The Post-Apocalyptic Roadmap/Michigan

Part of the Post-Apocalyptic Roadmap Project.

Upper Peninsula

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan has become extremely hostile to all outsiders (aka non-yoopers). They refuse all help from the outside world and have attempted to segregate themselves from the rest of the world, with their secure water supply and very little nuclear radiation (seeing as a nuclear blast didn't go off anywhere near the UP). The government has turned into a direct democracy, where all the citizens travel to the city of Marquette to discuss the dealings of the peninsula every month on the 23rd day. The government is not corrupt... yet. But, it is definitely a stable society with hardly any bandits or uncivilized behavior.

• If you think of going to the UP... Don't. There are hunters guarding the borders every hour of the day, and unless you have business with a specific citizen... Or have enough money for a bribe *BLAM*.

PS: Considering how bad Detroit already is, it is safe to say that it will not last for long after a nuclear bomb drop.

Lower Peninsula

The Lower Peninsula of Michigan was not directly affected by nuclear strikes. Instead, wind patterns spread nuclear fallout over the lower areas of the Mitten, most notably the Detroit Metropolitan areas and the western Michigan region. Most of the state is without a functioning government. Instead, small communities dot the quiet landscape, with most functioning with a head elder as the leader. The only exception is Dearborn, which is run by a theocratic council from Christian, Islamic and Jewish backgrounds. As others have reported, Detroit has become anarchistic. More than 15 gangs wage war to gain territory within the city.

Other small communities exist. Palisades is a functioning nuclear power plant that is home to a group of engineering students who were attending a local college. Mackinaw City is the northernmost community in the Lower Peninsula. Northville is a haven for Satanists who occupy the run down mental institution. There have been reports of travelers going missing around the area while traveling the abandoned highway nearby. Lets put it this way, Michigan is doing better than Ohio.

Stories from the Mitten

Roy's Log: Farmington Hills, 3 Months after Exchange

To be honest, we were asking for it. This couldn't be avoided. Oh well. Detroit got hit of course. Major industrial center for vehicles, so it makes sense that they would hit the city with just one bomb. It's bad luck for both the rest of the metropolitan area and Windsor. The fallout spread, but it somehow didn't reach us, thankfully. My family doesn't know what to do. Both my parents are stressed to the limit. I've never seen them like this before. If you want to know what happened to the National Gaurd, I'd laugh. They had a foothold on most of the grocery stores until a bunch of people started complaining about the rations. It went to hell after that. I heard different stories, one with all of the men just deserting and going their own ways and another with them heading back towards Detroit. Either way, there's not a lot of food to go around. I've been farming a little bit, but it's still not enough.

On the topic of electricity, there isn't a lot of it. There's some, but it goes out a lot. People aren't doing well. Disease spiked, and a lot of people fell to it. My family is fine since we saw this coming and stocked up. It's amazing how much your mother knows about stocking up.

I have a plan, or at least that's what I call it. I'll only go through with it if things here at the house go bad. I'm gas up my car, pick up my grandpa's shotgun and pistol, and get another gas can. From there, I'll either try and find Eli, John, and Ashlyn or just head upstate. If they're dead, then I'll give them a proper burial, say a prayer, and go somewhere. Maybe I'll drive to North Carolina to see if my cousins survived. Maybe I'll drive to Rose City to see if anyone is holed up at the camp.

God help me.

Jacob's journal, Upper Peninsula, 5 days after Exchange

I saw lights things in the sky a few nights ago. I got on the radio that night and some guy in Montana was saying the US got hit all over. He didn't know who launched them in the first place. I have no idea if Bay City or Muskegon got hit. If they did, then my parents are most likely dead. Fuck.

I have enough supplies to last me a couple more weeks. Any time after that and I'll have to hike 10 miles to see if there's anything left in town. I have more than enough ammunition for my rifle, I just need to get food. I can probably use the river for water, but I'll have to monitor it for radiation. No idea if any towns up here got hit.

May the sins of our fathers be forgiven. Jacob out.

Document found on corpse of male, presumably 35-40 years of age, in an isolated cabin near Escanaba. Body was found with a gunshot wound on side of head. Cause of death is presumed to be suicide due to social isolation or from looter(s).