The following events take place in the "dead" center of Kentucky County.

July 1st, 1993 (Thursday). Knox Telecommunications takes phone lines down for "maintenance".

July 2nd, 1993 (Friday). Knox Knews reports on the continued phone outage, with one interviewed expert suggesting that sabotage may be responsible for the continued issues.

July 3rd, 1993 (Saturday). A military truck carrying an unknown hazardous substance crashes, just north of March Ridge. Military personnel quickly secure and seal off the site, discouraging civilians and reporters from remaining in the area.
Knox Telecommunications issues a statement that their continued outages are due to "severe issues with a local telephone exchange."

July 4th, 1993 (Sunday). US Army colonel Niall O'Malley urges calm after the crash near March Ridge, stating that the spilled materials "would pose little danger even if they came into contact with the public, which they did not." Military officials refuse to identify the hazardous substance, insisting that it must remain secret "for operational reasons."

July 5th, 1993 (Monday). Sheriff John Carroll urges residents of Knox Country to keep their dogs fenced in and leashed following a spate of dog attacks on people and farm animals.
Knox Knews reports that the foul smell in the area may be due to an invasive species of algae in the Ohio River.

July 6th, 1993 (Tuesday). Local newspapers begin reporting on the "Knox Infection".
Military personnel erect fences and checkpoints within the Knox Exclusion Zone. Entrance and exit are forbidden. Reports of residents being turned away at gunpoint.

July 7th, 1993 (Wednesday). Phone line outage continues. Knox Telecommunications provides no comment.

July 8th, 1993 (Thursday).
Reports of "mild sickness" spreading among some who have been left inside the Exclusion Zone.
More military personnel arrive from Fort Campbell. No-fly zone established over Knox.

July 9th, 1993 (Friday). Story begins.