Quote:
Originally Posted by Parker
I've recently learned about the potential of either an EMP bomb (electromagnetic pulse bomb), or a significant solar flare, to totally disrupt our society by completely disrupting our power grid for a very long period of time. It would eliminate all electrical power, so NO communications or operating cars or refrigerators or water/sewage treatment plants or food distribution or medicines or deliveries of anything to anywhere.
Reportedly, this is entirely possible, by either a normal action of the sun or by an EMP bomb set off in the atmosphere over mid-America. Such a bomb exists and is available to unfriendly irresponsible countries who only need launching capabilities.
My question is, what would you do in this event? I'm thinking many of us would die in a very short period of time. I'm also thinking that this is a forum of well-educated, bright people who know things. Please enlighten me.
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Scenarios like this were commonplace during the Cold War but in addition to the EMPs wiping out unprotected equipment using electronic chips, there was the additional element of mass casualties.
And, the fact is that there is a lot of back up infrastructure in place to respond to a nuclear disaster. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was created to provide for continuity of government; disaster response to natural disasters was a secondary mission.
The fact is that people in the older demographic, such as our community, are more likely to perish in greater numbers in a short time than would be the case with younger, healthier populations. This is partly because of the loss of adequate medical support and supplies, and partly due to the decrease of food supplies and clean potable water.
Physically able people who have been active hunters, fishermen and outdoorsmen, and particularly those with camping equipment and supplies would be able to move to the woods and live off the land.
With the coming of winter, those in the northern states might find survival more difficult than those living off the land in the south.
In the cities it is likely that groups would form for mutual protection and foraging for food. And of course there would be roving gangs of outlaws that would prey on the undefended and rob them of their resources. Those who are armed and skilled in the use of firearms would be more likely to survive in these conditions.
We had a viable civilization before electricity was harnessed for our use. We could continue without it. It would simply require us to adhere to the oft-used Marine Corps slogan, "Adapt and Overcome."
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