Brother Malcolm Speaks

I'm glad you at least mentioned running water - if you're more concerned about internet, computers, cell phones, and HVAC than you are about food and water, then your priorities are in the wrong place.

I'm glad you at least mentioned running water - if you're more concerned about internet, computers, cell phones, and HVAC than you are about food and water, then your priorities are in the wrong place.

Actually HVAC is pretty important. Probably should have mentioned cooking too.

You can cook over a fire, and there is this really big place that has lots of ventilation, called "outside."

Large and simple electrical devices shouldn't be affected by an EMP, but certainly, your smart phones and laptops are toast. Unless you store them in a Faraday cage... Incidentally, your microwave oven is a spectacular Faraday cage. If you have advance warning of an incoming nuke (and you aren't going to take a direct hit!), store the electronics you wish to save inside the microwave oven.

In the event that we truly get sent back to the stone age, there will certainly be a period of rioting and looting. Those people are going to die, whether they are killed in the violence or they starve once all the food runs out in the supermarkets.

You can cook over a fire, and there is this really big place that has lots of ventilation, called "outside."

Large and simple electrical devices shouldn't be affected by an EMP, but certainly, your smart phones and laptops are toast. Unless you store them in a Faraday cage... Incidentally, your microwave oven is a spectacular Faraday cage. If you have advance warning of an incoming nuke (and you aren't going to take a direct hit!), store the electronics you wish to save inside the microwave oven.

In the event that we truly get sent back to the stone age, there will certainly be a period of rioting and looting. Those people are going to die, whether they are killed in the violence or they starve once all the food runs out in the supermarkets.

A couple of problems with this:

1. Depending on the season, it's usually either dangerously hot or dangerously cold outside.

2. I do know about the Faraday cage, but how can you stuff all of the electronics you need inside of a one? How much time do you have, considering the fact that most people will never know when these types of things happen.

3. A lot of people will die. Even if you choose to stay inside your house for safety, people can still break into your house. Unless you have some type of protection (a gun, etc).

If people are detonating atmospheric nukes above you the least of your worries will be your smart phone, in all likelihood it would mean that a significant nation has engaged you In nuclear war and that would most likely result in retaliation perhaps even retaliation on retaliation until you wished you could crawl into that microwave and flip the switch.

Trust me no power is fine, as long as you can control the idiots that would start taking to the streets waving their hand guns around, its the full scale nuclear war I'd be more worried about.

This is the reality of a nuke generated EMP.... the loss of power is nothing compared to what would probably be going on around you global war wise. The scenario where you would focus on the electrical effects moreso would be a solar induced EMP that was strong enough to topple the national power network and for a real crisis drop the water supply. There are plenty of American city's with 10's of millions of people present and literally no water stockpiles residentially. Forget anything else, this would be the concern, particularly for more frail residents that lack the ability to run 3 blocks and return with supplies. Once people start drinking dirty water from stagnant duck ponds and the like you then get very serious dehydration issues as folks end up strapped to a toilet emptying both ends into a bowl that they now realise doesn't empty anymore . Yeah the loss of mains water is really the killer in such a scenario I think.

A couple of problems with this:

1. Depending on the season, it's usually either dangerously hot or dangerously cold outside.

2. I do know about the Faraday cage, but how can you stuff all of the electronics you need inside of a one? How much time do you have, considering the fact that most people will never know when these types of things happen.

3. A lot of people will die. Even if you choose to stay inside your house for safety, people can still break into your house. Unless you have some type of protection (a gun, etc).

1. Cold = throw on a jacket and your mums favourite mittens, Hot = do your outside jobs at morning or dusk

2. How do you fit all the electronics you need in the cage? Easy... you don't need any of them. Problem solved. Your twitter updates will just have to wait till the Nuclear War is over... DISLIKE! DISLIKE!

3. Your now at war with another country... lets say Pakistan just dropped that nuke in your atmosphere... trust me you have bigger worries then if Tommy the local street thug is planning to brake in and steel your plasma TV. Go sign up at your local army recruitment stand... they are about to need you!

