EMP Prep, What would you do if you had 45 minutes to prepare?

[/pine]

The solar storm of 212 that almost sent us back to a post-apocalyptic Stone Age - ExtremeTech

 

[ovrszd]

Like I said...there would be zero tolerance...and just an opinion but I would think there would be masses wanting to enlist in the military rather than leaving...

The only people enlisting in the military during these times would be those that felt like that was the only way they were going to survive. This would be mass killing like nothing this country has ever saw. The cowardly will abandon their families for self survival. Kill their neighbors for food. Ambush anyone they see that has more than they do. Within a few days our "policing" structure, including the military would collapse Within a couple weeks you would not trust ANYONE you see, including close friends and family.

You do realize the top end of our government officials, including the military heads, already have a system in place that would increase their personal chances of survival? They would tell you it was so they could continue to function in the capacity of caring for the citizens........

 

[ovrszd]

My old, WW2 Ranger mentor once told me, " You never know what is cooking in someone else's pot "... Don't be surprised, in a true calamity, your neighbors aren't measuring you up for their pot.

"There's not room in this boat for both of us, someone has to leave".

 

[ovrszd]

How long is a typical EMP event? Long enough to start fires? I would have thought milliseconds. Like I said, I don't know.

My hope is that I never live to see such a break down. If I do, I would consider myself lucky, if killed quite soon into the scenario for the Snickers Bar.

I heard stories about Katrina and cops stealing generators and booze, holding up in hotels basically looking after themselves, keeping others away from their little oasis. I think this is quite telling of human nature.

Sadly, we are the most devious species on this planet. That's why we dominate.

 

[oosik]

Ind Toys - from what I understand - an EMP blast is a high altitude nuclear blast that will shut the electrical power grid and all household appliances & electrical devices connected to the power grid. So while the blast is almost instantaneous - the effects could last years. The effects being - total repair to the national electrical power grid.

 

[TnAndy]

Unless you have thousands of gallons of fuel stored for a generator, you will run out of fuel years before they restore the grid. Saving devices that run on electricity would be the least of your worries. I doubt bringing broadcast radio and TV would be a high priority. If you have a year of food stored, a way to get safe water for a year, then you might be ok if the neighbors don't raid your site. I am just thinking on the sunny side of an EMP attack.

My diesel generator has a 1,000 gal of storage, but it is for backup to my 11kw solar power. It won't run over a couple hours a week on average, and at <gal/hr consumption, I figure it's good for around 5 years of backup.

 

[sandman2234]

My diesel generator has a 1,000 gal of storage, but it is for backup to my 11kw solar power. It won't run over a couple hours a week on average, and at <gal/hr consumption, I figure it's good for around 5 years of backup.

Guess I know where I am heading in case of a major problem with a bomb or whatever!!
David from jax

 

[sandman2234]

Alas Babylon?

David from jax

I am surprised that nobody commented on that statement, especially as old as most of y'all are, lol!
Alas Babylon was one of the doomsday books written about the time Sputnik hit the sky. Actually pretty good, mostly about how people survived "after" the bomb.
David from jax

 

[/pine]

The only people enlisting in the military during these times would be those that felt like that was the only way they were going to survive. This would be mass killing like nothing this country has ever saw. The cowardly will abandon their families for self survival. Kill their neighbors for food. Ambush anyone they see that has more than they do. Within a few days our "policing" structure, including the military would collapse Within a couple weeks you would not trust ANYONE you see, including close friends and family.

You do realize the top end of our government officials, including the military heads, already have a system in place that would increase their personal chances of survival? They would tell you it was so they could continue to function in the capacity of caring for the citizens........

I think you are over dramatizing...sure there are some absolute worst case scenarios on a global scale where actions and reactions "could" become like you describe...but there are some scenarios where massive disruption would not mean total bedlam and chaos...
In some worse (not worst) case instances martial law would be declared...There would be stabilization periods with severe curfews and times when no civilians are allowed in public (remember, the constitution is suspended...nobody has any given rights) are levied with zero tolerance. if there is a lot of "killing" it will mostly be the military shooting cowboy nonconformists who think they are above the (martial) law...

One of the stupidest questions I have heard in this regard is "if martial law is declared (following an emp/cme) how would anyone know"...it's ludicrous not to realize that a good percentage of the below mentioned contingency plans involve means of communications following said possible emp/cme 's i.e., no Radio / TV, no Internet, no phones etc.e etc...


Do you not realize that the powers that be have multi-layered contingency plans for the gloom and doom scenarios you have described?...do you not think they have also envisioned most possible actions and reactions...and are prepared to protect a chain of command...It's not just the "government officials"...don't leave out the extreme affluent...they have valuable assets...

As for those wanting to get into or away from the military...The military will have total control of commercial food sources and transportation regardless...

