Department Of Homeland Security Warns Of ‘Zombie Apocalypse’

The United States Department of Homeland Security exists to protect the country from all threats — even the undead.

Homeland Security’s Citizen Corps held an online seminar this month which pointed out that the same preparedness tactics one would use to survive a fictional zombie apocalypse can also be used to prepare for other natural or man-made disasters. If this sounds familiar, its because the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did the same thing last year.

The flier inviting people to the September 6 seminar said that the walking dead make for a great method of getting people interested in emergency preparedness.

“While the walking dead may not be first on your list of local hazards, zombie preparedness messages and activities have proven to be an effective way of engaging new audiences who may not be familiar with what to do before, during, or after a disaster, and to inject a little levity into preparedness while still informing and educating people,” the flier reads.

The webinar was to include a speaker from the CDC who worked on their zombie campaign and someone from the Kansas Department of Emergency Management who was scheduled to talk about Zombie Awareness Month, which is held each October to coincide with Halloween.

The Associated Press reported that, among the government’s recommendations as it pertains to preparing for a zombie apocalypse — or hurricane, earthquake or other disaster — are simple. They suggest that you have an emergency evacuation plan and a fresh change of clothes. They also recommend keeping fresh water on hand as well as extra medications and emergency flashlights.

Just in case you were worried that the government wasn’t kidding, The New York Daily News reported that, shortly after the CDC’s zombie campaign, they released a statement saying t he CDC is unaware of any illness that would cause the dead to return to life with a hunger for human flesh.

But as the old saying goes, always be prepared. Do you have a zombie contingency plan?