Amazing Photos Reveal Major Cities Devoid of People as the World Stays Home, Where the Heart Is

This image provided by NOAA/NASA on Thursday, May 31, 2018 shows the Earth’s western hemisphere at 12:00 p.m. EDT on May 20, 2018 made by the new GOES-17 satellite, using the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) instrument. The weather satellite observes Earth from about 22,300 miles above the surface. Despite a serious cooling problem, the newest U.S. weather satellite has produced sharp snapshot of Earth. On May 23, 2018, NOAA reported that critical infrared sensors in the satellite’s main instrument were not staying cold enough. (NOAA/NASA via AP)

Ever wonder what the apocalypse would look like?

I’ve marveled in the past at movies depicting major American cities without inhabitants, wondering how much work it took to create the effect.

But now we’re seeing that very thing, and there’s no sleight of hand required.

As noted by The Daily Wire, astounding photos of New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are popping up on social media.

And it certainly looks as if there must be zombies on the lurk.

Whoever thought NYC could look so clean:

Manhattan's coronavirus clear-out: Aerial photos show the near-deserted streets of New York City as De Blasio shuts all bars, restaurants, cinemas and theaters pic.twitter.com/XMX3J5oTxi

— Sadat Afsar Ali (@SadatAfsar) March 16, 2020

One photographer really put it in perspective — “Population of New York City = 8.623 million (2017).”

Yet:

“Subway population at rush hour = two people and a cat.”

Photos of the day – Coronavirus scare

Population of New York City = 8.623 million (2017)

Subway population at rush hour = two people and a cat https://t.co/If56BhhLvC pic.twitter.com/89UjW0BemZ

— Dane B. McFadhen (@DaneMcFadhen) March 11, 2020

Reuters revealed what the train would look like if you were the only one riding:

An empty subway train is seen during the coronavirus outbreak in New York City. More images of eerily quiet cities across America: https://t.co/H2GNtXP4SE 📷 Jeenah Moon pic.twitter.com/u8KkGNMlZY

— Reuters Pictures (@reuterspictures) March 18, 2020

And check out Times Square:

An empty Times Square is seen in New York City, and more photos of the day: https://t.co/RkbOZgbG5X 📷 Jeenah Moon pic.twitter.com/rTyWMn0Qqe

— Reuters Pictures (@reuterspictures) March 20, 2020

On to Chicago, the windy city has only the trees to catch the breeze:

Scenes from Chicago: A deserted Daley Plaza, an Empty L, and the bleak Bean. Photos by @WGNNews photographer @KevinDoellman. #coronavirus #pandemic #COVID19 #SocialDistancing pic.twitter.com/CBbBhcOuYK

— Mike Lowe (@MikeLoweReports) March 22, 2020

It is, as pointed out by Kurt in Quarantine, “eerie”:

I’ve never seen Chicago so empty and boarded up. This is extremely eerie. #chicago #Chicagolockdown #COVID19chicago pic.twitter.com/2hziEzqYSk

— Kurt u/292 ✪ (@kurtwuckertjr) March 21, 2020

In Los Angeles, it looks as if the rapture took place:

Downtown Los Angeles is very surreal right now. Chinatown is abandoned. Grand Park is empty. It’s rare to even see people. Everybody come clean? Come on, you can tell me. Are we in a movie? pic.twitter.com/wIyDEuF07g

— Dan Rice (@66_To_Cali) March 18, 2020

Well, maybe not the rapture, but something that would make people in LA disappear.

If only traffic was like this year-round:

Has any Los Angeles highway ever been this empty? pic.twitter.com/5Npufjwyjp

— Dan Mace (@Dannmace) March 21, 2020

All over the country, cities appear abandoned. Like modern-day ghost towns.

The images seem straight out of The Twilight Zone.

An empty Bourbon Street on a Friday night. pic.twitter.com/1RFBD2rq4t

— Jeff Asher (@Crimealytics) March 21, 2020

Miami South Beach completely empty! 😳 pic.twitter.com/qZEi1AOg5e

— Jonathan Carlton (@JonCarltonUK) March 21, 2020

And, of course, it isn’t just America:

London is so empty :’( pic.twitter.com/sdLnXTgOTr

— ☆𝔄𝔫𝔫𝔞𝔟𝔢𝔩𝔩𝔢☆ (@awkobell) March 20, 2020

In “Rome, Closed City,” the filmmaker Mo Scarpelli walks the city’s normally bustling streets, filming empty squares, solitary masked pedestrians, and the occasional impervious pigeon. https://t.co/dSiHJNviVl pic.twitter.com/UAMq7E6KCL

— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) March 21, 2020

Drone video shows streets surrounding Paris' famous landmarks virtually empty as France remains on lockdown over the coronavirus outbreak https://t.co/tgkzsnngFw pic.twitter.com/XPTJx7fZdY

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 19, 2020

For many, we’re living in a stressful time. And certainly, any virus that can cause death is to be treated with respect.

But putting that aside, I’m stunned by this unique moment in history — when the world slowed and everyone went home.

We’ll always remember it. We’ll tell our grandchildren about it.

We were alive when it happened. We remember how it looked.

And hopefully, during this time of quarantine, we can reflect inward. Remember what life is about. It isn’t the rat race. It isn’t what’s out there.

It’s what inside us. And it’s those with whom we share our hearts.

And as empty as the world looks right now, this can be a time when we discover what truly does — and should — fill our lives.

To you and yours — this Wednesday morning, March 25th, 2020 — Happy Zombie Apocalypse.

-ALEX

See 3 more pieces from me:

In This Time of Uncertainty, America Shows Its True Colors: We Are a Nation of Kindness and Love for Our Fellow Man

Billy Sings the Blues: A Polyamorous Lover Waxes on the Difficulties of Quarantine With His Girlfriend and Her Boyfriend