Gridlock on roads going West

The EBS has reported tons of angry, frightened and panicking people trying to drive away from the Zone.

[...]

People heading in?

According to the CBC, tons of people have been heading towards the Zone!

[...]

What's Really Going On?

I've been plugged into the news all day, but every service seems to have the same nothings to say. "We can't offer aid," "We are offering aid," and the same bulletin from the government that's been everywhere since this morning.

The situation that began on Monday the second in or around the capitol is serious, but not grim. People in the surrounding area should take preventive measures to ensure their own safety in the event of power or water failures. It is not known exactly what is occurring inside the ‘dead zone,’ but loss of utilities is likely.

To citizens further away, please do not head towards the ‘dead zone.’ Do your best to maintain normalcy as much as possible, and hopefully the situation will be resolved shortly.

To the world community, offers of aid are appreciated but not being accepted at this time: this is an internal issue and is being handled accordingly.

Efforts to quarantine the area are underway. Please do not interfere with military personnel in your area. Thank you.

I found this CBCNews article and even this EBSNews article with barely any information. Apparently the authorities are only accepting help from internal sources. We're too good for assistance from Europe I guess?

I'm confused about what's really going on. Nothing I've read has described the Zone in any detail (which, I suppose, is appropriate. Since they probably don't know either). But the implication that they're quarantining this area, that they're reacting potentially violently to what they don't understand at all is really concerning. I want to know more details before I block anyone from coming out or people from going in to help.

...

Can’t sleep. Worried about Jeremy. Worried about all my friends East of anywhere… I tried to be productive and now I’m just lying in bed. Did I have something interesting to say? Don’t remember… Tired…

Sleep Deprivation

I probably mention this a lot, but Organic Chemistry sucks.

Except when it doesn't.

East

I was reading on CBCNews and found this article. Kinda weird, right? A definite non-explanation for why I haven't heard from Jeremy since Sunday; nobody's heard anything from anybody.

Maybe I've seen too many zombie movies, but I can't help but imagine the obligatory scene where most everyone is 'infected' but out of sight, and the main dudeman wanders around totally oblivious. Even though the streets are empty, and everyone watching knows something's not right...

But that's probably just being dramatic. There's some explanation; maybe some physics students were being overzealous with experiments involving an EMP device. That might explain the lack of communication initially, anyway. Doesn't really speak to why nobody has come out. But it's not really my place to worry about it. I have other things to focus on: regardless of activities in the East, school hasn't been closed, so I've got to finish my Chemistry paper.

After the Show

Aha! Here's the first one he sent after he got added to his research group:

Excellent news my friend!! I was added to the research team of Doctor Blume! Apparently it's pretty rare to be added in the middle of an academic term, but one of his students dropped out and he said he needed a full team. I tried to find out a little more about what happened to the last guy, but everyone always changes the subject when I bring it up. I guess it's a sensitive subject? Maybe he was stealing glassware or something, haha..

Anyways, Doctor Blume told us not to discuss at length what we're working on, but I can trust you, right? You're not gonna post this on the Internet, right? [Sensitive data omitted because I'm such a nice friend...] ...

Anyway, when he does choose to be detailed it's too technical for me to decipher anyways.