This looks like it could be really good. Zombie apocalypse stories are always fun.
The only thing that gives me caution is, this is going to be a sandbox with resource management. The dev is a first timer, and they are going to go with that? Just feels like it is going to get overcomplicated and become a grind.
If this was going to purely be a VN, then awesome. Sounds great. But with the future implementation of a sandbox and resource grind/management, it's going to be extremely annoying. Can't stand sandboxes (because they are never done well), so I don't have high hopes for this one being better.
Still, wish you the best of luck with this and thanks.