Wedding Vows Exchanged at Zombie Fest

Cassie Hernandez married Andrew Nieves during "The Walking Dead Escape" at NRG Stadium in April. Based on "The Walking Dead" comic books, TV series and video games, the touring event sets up a FEMA-like staging area, through which survivors must navigate a mile-long course to reach an evacuation point, all while being pursued by those who choose to take part as zombies.

from an article written by Pamela Mitchell for www.houstonchronicle.com

As the zombie apocalypse looms every closer, survival groups gather to compare their Go-Bags, armored vehicles, and the state of their preparedness. But is there love and romance in the near-future dystopian society? Is there even room for it? 

As The Walking Dead themed fun runs and Escapes sweep the nation, one couple decided to celebrate their love and union by partaking in the event and confirming their dedication to each other. As Cassie mentioned, while other girls were dreaming of being a princess and having a fantasy wedding she was watching Beetlejuice and dreaming of the "horrors" of a marriage ceremony.

The fact that there are so many formerly repressed individuals who can now express their bloodlust for all things zombies is testament that the undead have taken their rightful place at the top of the food chain. What about vampires, you ask? Aren't they undead? Whoever said that would have been correct had it not been for the young adult-ing of the fanged ghouls with diamond skin and teenaged angst. 

Regardless, zombies, walkers, the undead have become elevated into popular culture in a way that George Romero could have only imagined on their best days. The Walking Dead, the top rated show on AMC, has caused other television development executives to green light their own shows, including Z Nation for SyFy channel and The Returned for A&E. 

Whatever the cause - infection, contaminated water supplies, weaponized viruses gone awry, bacteria-laced meteor rocks - now is a great time to be alive and into the undead.

Zombie Preparedness

Wonder why Zombies, Zombie Apocalypse, and Zombie Preparedness continue to live or walk dead on a CDC web site? As it turns out what first began as a tongue in cheek campaign to engage new audiences with preparedness messages has proven to be a very effective platform. We continue to reach and engage a wide variety of audiences on all hazards preparedness via Zombie Preparedness; and as our own director, Dr. Ali Khan, notes, "If you are generally well equipped to deal with a zombie apocalypse you will be prepared for a hurricane, pandemic, earthquake, or terrorist attack." So please log on, get a kit, make a plan, and be prepared!
from a www.cdc.gov article from the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response

What began as a campaign to capture public awareness on hazard preparedness became an internet sensation. The zombified perspective taken by the Center for Disease Control to get more living persons educated and involved in disaster survival has now become a mainstay on their site. 

Prepared for a Zombie Apocalypse? Good! Now you are prepared for almost every natural or man-made disaster (barring something nuclear - a la Threads or The Day After). If the Cubans invade? You have food and firearms! If the bird flu takes out the populace? You have medical supplies, a Go Bag, and firearms! If an earthquake or a hurricane or a polar vortex occurs? Food? Check! Medical supplies? Check! Protection? Check! Shark Repellant? Wait?! What?! What is this? The 60s Batman feature film?

Since the zombie apocalypse is a certainty within our lifetime, it's best to be vigilant and prepared.