If people are detonating atmospheric nukes above you the least of your worries will be your smart phone, in all likelihood it would mean that a significant nation has engaged you In nuclear war and that would most likely result in retaliation perhaps even retaliation on retaliation until you wished you could crawl into that microwave and flip the switch.

Trust me no power is fine, as long as you can control the idiots that would start taking to the streets waving their hand guns around, its the full scale nuclear war I'd be more worried about.

This is the reality of a nuke generated EMP.... the loss of power is nothing compared to what would probably be going on around you global war wise. The scenario where you would focus on the electrical effects moreso would be a solar induced EMP that was strong enough to topple the national power network and for a real crisis drop the water supply. There are plenty of American city's with 10's of millions of people present and literally no water stockpiles residentially. Forget anything else, this would be the concern, particularly for more frail residents that lack the ability to run 3 blocks and return with supplies. Once people start drinking dirty water from stagnant duck ponds and the like you then get very serious dehydration issues as folks end up strapped to a toilet emptying both ends into a bowl that they now realise doesn't empty anymore . Yeah the loss of mains water is really the killer in such a scenario I think.

We probably wouldn't even be able to retaliate, because all of our systems would be damaged. We would be completely in the dark. Idk, unless you've been trained to survive without electricity; you're pretty much screwed. It would take a pretty huge solar flare to cause an EMP, as most of the solar flares we have don't usually do anything except take out a couple satellites.

Fun fact: during the Cold War, part of Britain's Trident (nuclear) submarine standing orders involving launching their nukes if (among other criteria) they couldn't pick up a signal from BBC4.

We probably wouldn't even be able to retaliate, because all of our systems would be damaged. We would be completely in the dark. Idk, unless you've been trained to survive without electricity; you're pretty much screwed. It would take a pretty huge solar flare to cause an EMP, as most of the solar flares we have don't usually do anything except take out a couple satellites.

The military ensures they harden key vital systems from EMP, not everything mind you, just the real vital stuff. Their nuclear retaliation systems would be one of those for sure.

Also trust me you don't need training to survive without power, just a little common sense, and hopefully a little bit of preparedness around the house. Millions of people around the world do it every day. Theres a big difference between things you "need" and things you "want". I'm not sure about the US but in Australia every second house has a rainwater tank and a gas fired BBQ, that's essentially all you need and life will be dandy.

Regarding the solar EMP... Its something that we've not had time to gague realy seeing as our modern electronic network has only existed for about 100 years however it does seam that such events do happen at speratic intervals and that its more a case of if Earth by chance happens to be in the path of the solar storm or not.

One example in the modern age

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859

^ you could argue that if that same storm hit again in today's environment that the consequences would be pretty major to the power network. It's much like an earthquake or tsunami though, you can get plenty of small ones like you say that muck up the satellites then one day every 200 years one will come and knock you to your ass and you'll realise the power there. Time will tell I guess.

You guys barely took notice of this?

Step one to surviving any major disaster is "don't live in the city." I doubt I'm going to see much looting/robberies around my neighborhood.

Why not prepare for an alien invasion and the rise of the mole people while we are at it?

The military ensures they harden key vital systems from EMP, not everything mind you, just the real vital stuff. Their nuclear retaliation systems would be one of those for sure.

Also trust me you don't need training to survive without power, just a little common sense, and hopefully a little bit of preparedness around the house. Millions of people around the world do it every day. Theres a big difference between things you "need" and things you "want". I'm not sure about the US but in Australia every second house has a rainwater tank and a gas fired BBQ, that's essentially all you need and life will be dandy.

Regarding the solar EMP... Its something that we've not had time to gague realy seeing as our modern electronic network has only existed for about 100 years however it does seam that such events do happen at speratic intervals and that its more a case of if Earth by chance happens to be in the path of the solar storm or not.

One example in the modern age

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859

^ you could argue that if that same storm hit again in today's environment that the consequences would be pretty major to the power network. It's much like an earthquake or tsunami though, you can get plenty of small ones like you say that muck up the satellites then one day every 200 years one will come and knock you to your ass and you'll realise the power there. Time will tell I guess.

