Resident Evil Raccoon City Outbreak Timeline | Outbreak Escalation
Tuesday, September 22, 1998
Although sporadic t-Virus infections were occurring throughout Raccoon City in early September, the situation was manageable. This changed on the evening of Tuesday, September 22, 1998.
At 11:45 pm CDT on September 22, Umbrella Security Services (USS) Alpha Team infiltrated Umbrella’s NEST labs beneath Raccoon City to retrieve the G-Virus and capture Dr. William Birkin. HUNK, Ghost (J. Martinez), and two other USS soldiers confronted Birkin and attempted to capture him. When Dr. Birkin drew a handgun, Ghost mortally wounded Birkin. After Birkin went down, the team acquired both a t-Virus and a G-Virus sample from a case the doctor dropped and began exfiltrating the labs. (Lab Digital Video Cassette, Resident Evil 2 remake)
Dying, Birkin injected himself with the G-Virus, mutating into the monster known as “G.” The virus revitalized Birkin but robbed him of much of his cognitive abilities. However, Birkin kept enough control of his facilities to track down and kill at least two members of Alpha Team in the sewers. During the fight, the case containing the t-Virus and G-Virus samples broke open. Birkin then consumed the G-Virus samples and smashed the t-Virus vials. (Resident Evil 2 cutscene)
Rats and cockroaches consumed the t-Virus, becoming carriers. Over the night, multiple creatures were infected. Eventually, the rats made their way out of the sewers and into Raccoon City’s streets. It was via this vector that most of Raccoon City’s citizens were infected. (Resident Evil 2 cutscene)
Wednesday, September 23, 1998
By the morning of Wednesday, September 23, Umbrella had notified its associate, RPD Chief Brian Irons, of the incident in the labs. Irons begins to panic, paranoid that he’d been infected. Mayor Michael Warren is also notified and sends his daughter to the RPD as he makes plans to escape the city. (Chief’s Diary, Resident Evil 2)
Thursday, September 24, 1998
On September 24, Umbrella briefed the Pentagon about the incident. A military force is sent to quarantine Raccoon City, and the press is told a radioactive spill has occurred. This force begins working with the RPD and Raccoon City Fire Department to evacuate civilians. Evacuees are transported out of the city via Chinook helicopters stationed at the Raccoon Zoo starting at 10 am CDT. An official announcement of the emergency has not been made to the residents of Raccoon City yet. (Evacuation Order, Resident Evil Outbreak File #2)
Due to the 24th being the last day city services ran in a normal manner, this is likely the day Sherry Birkin receives a call from her mother at school imploring her to go home. Once Sherry makes it home, her mother urges her to head to the RPD to take shelter. (Phone Call from Annette to Sherry 1 and 2, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles)
During September 24, thousands become infected with the t-Virus. A major outbreak of violence occurs at a Raccoon Sharks football game that evening due to a zombie. It takes fifty police officers to bring the situation under control. (Kevin’s opening, Resident Evil Outbreak)
Martial law is subtly imposed over the evening of the 24th. Roadblocks are established around 7 pm CDT as part of RPD Operation Mop-Up. A police team is ordered to set up explosives on Main Street in case the infected swarm the area. Police are given orders to shoot any citizens who don’t comply. (Emergency orders A, Resident Evil Outbreak File #2)
