[chico20854]

January 13, 1998

The destruction of Toledo and Lima in Ohio in December triggered a vast migration east from Cleveland, Akron, and Columbus. These refugees avoid Pittsburgh itself, fearful of another escalation in the continuing nuclear exchange, but vast refugee camps grow up in smaller towns throughout the region between the Allegheny Mountains, Lake Erie, and the Ohio Border. Refugee camps are established outside many of the towns and cities in the region, especially in such transportation centers as New Castle, Butler, the towns along the Ohio River, and, once fear of further nuclear attacks had receded, near Pittsburgh. The relatively small populations of the smaller towns are rapidly overwhelmed in numbers and in political power by the refugees, and Pittsburgh, partly depopulated during the chaotic weeks following the nuclear attacks, is overrun by them. Refugee migrations from the west enter Beaver County along the Pennsylvania Turnpike and from the area around New Castle to the north. Large numbers have already crossed the Ohio River and settled around Aliquippa and in Raccoon Creek State Park. In Washington County to the south, citizens alarmed at the influx of refugees and by reports of what is happening north of Pittsburgh, form a self-defense militia.

Unofficially,

As a result of the harsh words and clashing visions between USCG Commandant Holsbirger and First Maritime Defense District Commander Scott MacDowell, MacDowell begins developing a plan to use his remaining forces to maintain control of two facilities he believes are absolutely critical to the future of the Navy and Coast Guard: Portsmouth Naval Yard and Bath Iron Works. At the same time, MacDowell intends to provide security and support for the fishing fleets operating out of Maine, New Hampshire, and northern Massachusetts. Holsbirger can take care of the fishing fleets operating out of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and points south with his own ships and people.

With the fighting in the Rhine wound down, French and NATO authorities meet to make arrangement for the repatriation of Allied forces and the evacuation of facilities from the occupied zone. The burden of supporting the effort is to fall solely upon the French and Belgian governments, which begin mobilizing civilian trucking and rail assets as Army and Air Force engineers work to clear and improve transit routes. The first shipment of foodstuffs are delivered to the USAF Ramstein Air Base, which hosts over 2500 American airmen and soldiers and 15,000 refugees. The DIA Amsterdam station chief travels to Paris to meet with DGSE officials to hammer out the details of the larger assistance package agreed to by SACEUR and French commanders; the American ambassador in Paris implores the General not to refer to the package as "reparations".