Zombies Ate the CDC!

So I had originally prepared an in-depth look at the time and effort it takes to write/polish/produce a book these days, but then zombies attacked the CDC.

Or, rather, the CDC posted a disaster plan in case of the zombie apocalypse. Obviously a joke on their part to prepare people for hurricane season and generate traffic to their site. Well, the second part of that plan worked like a charm, as so many people checked out the zombie page that it crashed! Here's a snippet:

So what do you need to do before zombies…or hurricanes or pandemics for example, actually happen? 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). Below are a few items you should include in your kit, for a full list visit the CDC Emergency page.

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)


Notice they didn't mention stocking up on guns and ammo or learning how to wield melee weapons, so this is obviously tongue-in-cheek. And I appreciate their efforts to get people prepared, whether it be for the ever-present natural disaster or the impending zombie apocalypse. The CDC also takes a second to reassure us that they won't be roaming the city streets with automatic weapons, taking out shamblers and survivors alike. (That's the army's job.) But I've seen enough movies to know not to trust those brainy, courageous and oh-so-handsome scientists!*

Until the day comes when the dead walk the Earth (which might be this Saturday), it's good to know the CDC is prepared to handle the less zombified emergencies.

Tune in tomorrow morning to see this week's installment of the Midnight Society, which is devoid of the undead...more or less.

~VK

*Disclaimer: I may or may not moonlight as a microbiologist when I'm not writing...