Mainwaring, Ding, Martinez, Ferragut 1

Gavin Mainwaring, Ryan Ding

Fabricio Martinez, Sebastian Ferragut

Ms. Mckiddy

AP English Language

18 January 2020

Zombie Apocalypse Synthesis Group Essay

Temecula was a seemingly small city whose largest issues were once just some potholes

in the road or public construction. However, recent rumours indicate a big change in a small

town. Talk has arisen surrounding a possible disease; an infection that deteriorates the body and

the mind. This virus could reduce Temecula, let alone all of Earth, to a barren wasteland solely

roamed by mindless, murderous creatures. It may be that in order to survive and thrive in this

fast spreading epidemic, the people of Temecula must realize how rapidly the disease spreads,

take action to prepare, work together, and ponder the morals involved with the crisis.

(Gavin M)​ ​To begin with, the people of Temecula must understand the spread of the

disease. To even start preparing they must understand how fast they must prepare. Knowing that

the more the disease "win[s] the more [it] keep[s] winning." (Source A) will help people decide

what to prepare first. This disease spreads at an exponential rate, meaning it spreads faster and

faster, more than doubling every time. If the people of Temecula know this, they can estimate

how quickly they need to make their primary preparations. If the people further understand that it

would take a city of 500,000 seven days to be completely infected by one zombie (Source A).

This extreme rate of spread should be taken into caution by the people of Temecula as this

disease spreads at about 71,429 people a day. This shows how quickly the disease could spread
 Mainwaring, Ding, Martinez, Ferragut 2

through the US or, much more quickly, Temecula.

(Ryan D)​ Moreover, the citizens of the city must be prepared to take action in order to

overcome the mass infection. In an infographic created by the Centers for Disease Control, or

CDC, it is stated that various methods of responses in the event of public health crises and

disasters in which social distancing and isolation are required. If someone wishes to shelter in

place, it will most likely work during environmental disasters, such as a chemical spill or

radiation leak, while social distancing would apply best to limit an infectious agent from

spreading. In addition, the chart lists planning concerns to assist with preparing for such threats

(Source E). The preparation of the people is detrimental to their survivability in a threat to their

lives, and by being prepared for such events will not only make emergency procedures more

organized, but also more successful. Through this, the CDC attempts to logically communicate

the best decisions and actions to make in a serious tone, showing that one thing the people of

Temecula must crucially take into factor is their planning and preparation for the threats. In

Ready or Not?,​ an online article that addresses some flaws in the event of an emergency health

preparedness, believes that gaps in fields such as surveillance, stating that “The United States

lacks an integrated, national approach to biosurveillance, and there are major variations in how

quickly states collect and report data which hamper bioterrorism and disease outbreak response

capabilities,”, and the future of the workforce, emphasizing that “The United States has 50,000

fewer public health workers than it did 20 years ago - and one-third of current workers are

eligible to retire within five years” will cause problems in combating the threats of an emergency

health crisis (Source F). The outlining of such flaws connote that the government only has so

much assistance in public crises like a zombie apocalypse. Therefore, they logically show that
 Mainwaring, Ding, Martinez, Ferragut 3

individual preparation is key in surviving and enduring through a global health hazard because of

how ambiguous the current state of contingency plans seem, and that key factors must be

accounted for in order to stay safe. Preparation is key as not only does every other realization

depend on it, but it is also a way to adapt to whatever threat comes.

(Fabricio M)​ In addition to preparing for this possible epidemic, humans must leave

behind the concept of “every man for themselves” and work together in order to enhance their

chances of survival (Source B). In many zombie films, victims of the apocalypse mainly seem to

value their lives over others, sometimes refusing to help those in need of saving. However, if

Temecula wants to survive this potential catastrophe, residents will need to turn to

communitarianism. Resorting to helping one another would benefit both the citizen and the

community rather than depending on self-reliance. Thomas Hobbes claims that “people are

brought together because they are terrified.” (Source B), which indicates that not only will

working with others keep you company, but it can also provide a sense of safety and sanity.

Those who favor individualism may argue that communitarianism plants a huge burden on

citizens who decide to work together, such as more needs (food, water, etc.), and could also limit

freedom. On the other hand, Robert Smith implies that “the best solution is a strategic attack,

rather than an “every man for himself” defense scenario, he said. It would take knowledge and

intelligence, neither of which zombies have, to prevail.” (Source A) Also seen in world history,

many people have put their brains together to come to a certain conclusion, such as nations

uniting to defeat a certain enemy. In the end, Temecula’s fate will be decided on its ability to

adapt and unite.

(Sebastian F)​ Finally, it is vital to understand the consequences related to survival in a

world with zombies. Hobbes also posits that “a good society results from a sense of community

and self-sacrifice” (Source B). This theory would have to apply to all groups that remain after a

world-ending event such as the zombie apocalypse. Yet, complications could appear when

personal connections are considered. For example, if a family member was infected, the decision

to preserve or kill them would become quite the ethical conundrum. The idea of zombies being

“only partly brain-dead” and “an obligation to terminate them out of respect” could serve as an

insurmountable moral obstacle (Source C). Would a situation where a fragment of their mind

remains render their termination unethical, or merciful? The citizens of Temecula must consider

the ramifications of these options. The possibility of the development of a cure might cause some

to hesitate, but in a situation such as this one, conventional moral ideals would not necessarily be

valid. All these factors contribute to the overarching concept of principles in the zombie

usurpation of Temecula.

A zombie apocalypse may seem fictional, but its potential threats are real. It would storm

Temecula in a matter of days if proper precautions were not ensured. The people of Temecula

should heed the advice listed above and follow the tactics in order to keep one’s conscience from

turning into a raving cannibal. Cooperating amongst each other will also be a huge step to

prevent Temecula from perishing. Moreover, it must not be forgotten that humanity coexists

with morality, but a zombie apocalypse will change multitudes of preconceived notions about

what is right.