I think it would be along the lines of stephen king's the stand.
Every answer so far is invalid JB because you haven't given enough info on the "outbreak" and thus what might be needed or effective. I was a military planner for years and if I received a vague order like "plan for the zombie apocalypse" the first thing I'd start doing is demand specific planning assumptions and guidance. That is absolutely necessary to plan - assumptions may turn out to be wrong but are necessary in the absence of facts.
So, what are we discussing? Breakout in the US or overseas? Origin of problem - virus, space radiation, or supernatural influences? Fast moving "Rage virus" type zombies or shambling Night of the Living Dead types? Localized problem when recognized or already widespread? All of those type questions (yes I know this isn't real) need to have facts or agreed upon assumptions associated in order to allow planning. Here's a big one - can the "infected" (assuming a virus) be identified before succumbing? Anyway you get my point. BTW - to those who say no response would work - have you wondered why tanks weren't used to flatten whole masses in cities at once in the Walking Dead? Seems a lot better than firebombing cities to me. Also, a free market response could make sense depending on the exact nature of an outbreak but it could also be completely inappropriate if the ZA is along the scale of WW-III just like a free market approach to Pearl Harbor and Nazi Germany. That's my two cents on mixing fantasy and reality.
So, what are we discussing? Breakout in the US or overseas? Origin of problem - virus, space radiation, or supernatural influences? Fast moving "Rage virus" type zombies or shambling Night of the Living Dead types? Localized problem when recognized or already widespread? All of those type questions (yes I know this isn't real) need to have facts or agreed upon assumptions associated in order to allow planning. Here's a big one - can the "infected" (assuming a virus) be identified before succumbing? Anyway you get my point. BTW - to those who say no response would work - have you wondered why tanks weren't used to flatten whole masses in cities at once in the Walking Dead? Seems a lot better than firebombing cities to me. Also, a free market response could make sense depending on the exact nature of an outbreak but it could also be completely inappropriate if the ZA is along the scale of WW-III just like a free market approach to Pearl Harbor and Nazi Germany. That's my two cents on mixing fantasy and reality.
I'd bet you've read most of Matthew Bracken's novels. If not then you should - you two have a lot in common. (a good thing)
The trick of a full-scale zombie outbreak is that it spreads quickly and EASILY and kills relatively fast. You can outrun a handful of zombies, but in most of the stories, a crap-ton of people turn overnight, there isn't a 2-week period where it escalates, it just boom happens.
Why would they respond to themselves?
96 hours. Maybe. AFTER CoG is established. How long does it take to become a zombie?
96 hours. Maybe. AFTER CoG is established. How long does it take to become a zombie?
Cordon off the area and infect the non-bitten folks with a Zombie anti virus that kills the Zombie when they bite the "government supplied" food.
They'd probably just die laughing, just like I do everytime I come across a thread like this one. How does the government respond to something that cannot ever happen? Well....
