ZOMBIES MAKE PEOPLE CRAZY!

It’s already been argued that a widespread zombie outbreak would be quickly followed by a complete breakdown of our modern way of life (see: You Won’t Be Saved “Just In Time”), but what happens after that?  Would communities band together, providing support for one another in their time of need?  Would neighbor help neighbor when food is running low, and undead cannibals are roaming the streets?  Would the spirit of cooperation rule the day?  The answer is a resounding no.

In email exchanges with dozens of disaster response experts across globe, I got the same basic answer over and over again.  Mass panic would lead to civil unrest on a global scale.  Those few who had enough food would barricade themselves into their homes, only to be attacked by hostile humans desperate to save their own skin.  Death would come knocking long before zombies ever did.

Jim Rush, Team Leader for the National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program, had this to say:

“Cities would be extremely dangerous places, with widespread looting and violence.  And the corresponding hospital systems that service those areas would be instantly overloaded and unable to cope.”

Speaking on condition of anonymity, another leading scholar said that rampant mob mentality would quickly lead to the breakdown of law and order.  National Guard troops would be sent into urban areas to quiet the population, but their efforts would only lead to more bloodshed.  Front line personnel, like police and medical first responders, would risk constant ambush for their vehicles, weapons and supplies.  In short, it would be a complete and total nightmare.

So if you think that being eaten alive will be your biggest problem when the undead rise, you might want to think again.  What’s more likely is that your house will be set on fire with you and your family inside, just because someone thinks you might have something they want.

(This article was written by ZRS Researcher, Janice Waltrip)