Zombie warnings, tornadoes in Boston, Mayan doomsday calendars, rabid beaver attacks: Are headlines starting to look like a game of fact or fiction to anyone else?

Either way, the last few months of international and domestic disasters are solid proof that Mother Nature is going to do whatever she wants while society is increasingly impacted thanks to population growth and continued urban expansion. With that in mind–as well as the mounting demands that disasters place on emergency services while budgets continue to shrink–it is more important than ever for community leaders to promote preparedness as a best practice.

The persistence of ongoing weather events and an energized public discussion surrounding one recent blog on the hazards of a looming zombie apocalypse have grabbed everyone’s attention. Preparedness advocates in both sectors must capitalize on this opportunity to push for greater engagement from an increasingly receptive public.

It’s Not About Zombies

Let’s face it; if there is a zombie attack in my lifetime, I’m not hanging out by my mailbox and waiting for my potentially infected family to find me, and I am certainly not joining the tasty hoards congregating at disaster relief shelters. I’m grabbing Woody Harrelson [thank you Zombieland] and making my way to a highly fortified base camp out west with a healthy supply of food and water [not that I’ve thought about this].

However, in preparing for a true disaster situation, Hollywood-style solutions don’t take you as far as an emergency kit and a communications plan. One of the most inexpensive things local governments can do to cultivate preparedness is develop media resource centers.

Sound difficult and time consuming? Not really. There are plenty of well-developed resources that are just a hyperlink away from educating residents. FEMA’s Ready.gov and the American Red Cross are great places to start and have a lot of hazard-specific information. Additionally, most local and state emergency management agencies have websites with jurisdiction-specific data. Pick and choose the resources that are most relevant to your community to keep their attention while making the most use of their time.

Okay, it’s Somewhat About Zombies...

Unfortunately, some things that are helpful in certain situations can make matters worse in others. Shelters, for example, are vital for recovery from a severe hurricane, but would actually exacerbate a viral outbreak like Pandemic Flu (or zombie virus). Additionally, an evacuation plan is going to look different depending on the situation (hurricanes versus Anthrax or IEDs for example). At Dewberry, we can help you navigate the intricacies of those differences while providing valuable information to your constituents.

The key to all this is striking the right balance between specialized planning and citizen education. This will help you reach your preparedness goals while meeting financial restrictions.