With the nation seemingly captivated tonight by the Syfy network’s modern disaster classic “Sharknado,” some of the more Twitter-savvy organizations out there are doing their best to capitalize on the attention. The Marine Corps Reserve, for instance, is using the occasion to hype its destructive weather handbook, which it confesses does not include a chapter on sharknadoes.
Except for #Sharknado, our #Hurricane/destructive wtx handbook has you covered! http://t.co/EX0qrip5De pic.twitter.com/xzhQiyVncE
— Marine Corps Reserve (@MarForRes) July 12, 2013
Of course sharknadoes aren’t real, but sharknado fever is, and it’s highly contagious. The American Red Cross, too, is using the TV movie to educate the public, inviting followers to join in a live chat about “what we would do if faced with the highly grotesque and terrifying situation of having a tornado full of sharks bearing down on our hometown. How would we prepare? What is our evacuation plan? First aid skills?” No, really.
Practice preparedness in a hypothetical situation by tweeting #sharknado #redcross tonight: http://t.co/60HXE9yb3e
— American Red Cross (@RedCross) July 11, 2013
Is the Red Cross tougher than the Marine Corps Reserve? Maybe.
We're ready to respond if there is a #Sharknado. If it were to happen, it would be in Oklahoma. Why? Because we're tough like that.
— Red Cross Oklahoma (@RedCrossOK) July 12, 2013
Fun fact: the thing picking up sharks is probably a waterspout- super dangerous in open water. http://t.co/ZKAYW9JxbM #sharknado #redcross
— Gloria Huang (@riaglo) July 12, 2013
Barstools are not recommended items to keep in a #Redcross disaster kit #SharkNado
— Kristiana Almeida (@MsKristiana) July 12, 2013
Always good to be ready to NOT rely on emergency services for disasters- have supplies to last yourself at least 3 days #redcross #sharknado
— Gloria Huang (@riaglo) July 12, 2013
#redcross emotional support is critical in disaster response. #SharkNado
— Meghan Shreve (@MeghanShreve) July 12, 2013
keep Ian Ziering within shouting distance of your heavy artillery cabinet #redcross #sharknado
— Mike Barash (@maringuy) July 12, 2013
#redcross does not have a disaster plan for bad Acting. Sorry. #sharknado
— Kristiana Almeida (@MsKristiana) July 12, 2013
If you can see the tornado/waterspout, you're too close. At least they're getting away after taking time to gaze at it #sharknado #redcross
— Gloria Huang (@riaglo) July 12, 2013
I'm actually impressed that none of the cast is wearing flip flops- they all have closed toed shoes #sharknado #redcross
— Gloria Huang (@riaglo) July 12, 2013
I think most of my lessons learned from #sharknado can be summed up with: listen to the weather reports, get the heck out early. #redcross
— Gloria Huang (@riaglo) July 12, 2013
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