Security Firm Launching 'Zombie Apocalypse' Training

Those of you who lie awake nights worrying about a massive assault by the undead can rest a bit easier. A California security firm is offering training next month at its annual counterterrorism summit on repelling a zombie attack—though it is a bit tongue in cheek. More than 1,000 military, government, and law enforcement personnel will attend the five-day San Diego summit, and they'll grapple with different "terrorist scenarios" on a 44-acre training site—from Mideast bombers to zombies, reports the Military Times. Participants in the "Zombie Apocalypse" are "going to see a lot of stuff go down," promises the president of the firm, HALO.

The anti-zombie training was inspired by last year's Centers for Disease Control campaign urging American to be ready for anything, from natural disasters to pandemics (even the brain-eating kind), and a similar campaign in Canada. Next month's "whimsical" scenario will actually serve a real-world function, says HALO's prez, by helping train emergency responders to deal with extreme medical situations when people can become "crazed and violent," triggering widespread panic. (More HALO stories.)