CAMP LESTER, OKINAWA, Japan – -- The American Red Cross hosted a Zombie Run to raise awareness about disaster preparedness March 31 aboard Camp Lester, Okinawa, Japan.
The Zombie Run helped service members and their families understand what to do in a disaster.
“The idea of the run is that it is an impending zombie apocalypse, it tests the community’s knowledge about disaster preparedness,” said Don Gardner, a regional program manager with American Red Cross. “All the runners had three flags and throughout the run there were zombies chasing them who pull those flags. They then ask the runner a question that if they answered right, the runner got their flag back, but if they answered wrong, the zombie kept it. As long as they finished the run with one flag, they survived the zombie apocalypse.”
The run route was a mile and a half, with zombies running the route and hiding throughout the route to surprise runners. When caught, runners had to answer a disaster question. Question topics ranged from earthquakes to fires.
“I think people learn better when they don’t see it as learning,” said Lance Cpl. Zha-nee Walters, a zombie and training clerk with Headquarters and Support Battalion. “With this method I believe more people will remember what they learned when they need to react to a disaster situation.”
Disaster awareness is important for all communities to know. Disasters can strike anytime and anywhere.
“Okinawa experiences typhoons, earthquakes and tsunamis,” said Gardner. “Fires are the most common disaster in the world. Sometimes there are mass warnings but sometimes there aren’t. The best thing a person can do is be prepared for any situation and that is what we want everyone to learn today.”
For more information about disasters and how to be prepared visit American Red Cross at: http://www.redcross.org or call 098-970-3800.