In a world that’s mad about zombies it was inevitable that someone would offer insurance against these marauding masses.
After all, zombies have been in books, movies and in the TV series “The Walking Dead,” so why not the insurance market?
Even the fiercest and most prepared anti-zombie crusader might need a little help after fighting off an attack, such as disposing of the bodies and restocking the supplies of ammo.
Penelope Luedtke, founder and CEO of the Zombie Apocalypse Insurance Company, attributes part of the interest in zombie attacks to a survival mentality and being prepared for any disaster. The Centers for Disease Control even uses zombie preparedness as a way to stress the need for disaster planning.
“With as much bad stuff that’s going on people like to feel like they’re prepared and if you’re prepared for a zombie attack, I think you pretty much have all your bases covered, so I think they shoot for the absolute worst case scenario and then they know they’re set for everything else,” Luedtke says.
She launched her venture in January, 2010 after joking around with a zombie-crazed friend that so many people were interested in the subject that zombie insurance just might sell.
As with any insurance policy, a certain threshold must be met before its coverage applies. ZAICO’s zombie insurance kicks in only after a Class 3 zombie attack.
Class 1 is defined as a minor skirmish that hardly gets any notice. Class 2 is a bit more involved but quickly contained. A full-blown Class 3 attack is one that quickly spreads to a larger geographic area and would probably involve the National Guard.
“Of course we know you’re going to survive a zombie apocalypse because of your superior survival skills and your concentrated efforts at preparing, but once you have taken care of all the zombies, then what?” Luedtke says. “You’re going to need some help. You’re probably going to be out of ammo. You’re probably going to need some water. Your house is probably going to be a little worse for wear.”
Each policy includes arms replacement and ammunition restocking, medical treatment, rebuilding, repairing and reinforcing a home or even relocating a family to the nearest zombie-free area if necessary.
It also includes a free Zombie Incineration Team to dispose of all the dead undead bodies after an attack, along with vehicle replacement and repair. Proof of insurance certificates and wallet ID cards are provided to all clients.
So far Luedtke says she’s only had one complaint, when someone in Oregon claimed that she was selling fraudulent insurance—even though her website states that it’s for entertainment purposes only.
“I had to formally reply with a letter that said we’re extremely sorry that you did not find the humor in what we put out there for entertainment and I haven’t heard back from them so I guess that was a good enough answer,” Luedtke says. “I like to say my insurance is as real as zombies are, that’s why it’s so cheap.”
