Zombies??

I joined to learn and share ideas. Zombies have no place in a serious discussion of emergency preparedness. If I continue to get odd email notifications on zombies I will remove myself from this forum and from the FEMA  community. It's a waste of valuable time and resources,imho.

Not sure how you intend to use the word "Zombies"....Stick around for a while and critique our comments...join in.  The DHS operation HAMP issue is an approved and funded program to use aerosols to control hurricanes.  All these conversations are backed by government documents - not by comic book Zombies.... I estimate that over 2 million people in the US are researching these issues - many PhD's. MD's, Lawyers and investigators are involved....Ciao!

The use of a specific "trigger word" is not unique to FEMA; it's been used in marketing and public speaking for decades. The point was to get people to think about being prepared for emergencies, and the objectable word was merely use of something that already had the public's attention due to other markets - specifically the entertainment industry, but awareness was the point. There are many, MANY other more seriously-themed and specifically-oreinted discussions you may enjoin; don't write it off on a sample of one...

Well said, Mr. David Smith!  Thanks for your comment.

-Eric

In engaging the young people teens-30's we use the "Z" word to help make Emergency Prep more relevant to them.  We have to speak into the culture and it inspired our Young People to make a video to promote our event this week.  www.Prep2Bless.com.

We use the Zombie term in a humorous way and descriptive term. . and it is working.  

But in truth, if all the Starbucks mysteriously disappeared overnight, then we might have a near Zombie epidemic everywhere. (smile)

Forging on. . .

Lynn - Thank you for posting the link to your event and the video. I love it! I have seen the Zombie theme events posted, but wasn't sure how the theme would go over with all of the churches we are working with. Great idea! I am talking with our team about doing something similar. I would like to speak with you further about your event. Please let me know if its okay.

Dear Debbie,

Thanks and you are welcome.  

We just had a great event yesterday. Prep2Bless had a full house and no standing room left in most of the 14 workshops. It was great to have such a wide variety of people, ages and denominations.  It was a joy to see the preteens rushing to the next workshop to get a seat. . and then even having them ask questions of the Police Chief and Fire Chief. . in the big workshop with the adults.  

One really cool thing that happened - We had our Fire Chief Fite talk on fire safety and then followed him with a couple who had lost their house this year in a fire.  They shared how much it meant to them to have a community help them clean and support them through the process.  The Fire Chief then told them that the crew that took the call was in the back of the room. They had come with the Fire Truck which was parked outside for the demo. The couple got to thank the crew in person and learn things about the fire that they never knew.  

Was a wonderful moment for us all. . 

Well, i personally am surrounded by zombies and so are my children. Have not had a lot of time to spend on this site yet. But would welcome any messages at all as well as more education of how the title is used in this particular discussion. thank you.

Having about 40 years of experience in one thing or another, I've learned that the emergencies you prepare for are not the ones that hurt you.  What's important are general principals that can be applied to whatever situation falls out of the sky.  You want tools that provide flexibility and resiliency as well as people who will do something when bad things happen..  You also need people outside your circle to buy into preparedness.  Too much preparedness talk is boring and loses its audience.  If zombies or clowns or rabid wombats get attention, then use them.  We're trying to save lives here, not earn parade ground points.

Richard,

Well said. . .we not only have to get their attention but give them a clear path to follow.  

As a News Consultant and Corporate Trainer, if I didn't learn how to get the attention of my clients and keep it. . .then I didn't get rehired.  

Creativity is critical in this process. . unfortunately too many of the websites for Preparedness are using too much of a "Left brain" analytical approach rather than the "right brain" side.  They need to use more culturally relevant and appealing materials.

You are aware of all of this. . but it might be good idea to discuss how to broaden our reach and impact .

Forging on. .