kept putting out the same messages.”
The CDC hopes the post — which has quickly become the most popular ever story on the blog — will help raise awareness among the public of the need for emergency preparedness. It includes a range of tips and guidance for emergency plans.
“Perhaps surprisingly, the same steps you’d take in preparation for an onslaught of ravenous monsters are similar to those suggested in advance of a hurricane or pandemic,” Khan wrote.
“First of all, you should have an emergency kit in your house. This includes things like water, food, and other supplies to get you through the first couple of days before you can locate a zombie-free refugee camp (or in the event of a natural disaster, it will buy you some time until you are able to make your way to an evacuation shelter or utility lines are restored).”