One Second After

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Found a pdf of it, so started reading. Pretty decent so far. Sometimes the writer rambles a bit though, so I have to speed-read through some (like the lead up to the event....c'mon man, get to it).
 
i read it some on my last camping trip,that i just got back from.....and im having the same issue as you.he rambles/babbles a bit to much..
 
I'm about halfway through it (the book), but interesting to hear the descriptions of the initial bank runs and riots. And the nursing home scene...yikes. Probably pretty on point.

Personally though, I don't think we'll see that degree of failure from an EMP. While we don't have a ton of data, I suspect more vehicles would be functional (they'd cut off at time of the pulse, but most would restart), and more generators would still work. In addition, police radios and a lot of simple personal devices (like flashlights) would likely work too.

Brings to mind a unique loot target...those roadside e-signs that are powered by solar panels. Good to grab those!

The bit about the planes crashing though, absolutely. If you're in the air in a modern plane when the EMP hits, you're toast.
 
No, most likely not. I'd recommend really reading through the EMP Commission report from a few years back. Granted, they only tested just under 50 vehicles, etc. but the test results aren't near as dire as most have been led to believe.

For example, most of the cars started back up (though some did have minor electrical glitches like a busted gauge, nonworking light or signal, etc.). Furthermore, from an aerial EMP burst, a lot more would be protected than one would think. Wouldn't need an actual Faraday cage. Anything that had a large metal roof over it would likely be shielded pretty well from it.

Granted, with the actual grid down, would still be horrible, but not near as dire as this book would make it seem (despite that the guy really did his research). Even the researchers on the Commission were a bit surprised how much actually still functioned from what they tested.

Though these days, the planes and cars that rely on computer steering are simply in for an accident. With most cars, an EMP would shut off the engine, so you'd have to stop, but you can still steer and brake (though you won't have the power assist of power steering). With one of these new cars, you lose steering. Doing so at 70mph, means you're probably going to die.
 
So, that would be an interesting modified scenario: the power grid going down, but many vehicles still working, would make the refugee situation a LOT worse to deal with.
 
So, that would be an interesting modified scenario: the power grid going down, but many vehicles still working, would make the refugee situation a LOT worse to deal with.

And the marauder situation much more dire too. That's the real rub. People piling into working vehicles, guns at the ready, going out and taking what they can by force, as law enforcement can't even communicate to respond to it.

I'm telling you. Read the report. An EMP isn't as all-inclusive as you'd think. A lot will still work. I'd wager most parked cars would. But the main grid will be toast. Communications will be toast. Gas stations can't pump. Stores can't sell (no power), and those on life-saving electronics are doomed. All of that will still be in play. And the not knowing is what is going to mean panic will set in REAL quick. I suspect that after a major EMP event, with no news on the TV or radio, or Internet, we'll see riots and looting within 12 hours in major cities. Within 24 hours in more rural areas.
 
So, more like Mads Max than One Second After. I got ya. I can't disagree. In my books, I usually try to be open-minded, but we are all seeing the same pattern of likely scenarios in regards to demographic differences when and if it happens.
 
Cars would soon be idle though. Eventually, they'll run out of gas, and the power to station dispensers will still be out, so you'd then have to siphon the unmixed gas out of the storage tanks. Not to mention, gas goes bad. So in a matter of a few months, won't be many vehicles running but diesels, and even they would grow sparse. (though some folks will undoubtedly know about Stabil type products, etc.).

At some point, about a year in, the only vehicles left would be those that were converted to run on bio fuel. Same with generators. Probably see a resurgence of private steam power at some point and other non-petro power (as it will simply be too big a process to obtain and refine traditional oil for some time to come). My guess is that whatever government is left, will use the railways to try and keep some semblance of order, but even that would be sporadic at best. More likely than not, they'd be forced (due to lack of resources and manpower) to deal with whatever local power was present, in an exchange capacity.
 
Around here some folks are already building wood gasification units, but because the noise makes you a target, most people would go back to horses. Mounted infantry will resurge, kind of like I write about in 'The Fifth Horseman'. (Or in 'The Postman')
 
One area we're ok in... Though, we have only one horse now, vs. 3. (Sold one, and had one pass sadly a while back). Wife keeps pressuring me to get another, but sin (like boarders, etc.)....especially as we rarely find time to ride. I do agree we need another one though, just can't justify it yet financially...
 
This is a really good book a must read. Scariest book I have ever read

Indeed. Some books are important because of what skills you can learn, and some are important because of what you can learn about what to expect. This book covers a little of both but especially in the "things to expect & be prepared for" department. "77 Days in September" was mentioned also. I read it too and it was very good as well.
So many great books to read, for so many reasons......but alas, so little time.
 

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