The "Designated Survivor" is the person from the President’s Cabinet who sits out the big, official political gatherings – like the State of the Union speech, or a Presidential Inauguration.
That survivor would be there if something unthinkable happens. The government would still go on. Someone would be in charge.
So that got us thinking about Michigan: What does Michigan do if a catastrophe wipes out the top echelons of state government?
Does Michigan have a plan?
Well, yes! It’s the “Emergency Interim Executive Succession Act.” Public Act 202 of 1959 reads:
“If the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, the elected Secretary of State, the elected Attorney General, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and Speaker of the House of representatives are not able or are unavailable to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the governor because of a disaster, the available emergency interim successor highest in order of succession shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office of governor.”
In the case of the unthinkable – whether it’s zombies, or an attack on the state - if the entire line of succession is wiped out or incapacitated, there is still a plan for someone to be in charge.