http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/19/17826502-an-empty-metropolis-bostonians-share-photos-of-deserted-streets?lite
Recently realized I am short one post. Anyway, I'm sure many of us have been following the events in Boston this morning. Aside from the reality of whats going on, I was struck by the images of a locked down Boston. It makes me wonder about the chaotic, wrecked highways/cities we have described in books like World War Z and Zone One(the great panic and Last nights especially). In Walking Dead we see miles of traffic jams, and in one flashback the violent chaos of Atlanta. Would there be panic in the streets, looting and violence, or would people take shelter and try to let law enforcement/the military handle the threat.
It could come down to how much warning people had. In big storms, it seems like violence breaks out in before it hits, as people try to get supplies or evacuate(and of course after, if supply lines aren't re-established). Whatever we may think about the government, people have a strong tendency to cede to authority/experts in emergencies, which in fairness is usually a good idea.
However, in the apocalypse, these systems have failed, or are in the process of collapsing. Would the sight of the dead rising, or even infected running in the streets induce panic and disregard for whatever containment measures were being attempted? Or would most people barricade themselves even tighter than brave the outside. Basically, do you think our cities would implode, or quietly rot? I mostly wonder about initial outbreak cities, since I think that once a zombie plague got going, panic would be the almost certain option in cities that weren't hit early on.
(obviously this post isn't about Boston in particular or the events still going on, I just found the photos of a city locked down through emergency procedures extremely interesting/thought-provoking)
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Personally I think in the event of an emergency most of our major cities would implode as we see in many zombie works. In terms of a zombie apocalypse, I dont think anyone would have much, if any, warning causing many citizens to panic and scramble to reach family and gather their personal belongings. On the other hand it was inspiring to see the Boston communities immediate and effective response to the events of this past week. However, I don't think things would be as organized in a situation where the problem is seeking you out rather than you seeking it (not to mention multiplying whenever it does find someone).
I think that in a zombie out break situation cities would result in panic initially and then lock down mode. I imagine people running to find anyway out of the city (images of cars being backed up on the free way float through my mind), lines of people overflowing the subway and train systems and then complete abandonment. As we see in the opening scenes of The Walking Dead it looks like the world was in initial panic mode and then survivors barricaded themselves in.
I think it would be a mess at first, biggest percent (60% maybe) trying to get their hands in things that they couldn't get (electronic novelties, expensive stuff, pretty stuff, and fighting for it too), then there's the other percent (prolly 20-25%) trying to get weapons, a car, fighting each other, and last (20-15%) trying to get smart supplies canned food, water, survival supplies, meds, and prolly one or two means of defense and then hide.
Like 7 days later chaos would be present everywere people killed, fire everywere, crashed cars, broken glasses, and an insufficient police running or trying to help. Some strays in the street wandering like scared deers, and everyone else gone or locked in.