Resident Evil Raccoon City Outbreak Timeline | Initial Outbreak

June-July 1998

The initial outbreaks of the t-Virus in Raccoon City occurred in June-July 1998. While reports of murders involving BOWs were reported in and around Arklay Forest, the location of the now-destroyed Spencer Mansion, the first location in the city proper to be infected was Umbrella Incineration Disposal Plant P-12A (aka the Dead Factory), a facility used to dispose of biological waste (typically failed bioweapons).

Due to William Birkin’s paranoia that Umbrella wouldn’t reward his creation of the G-Virus, he began overtures to the US Military about selling the contagion. To set the stage for his escape, in June, he began sabotaging Plant P-12A by overwhelming the facility’s ability to dispose of waste. By July 29, workers in the plant were infected with the t-Virus, with the entire staff being lost shortly after. (Manager’s Diary, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis)

August 1998

By August 17, 1998, sporadic zombie sightings had occurred around Raccoon City. (Chris’s Diary, Resident Evil 2)

Early September 1998

On September 5, 1998, a Watchman at the Raccoon Police Department wrote about Thomas, a man who worked near the RPD in a scrapyard (actually the entrance to the sewers leading to the Umbrella lab), who seemed to be infected by the t-Virus. (Watchman’s Diary, Resident Evil 2)

According to the diary of the director of Raccoon General Hospital, patients were being admitted on or before September 10, 1998, suffering from gangrene and congestion of the blood, leading to dementia and intense cravings for flesh. (Director’s Diary, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis)

The virus took an unusually long time to incubate in Thomas’s case. The RPD Watchman wrote about him again on September 12, stating he looked rough but was still cognitive. During the same entry, the Watchman reported symptoms of t-Virus infection. (Watchman’s Diary, Resident Evil 2)

Umbrella begins plans to deploy the Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service (UBCS) to Raccoon City on September 15, 1998. (Mercenary’s Diary, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis)

On September 18, the Director’s Diary seems to indicate the hospital was still functioning normally. However, more patients had been admitted with t-Virus exposure. (Director’s Diary, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis)

On or around September 20, Umbrella Security Services (USS) deployed the 1st Squad to the Raccoon City sewer system. At 9:30 pm CDT, RPD Sgt. Neil Carlsen spotted a member of the USS around the sewers on the outskirts of the city. The individual ran away before being questioned, but Sgt. Carlsen found and impounded several military-grade items. (Patrol Report, Resident Evil 2)

Sometime late on September 22, Dr. Birkin may have released a pack of Hunter Rs into the laboratory. These creatures killed many of the G-Virus R&D team and infected others. (Researcher’s Will, Resident Evil Outbreak)