Author: J. Bradbury

There are so many different ways that apocalyptic calamity can be sprung upon us. Earthquake, fire, super volcano, comet… The list really goes on. But preparing for an emergency does not always have to be doom and gloom. It can be creative and somewhat fun.

Zombies! The Center for Disease Control (CDC) stumbled on to something creative and interesting. You may have heard about this. On their blog, they posted an article titled, Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse. For a few, brief moments, they captured the attention of the nation, generating traffic to even crash their server. I believe that if even 1% of those readers took heed and got prepared, then it was a successful moment.

Alien invasion: One way to look at this scenario is that you only have about five minutes to pack and go. What would you take? Would it be the greatest idea to be stuck in traffic, with UFO’s blasting away with killer lasers? Would you shelter in place? How long could you hold on, knowing that water and electricity won’t be working? Sit down with some popcorn and take in the remake of “War of the Worlds.” Only through preparedness can you be ready for those slimy skin aliens with their shinny death rays.

Madness: This one is along the same lines as zombies, but more realistic. With all of the DNA, and genetic manipulation this one may not be too far off. You start messing with the brain, and strange things happen. You’re working downtown when it appears your co-worker freaks out and attacks in anger. Then another co-worker starts screaming. You’ve been hearing news reports of people losing their mind, but you never though it would happen where you work. You run out of the building fearing for your safety. What if you had no time to grab anything at all? The traffic is a gridlock, with mass panic. The knowledge you retain is the best preparedness. You don’t rely on a go bag, or the government. You are left with only your wits. How creative are you? And can you tap into your creativity to be even more so?

Whether or not you think these scenarios are silly, all I’m trying to say is have some fun with preparing yourself. For me, the more creative and interactive I can be with my planning, the more I retain the knowledge. Try meeting at a bar, café or a local park with some friends or family and run through outrageous scenarios. This may help involve some people in the discussion that wouldn’t normally join in.

What creative ways would you come up with?