In preparation for reminding us about preparation, the CDC has taken a ‘humorous’ approach.
Hurricane season begins on June 1st and the CDC has equated the preparation to the preparation of other natural disasters, such as a “zombie apocalypse”.
To be honest, the original Night of the Living Dead is one of my favorite movies, if not my favorite horror flick. It’s all about black and white film, the 60’s with a dash of civil rights.
Anyway, the CDC wants you to know this…
Better Safe than Sorry
Some of the supplies for your emergency kit.
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)
Once you’ve made your emergency kit, you should sit down with your family and come up with an emergency plan. This includes where you would go and who you would call if zombies started appearing outside your door step. You can also implement this plan if there is a flood, earthquake, or other emergency.
Family members meeting by their mailbox. You should pick two meeting places, one close to your home and one farther away.
Identify the types of emergencies that are possible in your area. Besides a zombie apocalypse, this may include floods, tornadoes, or earthquakes. If you are unsure contact your local Red Cross chapter for more information. Family members meeting by their mailbox. You should pick two meeting places, one close to your home and one farther away
Pick a meeting place for your family to regroup in case zombies invade your home…or your town evacuates because of a hurricane. Pick one place right outside your home for sudden emergencies and one place outside of your neighborhood in case you are unable to return home right away.
Identify your emergency contacts. Make a list of local contacts like the police, fire department, and your local zombie response team. Also identify an out-of-state contact that you can call during an emergency to let the rest of your family know you are ok.
Plan your evacuation route. When zombies are hungry they won’t stop until they get food (i.e., brains), which means you need to get out of town fast! Plan where you would go and multiple routes you would take ahead of time so that the flesh eaters don’t have a chance! This is also helpful when natural disasters strike and you have to take shelter fast.
Never Fear – CDC is ReadyGet a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Prepared
If zombies did start roaming the streets, CDC would conduct an investigation much like any other disease outbreak. CDC would provide technical assistance to cities, states, or international partners dealing with a zombie infestation. This assistance might include consultation, lab testing and analysis, patient management and care, tracking of contacts, and infection control (including isolation and quarantine). It’s likely that an investigation of this scenario would seek to accomplish several goals: determine the cause of the illness, the source of the infection/virus/toxin, learn how it is transmitted and how readily it is spread, how to break the cycle of transmission and thus prevent further cases, and how patients can best be treated. Not only would scientists be working to identify the cause and cure of the zombie outbreak, but CDC and other federal agencies would send medical teams and first responders to help those in affected areas (I will be volunteering the young nameless disease detectives for the field work).
To learn more about what CDC does to prepare for and respond to emergencies of all kinds, visit:
http://emergency.cdc.gov/cdc/orgs_progs.aspTo learn more about how you can prepare for and stay safe during an emergency visit:
http://emergency.cdc.gov/To download a badge like the one above that you can add to your social networking profile, blog, website, or email signature visit:
http://emergency.cdc.gov/socialmedia/zombies.asp<
So, what if the Zombies hit the CDC first and we’re left waiting in limbo.
And, let’s not forget about the guy in California who thinks the world is going to end this Saturday. Why couldn’t the world end before I sent in my tax forms last April?
Aloha Friends….
Here’s a random question… Where were you 10 years ago? Can you believe how much has happened in the past 10 years?
Me? I wasn’t too far from where I am now 10 years ago. Just 10 years younger I guess….
10 years ago I was just over a month away from getting married. In that time we have bought a house, had to litle boys, opted to stay home with my children, started a blog, and so many other items in between.
I was dealing with the “teenage years” with my sons. As ard as they were at times, wouldn’t mind having them back.
Let’s see…10 years ago I had just moved back to PA from NY and started a new job. 🙂
10 years ago I had turned 20 and I would have been dropping Johnny off at daycare to go to college. I was single and living on my own.
Gosh, 10 years ago I had only been married for 3 years and probably had an almost 1 year old. Wow!
10 years ago I was 18 years old, just starting college – mostly just a naive, spoiled teenager. Now I’m a married, mother of 2, living half way across the country and just bought our first house! Life has definitely changed!
I think 10 years ago I was in Europe at a boite dancing with friends from school. We went about every week. Madonna was always a fav.
Wait –maybe that was before then…
Here for Aloha Friday.
10 years ago, that’s 2001, I was single in Japan working as a Software Developer for Epson – my very first job! Within 10 years, I wouldn’t mind if I still have that job, but I don’t think I’d be happy if I am still single, haven’t met someone or haven’t had kids…
I’ve lived in SE Va all my life and have been fortunate to have only been grazed by hurricanes. The worst was Isabel. That was the only time I evacuated and headed to Richmond. Even there the power in the hotel went out and there was no hot water. When I came home there was no power for a week. No food or ice to be had. Restaurants, stores, gas stations all without power. A week of hot, sweltering heat, cold showers and lots of mosquitoes. Blech. Not fun.
10 years ago I was married less than a year, working full time as a production manager at an ad agency and pregnant with my first child. Hubs was deployed to Italy for 6 months. I lived in an apt and had a puppy who was chewing through the baseboards and window trim. Ha ha! Memories 😉
I was 21 and living in Cali… not even a thought about being a wife let alone a mommy : )
10 years ago, things were so different!!!
I was working in a bar, single and partying like crazy..
now, i am a stay at home mom, married, have a wonderful 2 year old and would rather be a homebody than out and about any day of the week… i love the change
i had just had my last baby and we were considering buying the house of our dreams in idaho. we did it a month later and then ditched it all to move to hawaii a year later (nine years ago). good question!
and i think the CDC is so clever with the zombie invasion announcement. great way to make emergency preparedness go viral!
10 years ago I was graduating high school…wow!
10 years ago I was working and attending school, unmarried and childless and planning for the future! 🙂
Happy weekend to you!
10 years ago…wow I was in a different house and had a brand new baby boy who was 8 months old. My other two weren’t even born yet. I had 4 dogs too. I was really happy.
OMG 10 years ago I was a senior in high school! SOOOO Much has really happened in those 10 years!!