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Today’s trivia is all about a document produced by the United States Strategic Command and details a plan on how to counter a Zombie outbreak.
This is not an actual plan, but rather the output of training exercises used to train new staff in strategic contingency planning. To make the training easier they chose something popular that was in the public mind as the subject matter. Then presumably for amusement factor they ensured it was unclassified and made available for public redistribution.
Obviously it is based on popular fiction and tries to enumerate the detail around what an actual full scale Zombie outbreak might look like.
The interesting part I thought was that whilst the plan is clearly at times humorous it does gives us a view into actual strategic level contingency planning that an organisation like USSTRATCON might actually be involved in.
Mission Statement
The official seal of the United States Strategic Command
"On order, CDRUSSTRATCOM will execute global military operations to protect humankind from zombies and, if directed, eradicate zombie threats to human safety and aid civil authorities in maintaining law and order and restoring basic services during and after a zombie attack."
Define Enemy Capability
There are a number of assumptions about Zombies that the plan makes:
- They cannot be deterred or reasoned with
- No known cure; every human lost is an enemy gained
- Zombies have human hosts whose bodies will cease to function after 40 days
- Laws of Armed Combat do not apply to Zombies
- The only assumed way to effectively cause casualties to the zombie ranks by tactical force is the concentration of all firepower to the head, specifically the brain
Types of Zombies
Pathogenic Zombies - Created after a life form is infected by a virus or bacteria
Radiation Zombies - Zombie life forms created by exposure to extreme radiation
Evil Magic Zombies - The result of some occult experimentation otherwise known as evil magic
Space Zombies - Zombie life forms originating from space or created by toxic contamination via an extraterrestrial toxin
Weaponized Zombies - A Zombie deliberately created via biomechanical engineering
Symbiant-Induced Zombies - Created by the introduction of a symbiont life form into a human host
Vegetarian Zombies - From the popular game Plants vs Zombies, will attack human food sources rather than humans and thus a high threat
Chicken Zombies - Chicken Zombies pose no threat to humans and actions to counter CZ's are the responsibilities of the US Depts of Justice. An example of this can be searched up in news articles. CZ are ignored for the rest of this article.
Centers of Gravity
These are the areas where the conflict will focus.
Human Population Centres
All Zombie classes will target human population centers or create effects against human population centers that will undermine human safety, security and the delivery of basic services. VZ's will target agriculture resources that humans depend upon.
Lines of Communication
Zombies cannot drive, climb or swim (although zombies can wade into water they cannot float or swim). Zombies will utilize surface roads to reach human population centers and to increase their numbers by attacking fleeing humans.
Waterways may remain viable as long as Zombies cannot attach humans entering and leaving the waterway. LOCs are crucial as a means of humans travelling around and getting supplies to human population centers.
Portable Water Sources
Zombies do not drink water, humans do. Therefore they will target humans attempting to get water from waterways. Contamination of waterways is to be expected potentially further spreading the infection.
Critical Capabilities
These are capabilities that are critical for supporting human life and will be critical in repelling the Zombie invasion.
Medical Infrastructure - Failure to triage and separate out human casualties from those infected will lead to medical facilities becoming centres for further Zombie outbreak. Zombies within medical facilities will deny healthy humans access to medical equipment and supplies.
Law Enforcement Infrastructure - Zombies will elicit call outs from local law enforcement resulting in casualties to law enforcement personnel. Law enforcement will be vital in enforcing law and order and helping with evacuating people from Zombie infested areas. Provide security for key resources such as food, water, transit choke points etc. People fearing Zombies might raid police infrastructure to arm themselves further reducing the ability of law enforcement to keep LOCs open.
Power and Distribution Infrastructure - Required to maintain human existence. Requires significant maintenance and supervision to operate and supports LOCs and other critical capabilities. If humans are unable to maintain and operate this equipment due to Zombie outbreak then robots may need to be used instead.
Critical Requirements
Failure to establish these requirements may undermine all crucial capabilities detailed.
Effective Triage - Identifying Zombies from healthy humans and keeping them separate will be crucial for limiting the rate of infection.
Local/Tribal/State/Federal Emergency Management Integration - Coordination and synchronising plans will be critical for securing human populations.
Effective Infrastructure Security - Energy, water and food will all be required for a population to survive. Undermining law and order will reduce the ability of everyone to resist the infection.
Effective Threat Surveillance and Warning Program - Without the ability to monitor Zombie movements, they could amass and attack a population center without time to mount the appropriate defense to repel.
Conclusion
The final harrowing conclusion of plan (paraphrased):
"A zombie outbreak can affect thousands of humans in the span of minutes."
"Humans must not be allowed to "go back for" family, friends, or other personnel who cannot get away from zombies quickly enough. All humans who fall behind must be left behind."
"Healthy humans can wait out a zombie outbreak if they are prudent-nothing can be done to cure a human if they become a zombie."
"Every human that becomes a zombie increases the enemy's numbers and decreases the chances that healthy humans will survive."
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