Yea I know: Flashlights, radios, food, water, etc. But how long does that stuff usually last? You should also take into consideration perishable foods. In most instances when there are power outages for long periods of time, riots and looting begin. I understood everything else you said though.

1. Cold = throw on a jacket and your mums favourite mittens, Hot = do your outside jobs at morning or dusk

2. How do you fit all the electronics you need in the cage? Easy... you don't need any of them. Problem solved. Your twitter updates will just have to wait till the Nuclear War is over... DISLIKE! DISLIKE!

3. Your now at war with another country... lets say Pakistan just dropped that nuke in your atmosphere... trust me you have bigger worries then if Tommy the local street thug is planning to brake in and steel your plasma TV. Go sign up at your local army recruitment stand... they are about to need you!

1. I'm afraid that you oversimplify things. A jacket isn't going to protect you for long, and keeping my lawn mowed would be the least of my worries.

2. I know specifically mean radios and all of those things. My main point is how would you have time to protect all of that stuff when this could happen at any time?

3. Yea I guess, but protecting my family would still be my main priority.

Step one to surviving any major disaster is "don't live in the city." I doubt I'm going to see much looting/robberies around my neighborhood.

I'm afraid this would most likely be a nationwide thing. People would be reduced to wild animals, doing anything to survive. I live in the boondocks and I don't even think we would be safe.

Yea I know: Flashlights, radios, food, water, etc. But how long does that stuff usually last? You should also take into consideration perishable foods. In most instances when there are power outages for long periods of time, riots and looting begin. I understood everything else you said though.

Main thing is you have water. We get used to eating a hell of a lot of crap we don't really need to to survive. Worst comes to worst fluffy the cat from across the road will fry up nicely and cover you for a week. Throw in some pigeons and assorted bugs and you'll be looking nice and lean for summer but plenty alive.

1. I'm afraid that you oversimplify things. A jacket isn't going to protect you for long, and keeping my lawn mowed would be the least of my worries.

The human race didn't get to where it is by being soft and pushoverish, if your cold trust me you will find enough warm stuff to get you by even without the reverse cycle air con.

2. I know specifically mean radios and all of those things. My main point is how would you have time to protect all of that stuff when this could happen at any time?

You don't need any of that stuff to survive is all im saying, radio is handy but not needed.

I'm afraid this would most likely be a nationwide thing. People would be reduced to wild animals, doing anything to survive. I live in the boondocks and I don't even think we would be safe.

.

Doesn't matter if its a EMP thing, earthquake, jebus rising from the dead for judgement day etc... just follow the basic rules of a disaster and you'd be fine.

1 - shelter ... you got a house your set here, house wiped out or too dangerous try friends first or a community shelter if your stuck.

2 - Water ... even a day without water will leave you sapped of your energy... a few days and your toast. Store it while your able and don't leave the house without a supply. If you have to use unclean water filter and boil the hell out of it.

3 - secure your environment.... don't hide in the corner with the gun at the door.... get our in your street and door knock, work out who needs help and who can help you and get some people working together. If you get your street working together that will tide you over till local authorities get their stuff back in order (which can take days +). If a few clowns start acting up get your street together to show them they aren't welcome. Most looters are like rats and will scurry off if you show some spine. Remember the looters are the exception not the rule, don't write off everyone around you just cause your scared of your wild animal vision.

4 - help out. if theres a city full of ruin around you or such rock up for the clean up and lend a hand. If everyone does that you end up back on your feet a hell of a lot quicker, power and water get restored, roads back open and life generally back to normal.

A major issue here seems to be the assumption that any kind of authority and government disappears. Armed forces and emergency plans exist to deal with events such as these. The full scale anarchy is unlikely as long as the government still has the vital equipment, which is often protected.

The idea that a EMP is something anyone would do is kind of ridiculous. If you EMP the US we'll have attribution and you'll be getting a present from the US Navy called Trident.

there are maybe , possibly , a few nations that would consider doing such a thing , and I agree , it would have really bad effects ... but it would be a suicide for anyone willing to do such a thing ... they would get nuked back