Handling a crisis (writer's research)

Bug-Eyed Earl · Post by **Bug-Eyed Earl** » 2005-03-11 05:53pm

I have a script idea about an abandoned town. There were about 2,500 people in it, and I was wondering if anyone with the right knowledge could tell me how the disappearances of the inhabitants would be handled. Here's pretty much how it all happened:

DAY 1. The first absences are reported. About 1 in every 4 people in the town does not show up for work or school. It is never 1 person from a single household, either; when the absences are tallied by teachers and employers, it is revealed that if 1 person from a household is missing

DAY 2. In casual conversations people start to realize what is going on.

DAY 3. The missing are still missing, and now entire businesses are so short staffed that they can't stay open, and after more than half of the student boy at the schools don't show up, classes are cancelled. Still, no sign og the missing. The sheriff's department starts reading names and entering their homes to see if anything is wrong. But food is left on the plates, half eaten. Televisions are still on. But there are signs of struggle- turned over furniture, broken items, but only small amounts of blood. And no signs of forceable entry

DAY 4

Most of the town is missing, and many are leaving to stay with family, frightened by what has happened, and never come back.

Soon after, the state government closes all exits into and out of the town and the federal government quarantines it.

So, what government agencies would get involved, when, and would the town really be closed so soon?

It's hard to research stuff like this. You can't really email websites and ask them about this and expect to get an answer, so if any of the more informed people here know about how a situation like this would be handled, it would be much appreciated.

Elheru Aran · Post by **Elheru Aran** » 2005-03-11 06:08pm

FBI, probably. Also the state Bureau of Investigation, and the sheriff's department. National Guard. That should be about it...

Bug-Eyed Earl · Post by **Bug-Eyed Earl** » 2005-03-11 06:10pm

I was thinking the EPA would also get involved as well to see if there was some sort of contamination at the root of it.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2005-03-11 06:14pm

Virtually every state and Federal law enforcement agency would have some claim of jurisdiction. FEMA would also be involved, since 2500 people vanishing into thin air counts as an emergency.

Elheru Aran · Post by **Elheru Aran** » 2005-03-11 06:46pm

About the only agency that technically CAN'T get involved is the CIA; however, if involvement of a foreign power is suspect, then you can bet your boots they'd show. You'll have the whole alphabet soup to work with-- just pick the more well-known ones-- FBI, EPA, CIA, Nat'l Guard, and so forth. Have a throwaway line about 'the whole alphabet soup showed up' or some such, before some higher-up gets pissy and has them sent off.

Queeb Salaron · Post by **Queeb Salaron** » 2005-03-12 01:44am

I think the 4 days is a little extreme. After all, a town of 2500 isn't exactly high-up on the FBI's list of places to visit. You'd have to make sure that on day three, a local police higher-up is still alive so that someone can contact the State Police (police don't consider a person "missing" until they've been gone for 48 hours, IIRC).

A very interesting concept. It's a book I'd read.