Exclusion Zones are hazardous areas of the
Earth which have been identified and demarcated by various nations and organizations in the wake of World War 3. Exclusion Zones are areas where weapons of mass destruction were used during World War 3, resulting in long term radiological, biological, or chemical contamination that would prohibit human resettlement and be hazardous to travel.
The vast majority of Exclusion Zones are the result of nuclear detonations in the early years of World War 3. These were mostly population centers or strategically significant military bases. The radiation threshold of an Exclusion Zone varies from nation to nation. Areas that are immediately hazardous to health (100+ mSv/h) are always excluded, but acceptable long term exposure rates vary the most. The decrease in radiation over time also necessitates that Exclusion Zone boundaries be reevaluated overtime.
In the initial years after World War 3, Exclusion Zones were largely dictated by nuclear fallout from weapons themselves, but the radiation from these sources have dissipated to a significant degree over the last two centuries. However, nuclear reactors that were damaged or left unattended as a result of these detonations (or other weapons of the war such as orbital kinetic bombardment) have contributed to the continued existence of the zones, as compromised nuclear power facilities have released a far greater amount of persistent radiation over a longer time. These radiation sources continue salting the environment until local containment can be achieved.
Dangers and Hazards
Radiation levels within the Exclusion Zone are one of the chief hazards, as are various toxic pollutants resulting from the dilapidation of infrastructure. Dosimeters, fresh water, respirators, and protective clothing are essential for survival beyond the outskirts of a zone. Beyond that, the next major hazard is from the environmental decay as buildings, bridges, and other structures have been worn down by both the nuclear blasts and the lack of maintenance. Many buildings within the Exclusion Zone are structurally unsound and prone to spontaneous collapse. Floors could give out beneath the feet of an explorer without warning. There are also bandits who thrive on the lawlessness of the Zones, so carrying a firearm for self-defense is strongly encouraged. Weapons would also be useful against feral or wild animals who see a human as a threat or next meal. There are rumors of dangerous mutants and cryptids within a few exclusion zones, but none have been documented clearly apart from grotesquely deformed but otherwise mundane mutant animals.
Security Measures
Control measures around Exclusion Zones also vary greatly depending on the size and resources at hand for a particular region. Some Zones are simply marked by signage and geotagging. Others have fences erected to keep out all but the more determined intruders, though the sheer size of most Exclusion Zones' perimeters means there will invariably be weaknesses unless maintenance and upkeep is performed diligently.
Some nations take more proactive security measures, especially around Zones that were once military bases or major cities. These measures include the employment of counter-intrusion sensors, aerial surveillance drones, manned security posts and checkpoints, and security patrols. Exclusion Zone security is important, not only to keep people out for their own safety, but to keep anyone from bringing out contaminated salvage. Still, even the most tightly guarded zones cannot be patrolled with 100% efficiency, and intrusion by
Stalkers and other determined individuals is a constant for almost every Zone.
Zone Inhabitants
Apart from wild and feral animals who have reclaimed the streets of these abandoned, irradiated cities, a surprising number of people have come to inhabit the Zones, despite all efforts to keep them out. Some displaced persons, refugees, and those who ignored evacuation warnings have taken up residence in their ancestral homes (or as close as they can get to it). These people tend to be fairly self sufficient and live in either single families or small tight-knit communities. They are often wary of outsiders and will likely be armed to deter security forces and criminal elements alike.
Non-native inhabitants may also take up residence in the Zone, often to escape justice or criminal enforcers. These inhabitants favor the anonymity of a low-tech lifestyle cut off from authority and communication, but even in the Zones one can't let their guard down completely.
Others come to the zone for thrill or profit-seeking, the so called "Stalkers" and Exclusion Zone Explorers (EZXers). These tend to be younger individuals who are attracted to the mystique of the Zones, to the sense of invisible danger, to the chance to shirk "the Man's" order to keep out. Some Stalkers have a sense of reverence towards the places they explore, evoking the mantra of "leave no trace". Others are less respectful, and have been known to trample, litter, vandalize, and steal from the Zones, giving other Stalkers a bad name. This is one of the reasons that the term "Exclusion Zone eXploration" has become more popular in recent years, to differentiate those who come into a Zone just to experience it as it is.
Finally, there are those who come to the zone for work: the Reclamation and Salvage Contractors. Salvage Contractors are paid to (often illegally) retrieve valuable goods or materials from the ruined cities. Most of the salvage ends up on the black market or in circulation when safety regulations fall short (home Geiger counters are popular for this reason). Other times salvage contractors are paid to retrieve specific items, such as a family heirloom that was left behind during the war. These items are collected and returned to the client in
Keepsafes if they continue to pose a radiological hazard. In either case salvaging is a common line of work for those who illegally inhabit the zone.
Reclamation Contractors, on the other hand, are paid to restore the outskirts of the cities to safe and habitable conditions as radiation levels recede. Unlike salvage contractors, most reclamation work is done above-board with the exception of disputed territories where "finders keepers" essentially determines who will own the territory once habitable. Both Salvage and Reclamation Contracting are popular jobs for
Synthetically Adapted Human Beings on Earth due to their increased tolerance for radiation.
Exclusion Zones in America
Most major US cities were leveled in the opening exchanges of World War 3 and are uninhabitable to this day. These cities have been declared Exclusion Zones by the
United North American States government and are managed by the
Bureau of Contaminated Land Management and Reclamation until the radiation levels reach tolerable levels.
As an Exclusion Zone's territory is reclaimed and made habitable, the BCLMR turns over control to whichever state the Zone falls within. Some Exclusion Zones exist outside of current state boundaries. To prevent disputes between bordering states, the Reclamation Act of 2174 determined that territory will be awarded to whichever State rebuilds and settles the area on a per-acre basis. This has led to a sort of "arms race" on border-adjacent Exclusion Zones as each state hires Reclamation Contractors to turn-over as much territory as quickly as possible.
Another challenge posed by the Exclusion Zones is the obstacle to travel and trade. Prewar infrastructure such as highways and railways are built around the major cities that are now at the heart of most zones. An extensive redesign of the American Highway and rail networks had to take place to skirt around the Zones wherever possible.
Unfortunately, some peninsular areas in the UNAS such as
Delmarva and some parts of
New England are completely cut off from the rest of the continent by Exclusion Zones. For many decades, air and sea travel were the only ways to safely reach these regions. This was until the BCLMR and
North American Highway Safety Administration constructed
Exclusion Zone Bypass Tunnels, specially constructed tunnels with shielding against excessive exposure. These tunnels can be more than 100 kilometers long, and are often highly congested, even with manual driving prohibited.
In the early 24th Century, the BCLMR announced that several exclusion zones would be completely reclaimed by 2315 and reopened to the public.
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