by Cree McCree
WHAT’S HAPPENING
- Who says that the CDC doesn’t have a sense of humor? With flesh-eaters grabbing headlines and The Walking Dead stalking TV fans, the oft-stodgy government agency has opened an Office of Zombie Preparedness, complete with lurid posters and a graphic novella.
- It began as a tongue-in-cheek response to wild rumors of a “zombie apocalypse.” But once the feds realized that OZP was brain food to consumers, they turned it into a for-real platform for disaster preparedness.
- “If you are generally well equipped to deal with a zombie apocalypse you will be prepared for a hurricane, pandemic, earthquake or terrorist attack,” deadpans Dr. Ali Khan, CDC director.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS
- Every year, when hurricane season rolls around, the CDC routinely issues stern warnings about preparedness, which most consumers routinely ignore. Leveraging pop culture to make that message fresh is a smart move. Brains!
- They may be undead flesh-eaters, but zombies are doing their part to keep humans alive. Beyond spurring them to make disaster kits, they also inspire consumers to get in shape for the coming apocalypse with immersive obstacle races.
RESOURCES
