'The ZOMBIES are coming!' Government warns of living dead pandemic in witty campaign to prepare Americans for genuine disasters

PUBLISHED: 20:04 EST, 7 September 2012 | UPDATED: 06:19 EST, 8 September 2012

Batten down the hatches, the zombies are coming - at least according to the government.

In a bizarre public health campaign, the Homeland Security Department has warned Americans to prepare for a zombie apocalypse, in a bid to encourage better preparation for genuine disasters and emergencies.

To get ready for the living dead, they urge citizens to stock up on food, batteries and water, and to keep a spare change of clothes and medication on hand.

Zombie alert: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released a public service poster on Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic, pictured

The theory behind the tongue-in-cheek campaign is that the same preparations will come in handy during a real emergency -- whether a hurricane, pandemic, earthquake or terrorist attack.

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The campaign's tagline is 'If you're ready for a zombie apocalypse, then you're ready for any emergency.'

On Thursday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency hosted an online seminar for its Citizen Corps organization to help emergency planners better prepare their communities for disaster.

Zombieland: Some of the recommendations in the campaign are reminiscent to the 2009 film 'Zombieland', pictured

And they were encouraged to use the threat of zombies - the frightening, brain-munching creatures of horror films - to get their point across.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first launched the zombie apocalypse social media campaign last year and are running with the same tactic again.

They also believe Halloween being around the corner may help make people engage with their efforts.

Real disasters: The theory behind the campaign is that if people are ready for a zombie attack they will be prepared for genuine disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005, pictured

Among the government's recommendations for zombie preparedness 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.

These included 'always carry a change of underwear' and 'when in doubt, know your way out.'

The CDC confirmed to the Daily News that it wasn't aware of any zombie-like virus or condition going around.

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If CDC is really going to put out a message about zombie preparation, why leave out the essential parts about firearms (as shown in the Zombieland image the article uses) and other self-defense measures? Everyone knows that the only way to stop a zombie is a bullet to the head (or other severe cranial damage). And what about the "double tap" rule? If you're really going to be prepared, you have to have the essential tools. But anyone who watches South Park remembers who the real zombies are - homeless panhandlers who when they take away your means of life (spare change) you become one of them.

- AggregatVier , Los Angeles, United States, 09/9/2012 22:43

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It was bound to happen sooner or later ,just gotta wait for the pc brigade to organize a save the zombie group and start paying a zombie tax .

- saviour1263 , crawley, 09/9/2012 20:40

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Those zombies are the government. Yes, be afraid, be very afraid.

- Ruth , Spring Lake Michigan, United Kingdom, 09/9/2012 16:05

Click to rate Rating 11

Plug in space aliens everywhere you see the word "zombies" and you've got the real reason the gov'ment is running this campaign. Then pick up a copy of the sci-fi novel "Twelve Light" on Kindle, I book or in hard copy to see how a farmboy fights off alien spacemen to steal their stuff.

- derf , Pendergrass GA USA, United States, 09/9/2012 13:08

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When you meet attacking Zombies: "Just tell [them] No, noNo, noNo, noNo, nonononoNo, noNo, noNo, noNo, nonononoNo..." (come one everyone: pun your favorite lyrics here!)

- Sol , CT USA, 09/9/2012 03:57

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I have been saying for years that zombies are the biggest threat to humanity that no one takes seriously. Thankfully documentaries such as Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, 28 Days later and the reality series The Walking Dead have attempted to open our eyes. Americans have always said "It can never happen to me" or "I am smarter than the people in the documentaries" and "I'm vegan so the Zombies will know that I am a friend of Mother Earth and like the Mountain Lions that live in the Forrest where I harvest sustainable and wild tree bark to grind into meal to make my bread (unlivend because using yeast is worse than slavery) understand that I am there friend and leave me be." This is there downfall. Please pick up survival books like The Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z to give you the info you need to survive. We all know that the zombie threat to Americans is very real and now with the CDC providing this invaluable info the Kool-Aid during Sheepel can survive.

- John Giger , Reno, United States, 09/9/2012 02:39

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Now the Government is telling people to take responsibility for themselves and their families, then why have you been infantilizing people for 50 years. We actually have people calling 911 when their orders are wrong at McDonalds.

- Patrick Lehane , Tampa Florida USA, 09/9/2012 02:31

Click to rate Rating 24

I want to protest this zombiest attack on noble, American Zombies. This action by the Obama government is zombieism in it's worst form and clearly demonstrates why the current administration cannot be trusted to work in cooperation with zombies. I think zombieism has proliferated during the Obama years, and subjected them to ridicule, threats of violence and exploitation. Obama and his anti-zombie lackeys have taken no measures to ensure that Zombies are treated with respect. Furthermore, I have seen no efforts by Obama or Holder and his DOJ or Napolitano and her DHS to ensure their safety or rights. Zombies are --or were--people, too.

- JiminAz , Phoenix USA, 08/9/2012 20:28

Click to rate Rating 14

The Zombies are already in the American government. So nothing new.

- brian , Blandford, 08/9/2012 20:06

Click to rate Rating 44

The walking dead uhh

- Sereia , FL, 08/9/2012 19:35

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