Zombies Take over the World in Tongue-in-Cheek Public Health Campaign
People dressed as zombies take part in a flashmob in Vienna September 27, 2011. The zombie flashmob coincided with the Slash Film Festival which showcases horror, fantasy, animation and science-fiction movies. The film festival takes place from September 22 to 30. Reuters

The government is warning the public to prepare for "zombie apolcalypse."

This past summer, "zombie apocalypse" hysteria was on the rise as cannibalistic attacks were constantly in the news. First, Rudy Eugene, 31, chewed off the face of a homeless man in Miami after allegedly being high on bath salts. Then, Michael Daniel, a man from Waco, Tx., was arrested for eating his family's nearly 40-pound pooch.

Even in Russia, a drug known as krokodil has become problematic as it rots the flesh off its abusers and turns them into real-life zombies. According to Fox News, it is a mixture of codeine-based "headache" pills and other household ingredients like gasoline, paint thinner, iodine, hydrochloric acid and red phosphorus.

Now, the "zombie apocalypse" continues as U.S. Homeland Security Department says that "The zombies are coming!" according to Yahoo News.

The government is warning citizens to prepare for a "zombie apocalypse" as part of a public health campaign. The aim is to encourage citizens to better prepare for disasters and emergencies.

The idea is that if people are prepared for a zombie attack, the same preparations will help during a hurricane, pandemic, earthquake or terrorist attack, says the Associated Press.

OpticsPlanet is even selling the Z.E.R.O. (Zombie Extermination, Research and Operations) Kit, for a steep $24,000. OpticsPlanet writes in their product description, "there is no room for error when dealing with the undead." The kit includes a night vision scope, a tactical field ops watch, a first aid kit, and Kevlar gloves.

The Center for Disease Control and Preventioin even has a page devoted to preparedness for a zombie apocalypse. One emergency plan is as follows:

"Pick a meeting place for your family to regroup in case zombies invade your home...or your town evacuates because of a hurricane. Pick one place right outside your home for sudden emergencies and one place outside of your neighborhood in case you are unable to return home right away."

This latest zombie apocalypse warning stems after Hurricane Isaac is reported to have killed at least 24 people in Haiti and six in La. and Miss., according to reports.

Some of the government's recommendations were having an emergency evacuation plan and a change of clothes, fresh water, extra medications and emergency flashlights.