Don’t panic !! The dead haven’t reanimated and started wandering the planet in search of human flesh and brains to munch on!! I haven’t gone all fictional either grasping at random things to write about.

The idea of a Zombie Apocalypse has been around for quite a while now and has possibly had a little more revitalisation recently. From films to TV and in our video games too, if you don’t know what a zombie is then you may have been in suspended animation for the last twenty years.

Okay I should probably admit a slight admiration for the horror film genre which I do have. However, at the top of that list are zombie films. A couple of favourites being the Resident Evil series and 28 Days Later. Oh, and I know its not exactly terrifying, but Sean of the Dead is pure genius in my book. Not forgetting the recent TV hit The Walking Dead.

One thing that came to light and certainly made me chuckle was when Farsight PRS began investigating, the locations would be compared and rated for their ability to be base during said Zombie Apocalypse. An exercise we performed in jest, but all took quite seriously. If that’s something you would like to hear more of, let me know and I’ll get the team to scribble down some ratings.

The point is I guess, that although we all have a laugh about it and make statements about our actions when the dead spring to life. In reality we probably wouldn’t last long at all! As far as Farsight PRS members are concerned we would be stood arguing over where to set up camp!

However, it would seem that the concept of zombies roaming the planet seeking our brains for dinner, isn’t as far fetched as we thought. Alright, the dead popping up out of the ground grunting and groaning as they walk isn’t a likely hood, but perhaps a disease epidemic could be. More modern films have started to embrace this concept making the cause of the zombies more viral than black magic or voodoo.

To be fair up until this point my comprehension of a zombie take over was purely fictional. However, it would seem its more likely than we first thought and highly plausible. I think though it would be a more simple killer disease rather than the living dead. However, it would be highly contagious hence the apocalypse concept.

This is where the CDC come in, they actually have a plan posted on their website for this. If that’s not concerning enough, it even gives you a little zombie background before detailing how to survive!

Zombies are often detailed as having their origins in Haitian and New Orleans voodoo, but if thought about a little more the concept of the dead walking the planet goes back farther than that. Ancient civilisations such as the Egyptians spoke of armies of the dead, I think. We all remember those mummies chasing Scooby and the gang right! Although in fairness the monster always turned out to be old Mr something or other. He would have got away with it as well if it wasn’t for those pesky kids, right?

Regardless of their origins the CDC offer up some good advice when confronted by the Zombie Apocalypse or indeed a natural disaster like a flood or earthquake. Below are some essential items you should have on standby in your home, you’ll need these before making your way to shelter.

• Water (1 gallon per person per day)
• Food (stock up on non-perishable items that you eat regularly)
• Medications (this includes prescription and non-prescription meds)
• Tools and Supplies (utility knife, duct tape, battery powered radio, etc.)
• Sanitation and Hygiene (household bleach, soap, towels, etc.)
• Clothing and Bedding (a change of clothes for each family member and blankets)
• Important documents (copies of your driver’s license, passport, and birth certificate to name a few)
• First Aid supplies (although you’re a goner if a zombie bites you, you can use these supplies to treat basic cuts and lacerations that you might get during a tornado or hurricane)

Reasonably sensible and common sense really. Next up is your route to safety, your evacuation plan, which includes meeting points for friends and family. You will need to get of populated areas fast and also get somewhere you can easily defend. Unfortunately the CDC doesn’t offer advise on these, but the Farsight PRS team have discovered a few during their investigations.

Okay, perhaps the advise from the CDC is a little tongue in cheek, but the advise is good for more believable disasters. You can never be too prepared, right?

Personally I’m still looking for a good location to utilise as my Zombie Apocalypse HQ, but there isn’t a chance that any reanimated corpse is sitting down to dinner, with my brains as the main course. Not a chance!

So, has the discovery of a mention about preparation for said Zombie Apocalypse made me believe that perhaps its time I made arrangements, plan my escape route to the country, put together my survival pack and locate my Zombie base of operations? Well no not really, I prefer to wing it during mass zombie attacks, makes them more fun right?

I think the closest we may get to a break out of flesh eating dead dudes roaming the planet is possibly mass epidemic of a virus which it more Outbreak than Night of the Living Dead! 

What do you think? Are you prepared ?

Here is the originally story on the actual CDC website no less !!

http://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2011/05/preparedness-101-zombie-apocalypse/