View source for Devastation

If, when the Horde attack, the town is deserted (i.e. all surviving citizens are camping outside the walls OR have been killed in town), it will be considered '''devastated''' by the zombies.

This causes all of the following effects:
:'''The gates are irreparably damaged:''' the town will no longer be able to serve as a refuge for the survivors. The town's defence is effectively zero (0).
:'''Buildings under construction will have to be started again''' from scratch.
:'''The water reserves in the well will be affected:''' they will be reduced to almost nothing. During the days after devastation, there will, however, be ''no effect'' on the water in the well.
:'''It is no longer possible to carry out upgrades:''' however, as a building is upgraded before the attack, the upgrade for the day the town is devastated is carried out.
:'''Citizens' houses are destroyed''' (interior improvements and upgrades are unaffected). Note that even if you return, you are still unable to upgrade your house at all.
:'''Chaos mode is immediately in effect''' (even if the usual conditions are not satisfied).
 
Your days are numbered... A little advice for such a situation : '''get the hell outta here !'''