The writer believes we would not be the survivors in a zombie apocalypse as even Gong Yoo did not survive in the South Korean runway zombie hit 'Train to Busan'. ― Agencies
I LOVE a good zombie movie or Korean drama series. Let me convince you why you should pay attention the next time you watch one.
In the United States in 2011, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an instructional guide for how to prepare for a “zombie apocalypse.”
Coincidentally in April 2011, the US Defense Department issued a “secret” document titled CONOP 8888 – otherwise known as “Counter-Zombie Dominance” – that provided strategic instructions for how to survive a zombie attack.
You might think that these were produced for fun, but it turns out that preparing for a zombie attack is remarkably similar to preparing for other natural and human-caused disasters. Given the rise in natural disasters due to climate change, continued conflict between North and South Korea and the destabilisation of the political climate in the US and globally, it’s a good time to review these recommendations.
In terms of the military document, according to a 2011 article in the news publication Foreign Policy, planners in the US Strategic Command in Omaha, Nebraska, wanted to produce a guide for the military to protect civilians in the event of any type of attack. However, for fear of offending any existing nation or group, they decided to avoid any hypothetical situations involving real entities and opted for planning for a zombie attack. The only risk is that zombies might get mad at the US military.
Six phases of military actions are listed. The zero phase is “Shape,” where the military learns about zombies and supports civil authorities. Phase 1, which is actually the second phase, is “Deter.” Phase 2 is “Seize Initiative.” Phase 3 is “Dominate.” Phase 4 is “Stabilize.” Finally, Phase 5 is “Restore Civil Authority.” Each of these phases have sections that offer an offensive strategy, defensive strategy and support to civil authorities.
Moreover a variety of plans are offered for different type of zombies including: (1) pathogenic zombies (virus or bacteria or other types of contagion); (2) radiation zombies; (3) evil magic zombies (occult experiments); (4) space zombies (those from outer space or from some type of contamination of our planet); (5) weaponised zombies (created for weapons); (6) symbiont-induced zombies (zombies formed by a symbiont life form that latches onto a host); (7) vegetarian zombies (zombies that might be destructive but no direct threat to humans; and (8) chicken zombies (apparently this is a real thing).
What might be more useful to the average citizen is the CDC guide to how to survive a zombie attack. Its full title is “Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic.”
First, one should prepare an emergency kit with water, non-perishable food, a first aid kit, medications and other supplies that would support you and your family for a few days. This includes supplies for our furry family members. It is also useful to have extra cash, your passport and driver’s license. A hand-crank radio is a must if the power goes out.
Next you should have an emergency plan and a meeting place in the event that you and your family become separated. One of these can be in a location in your house – perhaps the basement? Another might be one that is in your neighbourhood.
An evacuation plan is also important and multiple routes out of danger are even better. My tip would be to keep your car with a full tank of gas or full battery.
Of course, sometimes the safest place is inside your house. Certainly, we’ve learned this from movies where the victims lock themselves in a house (“Night of the Living Dead,” 1968), missile silo (“Day of the Dead,” 1985), shopping mall (“Dawn of the Dead,” 2004), apartment building (“Happiness,” 2021 or “Sweet Home,” 2020), or school (“All of Us are Dead,” 2022). Of course, sometimes they are stuck on a train, as in the classic “Train to Busan” (2016).
As natural disasters become increasingly common, we’ve seen people ordered to evacuate quickly.
In Southern California, more than 200,000 people had to evaluate during the Eaton and Palisades Fires in January. The gas masks that are ubiquitous in the subway stations in Seoul are reminders of the possibility of a military conflict. The uncertainty of the US’ positions in the wider geopolitical context is cause for concern.
On a much more minor scale, blackouts are quite common near us because we live in a community that is wooded and trees can fall on power lines. We try to be prepared for such occurrences. The recommendations from the CDC are great tips for all of us, even in the absence of zombies.
However, I’ve never personally experienced incidents where my and my husband’s lives were threatened. Despite many hours of playing Resident Evil when we were younger, I am doubtful we would be the survivors in a zombie apocalypse.
Even Gong Yoo did not survive in Train to Busan. So, let’s hope that if the zombies arrive, they are the vegetarian ones. — The Korea Herald/ANN
Grace Kao is an IBM professor of sociology and professor of ethnicity, race and migration at Yale University.
