Survive This, An EMP for the Holidays

[McRoach]

After discovering there were others with interests in being prepared to survive the worst I decided to add this new topic "An EMP for the Holidays".

This scenario occurs in wintertime and there is an Electro Magnectic Pulse (EMP) detonated over North America (or wherever you live) wiping out nearly everything electrical.

This means your cars won't stay running or be able to get running again (unless they were built in the 70's and you had an extra silinoid switch in a lead box to replace the burnt out one with). This means your cell phone, ipod, ipad, PC, Laptop, TV and radio are all just interestingly shaped paperweights. This means the trucks that bring you food, water, toiletries and all other maunfactured goods will not be coming by anytime in the near future.

Imagine being in your vehicle at 4:00pm driving seeing a flash of light and then a few seconds later your vehicle stops running (as does everyone elses if you are traveling in any traffic). You go for your cell phone and it doesn't work either, you notice it is getting dark yet there are no street lights or any lights in any homes or buildings that you can see.

The first questions to consider will be Can I survive a walk home or to a friend/relatives house? Will I have to rely on the help of strangers just to avoid freezing to death? How long will sit in your warm vehicle before you decide there is no help coming?

If you live in a warmer climate, than freezing to death may not be your greatest concern however the loss of mobility and instant communication will certainly impair your daily routine.

Under the best circumstances in this event power will be restored and the national guard will be fully deployed to assist with disaster recovery within a week. Hopefully there is no fall out to worry about (if the EMP was caused from a nuke detonated miles above the continent). Then it is just a matter of finding out how and why this happened and it will be a dark page in the history book a couple decades later.

Under the worst case scenario it is the start of world war three and freezing to death is something you may wish for if you live at least a month longer.

So what are your thought? How would you handle the situation. I invite all who read this WHAT IF topic to reply an honest response and what you think your odds of survival are and how.

[skeets52]

Interesting topic,, The inner citys would fall into caos in very short order looting, murder and such, there is no doubt about that.
The Burbs a short time later.
But us country kids, would fair a bit better. For the most part every one I know ,hunts fishes and traps, can build a fire and is as a rule a pretty self reliant lot, and there is more of a sense of community.
Of course water, and eletricty would be a major problem, but a prepaired mind can over come quit a bit of adversity. There should be no one, inner city or in the sticks that cannot survive for at least a week with what is in your cupboards.
Soups, dry rice, dry beans,and freeze dryed goods and caned good of any kind and of course bottled water, a couple of cases is cheap enough to have placed in the cupboard under the bed behind the TV, anyplace.
Weapons, I will not even discuss because so many people are frightend of them and once marshel law is invoked it would probly put you in more danger if any one knows you have one.
A cool head, common sense, and a little prepared ness would go a very long way to surviving the first days of an EMP attach comfortably, or even a weather related issues.
The point is plan ahead for the worst and hope for the best and you 'll be some place in the middle.
Just MHO you understand

[Eimhir]

Since I live in the boondocks, next to a large, fish filled lake and many fish filled streams, food and water would be the least of my worries. We have a wood burner and plenty of split, seasoned wood to last a couple of years and lots of warm blankets. Our lives would be more physical than they are now, but we would survive. There would be a big cook out the first few days, I imagine our neighbors would all gather to cook whatever we had thawing in our freezers! Plenty of beer and drink to get us by. I also have a nice supply of odorless lamp oil to give us some light at night.

I think we're ok here. More work for us, but definitely survivable.

I feel for those in the city or in the burbs who are more dependent upon modern systems for their survival.

[Perkeo]

I guess I'll chime in being a city type.

I took an inventory of things I have in my van. Even though I lack food I have several bottles of water, a sleeping bag, tools, 1500w power inverter, chairs, canvas tarp, rope, fire starter, mountain bike, extra jackets/clothes, 3 flashlights and extra batteries, a couple of knives, Hurling gear, locksmith tools and some other odds and ends that would become useful. I live only 2 blocks from a couple of shopping centers that have food and medical supplies and within 1-2 miles from family and friends.

I am an avid camper and survivalist so I have some very useful skills when needed. I could use my van for shelter for at least a couple of days if needed but I would probably get immediate supplies and meet up with friends or family and form a plan together.

[McRoach]

Thanks for the comments so far, it sounds like people would do ok in this event. I just realized that I never wrote how I figured I would manage in this scenario.

Perkeo I too am a city type and live in the very densely populated suburbs. Depending on where I am driving in my commute when the EMP hits, I know for a fact that I could survive the first 48 hours with just what I have available in the trunk of my car. My BIGGEST concern would be getting home safely to my family. I work in an industrial park with about 10 miles of city & high crime neighborhoods between my office and my house. If I manage to avoid getting mugged for what supplies I can carry with me, I should be able to hold out for at least a week or two once I get to my house. As long as my family is all home when I get there I'll just need to form a neighborhood watch and should be able to keep everyone secure until the government can get all the public works going again.

If the EMP is the result of an attack on the country than I may have to relocate to a warmer climate with less chance of being caught in the battlefield. I do still need to get some potassium iodide in my "just in case gear", radiation sickness is not something I ever wish to experience or see anyone else go through.