WASHINGTON (AP) -- "The zombies are coming!" the Homeland Security Department says.
Tongue
firmly in cheek, the government urged citizens Thursday to prepare for a
zombie apocalypse, part of a public health campaign to encourage better
preparation for genuine disasters and emergencies. The theory: If
you're prepared for a zombie attack, the same preparations will help
during a hurricane, pandemic, earthquake or terrorist attack.
The Federal Emergency
Management Agency hosted an online seminar for its Citizen Corps
organization to help emergency planners better prepare their communities
for disaster. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
last year first launched a zombie apocalypse social media campaign for
the same purposes.
Emergency planners were
encouraged to use the threat of zombies - the flesh-hungry, walking dead
- to encourage citizens to prepare for disasters. Organizers also noted
the relative proximity to Halloween.
Among
the government's recommendations were having an emergency evacuation
plan and a change of clothes, plus keeping on hand fresh water, extra
medications and emergency flashlights.
A few
of the government's suggestions tracked closely with some of the 33
rules for dealing with zombies popularized in the 2009 movie
"Zombieland," which included "always carry a change of underwear" and
"when in doubt, know your way out."
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