An EMP strike from an enemy is likely going to be regional which mainly means massive evacuations to unaffected surrounding areas...and in the early stages we would see some of the worst of our ilk...just as we have in some recent disaster instances...

 

[k0ua]

All power comes from the barrel of a gun.

If you want to know what the social order looks like in the apocalypse, watch "The walking dead". No zombies, but after the breakdown of services and social order, the people in power will be those with the guns. People will band together and cooperate either through fear or coercion to form "gangs" or armed groups that will take advantage of other more peaceful groups. Life will be pretty rough (and ugly) and millions will die.

 

[Industrial Toys]

You only have to look at large scale local disruptions to see how ill equipped, dysfunctional and poorly resourced virtually all levels of government are.

But I'm glad. Those damm cell phones will be the first to go. It's all, almost worth it, just for that.

 

[k0ua]

You only have to look at large scale local disruptions to see how ill equipped, dysfunctional and poorly resourced virtually all levels of government are.

But I'm glad. Those damm cell phones will be the first to go. It's all, almost worth it, just for that.

WHAT! My smartphone is dead? OH CRAP!....I use it for nearly everything..man......:hissyfit:

 

[sd455dan]

EMP event is bad, But if Yellowstone Super Volcano should go off in our lifetimes. 11+ Grand canyons of ash to put in the atmosphere and If people survived that then the equivalent of a LONG Nuclear winter.

Not to worry -since NASA has a plan to drill and inject water to cool the Magma...:laughing:

 

[/pine]

Some folks watch too many movies or watch too much TV...how many of the post apocalypse shows depict the very early stages following whatever caused the apocalypse?...they all skip forward...

Because to have any credibility there has to be allotted time for "armed groups/gangs" to develop...well...in reality in a martial law environment (not TV)...the law "could" be that any armed civilian in public is to be shot on sight by the military...it does not take long for the masses to conform and the outlaws to be controlled in a zero (shoot on sight) environment...

My point is...yes the media projected scenarios are plausible...likely? maybe not so much...I don't think there is any evidence of backwards evolution we are mostly a civilized lot...(I hope)...!

 

[/pine]

...You only have to look at large scale local disruptions to see how ill equipped, dysfunctional and poorly resourced virtually all levels of government are...

That's the point...what are you calling "large scale"...Katrina? large hurricane yes but hardly effected enough of the powers that be to take action...

I think it would surprise you if the entire US gov/military's only objective was to restore a somewhat state of normalcy and leadership following a nationwide disruption of most services and resources (i.e., food, fuel etc.)

 

[RSKY]

The first thing I would do is go to the fridge in the utility room and drink up all my cold beer!

Who knows how long it will be before I can get another.

RSKY

 

[ovrszd]

All power comes from the barrel of a gun.

If you want to know what the social order looks like in the apocalypse, watch "The walking dead". No zombies, but after the breakdown of services and social order, the people in power will be those with the guns. People will band together and cooperate either through fear or coercion to form "gangs" or armed groups that will take advantage of other more peaceful groups. Life will be pretty rough (and ugly) and millions will die.

James, is it alright if I just copy/paster your comments to Pine?

 

[k0ua]

James, is it alright if I just copy/paster your comments to Pine?

Well, since Mr. Pine doesn't seem to agree with my assessment of the "pocky lips" I not sure it would be helpful.... It is all just conjecture anyway, and depending on how widespread the EMP event would be would determine the eventual outcome. Of course the rest of the world might not be involved at all, and perhaps some friendly nations would lend us a hand.....or not... Even a Carrington even't would likely only affect half of the world.

I do have sealed metal containers large enough for all of my radio equipment, but likely wouldn't get the warning in time. Then will my little solar power plant survive? It might be doubtful. I can easily in a couple of seconds unplug my cell from the charge controller and the charge controller from the batteries. but I typically leave them plugged in all the time. And then the next question is just actually who am I going to talk to on my equipment provided I am back on the air? Not sure about that one.

I find it incredible (the true meaning of that word) that on TWD, no one ever tries to communicate via long range radio to see how the rest of the world is faring with the outbreak of the zombie virus. Of course no one of the group seems to know anything about long range radio. Of course how many here know anything about HF radio or could build even a simple dipole antenna and resonate it to the frequency of interest and operate a modern HF transceiver? Or know which frequencies to utilize for each part of the day and season of the year?

 

[k0ua]

The keys to survival is the ability to shoot, move, and communicate. I can still shoot pretty well, and I for sure can communicate, but that moving part... um..I have slowed down considerably through the years....

 

[3930dave]

Semiconductor junctions are far too small to develop a damaging voltage. The real threat would be from wildfires cause by arcing and falling power transmission lines, wire fences, or anything else long enough to collect inductive voltage. For EMP, the bigger the worse. Car computers might even be unaffected, depending on their orientation.

EMP will be detected from very far away, I was speaking about the immediate blast zone.

I hope none of us gets to find out which scenario plays out.

Rgds, D.