Ducatel

"THIS AREA IS NOT SAFE. Evacuation in this area has been SUSPENDED indefinitely. You are advised to travel to New Orleans IMMEDIATELY."

- CEDA "Man, it's like the fabled city of Atlantis."

- Ellis (in reference to town being flooded)

The town of Ducatel is the main setting for the entire Hard Rain campaign in Left 4 Dead 2. The town has no official name other than being designated "Milltown" in the game, but it can be assumed that the name Ducatel applies since this nomenclature is commonly present on signage throughout the settlement (e.g. Ducatel Sugar Company, Ducatel Gas Bar and Ducatel Diesel).

History
This small town is located somewhere in southwestern Mississippi, along the Mississippi River. It is a working-class town, as its main source of income is sugar cane growing and processing which supports a consumer service infrastructure such as a Burger Tank outlet and gas stations. The town also featured a racetrack near Ducatel Diesel, another possible source of income. Ducatel is not a wealthy settlement, since its population lived in small, single-family bungalows or semi-permanent trailer homes. The Ducatel Sugar Mill's recent closure likely also had a negative impact on the town's economy.

The region is prone to hurricane conditions, so some permanent dwellings are built on pilings to avoid the flash floods. However, some of the abandoned homes seen in the town had collapsed walls, roofs and vegetation growing through the floors due to the damage done by the previous storms going unrepaired.

Current Status
As the Infection raged its way towards the Mississippi River, it appears that the town held out for a time, stockpiling supplies and barricading their homes as they awaited federal assistance. Unfortunately, an initial risk assessment concluded that Ducatel was "not safe," and so it appears CEDA made minimal effort to aid the town. However, it is possible that CEDA was simply too overwhelmed with the Infection's ballooning magnitude to notice or assist the small, insignificant town. Whatever the case, the townsfolk wasted precious time expecting a rescue that would never come.

When the Infection struck Ducatel, the surviving townsfolk, angry at the realization that they were on their own, stocked up on fuel and fled the town. While most appear to have headed for New Orleans, some of them may have fled to the local sugar mill for shelter. The sugar present in the mill and nearby sugarcane field, however, drew a large congregation of Witches to the small town. This, along with the graffiti warning others to stay out of the mill, implies the fate of all who sought shelter within it. By the time of the Survivors' arrival, Ducatel has been abandoned by its residents, with the Infected serving as its new population.

Landmarks in Ducatel

 * Out_of_gas_sign.jpg telling survivors to head for the Ducatel Diesel station.]]Ducatel Gas Bar
 * Burger Tank
 * Auto Parts Salvage garage
 * Jimbo's Classic Auto Repair and Service
 * Grocery store
 * Playground
 * Garage sale
 * Ducatel Sugar Company
 * Ducatel Diesel Gas Station