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 Mill, Ducatel Gas Station).

History
This small town is located somewhere in Mississippi. Its main source of income is sugar cane growing and processing which in turn supports a consumer service infrastructure such as a Burger Tank outlet and gas stations. The settlement is not wealthy since many residents live in semipermanent trailer homes. Due to the risk of flash flooding occasioned by the region's frequent storms and seasonal hurricanes, permanent dwellings are built on pilings. However, some of the abandoned homes seen in the town left by its previous residents have collapsed walls, roofs, and vegetation growing through the floors due to the damage done by previous storms.

Current Status
When the infection reached this small rural town, it seems that the town was either evacuated, abandoned, or overrun. After an initial risk assessment, which concluded that Ducatel was "not safe," local residents were apparently instructed by CEDA to make their own arrangements to get to New Orleans for evacuation; however, it is easy to speculate that CEDA simply left Ducatel people to their own devices on account of the town's relative unimportance at a time when CEDA's plans and logistical resources were being overwhelmed by the Infection's magnitude.

Ducatel residents' fate is unknown, although there is compelling evidence that some civilians organized safe houses and lay in a stock of emergency fuel at the Ducatel Gas Station before they were either overrun, became infected, or their nerve cracked and they fled the area.

The sugary aroma in the air has also caused a large collection of Witches to take over the sugar mill. This, plus the numerous signs warning others to stay out of the mill, may explain the fate of some of the people trying to seek shelter in the mill.

Landmarks in Ducatel

 * Out_of_gas_sign.jpg Bar
 * Burger Tank
 * Unnamed gas station and Auto Parts Salvage garage
 * Jimbo's Classic Auto Repair and Service
 * Grocery store
 * Playground
 * Garage sale
 * Ducatel Sugar Company
 * Ducatel Diesel Gas Station

Notes.

 * The entire campaign of Hard Rain takes place in this town.
 * Yet another Burger Tank fast food outlet is found here and it is the venue for the campaign's starting point and finale.
 * Flash flooding and hurricane weather conditions are common in this area.
 * CEDA posters can be seen on the ground stating that the area is "not safe."
 * It seems that the town may have had a racetrack and was used as a safe house by survivors that went there after they got gas from Ducatel Diesel (as stated in the graffiti in the saferoom at Ducatel Diesel)