by Ron Foster
“I saw a lot of fires coming into Montgomery from Clanton, David, people were trying to fight them with garden hoses in the residential areas and from the highway the industrial complex by the river looked like it had burned down. I hope you and your mother will stay safe, but be vigilant over here.” Jack said, while nibbling on some pilot crackers I had given him.
“We been lucky so far, I have been going out and looking at the sky at night, sort of doing fire watch thing before we go to bed at night.” I responded, while turning the coffee water on.
“Hey, you still actually have natural gas for cooking?” he said, observing how easy it was for me to just hand light the burner on the stove with a match.
“Gas is a different setup, even than water, to get it to flow through pipes. It’s intermittent now for service and scares the hell out of me with these fires in the distance, but I haven’t shut it off yet.” I replied, hoping that would convince my mom to let me just shut it off for safety, but she was waiting for the utility company to make an announcement and so far nothing had been said.
“I don’t really understand what catches fire and what doesn’t from EMP.” Jack said questionably and wanting more answers.
“I don’t understand it either my friend, the only case study I ever have seen mentioning the fire risk aspects of EMP was in a Future Science article. I had it printed out for school awhile back, hang on a second and I will get it.” I said going back to my room and retrieving the article and handing it to Jack and telling him this was a nuclear event, not like the solar apocalypse we were experiencing.
“Here, read this part.” I said to Jack, pointing out the part I wanted him to study.
The Soviet Union got its surprise introduction to the severity of nuclear EMP effects over a much more heavily populated area than the Pacific Ocean. The most damaging nuclear EMP event in history (so far), much worse than the Starfish Prime test, occurred in October of 1962 over central Asia. Written documents give the time and date as 3:41 GMT/UTC on the morning of October 22, 1962. The warhead was launched from Kapustin Yar on a Soviet R-12 missile. Although the primary purpose of the test was to discover the effects of EMP on certain military systems, the large magnitude of some of the effects on the civilian infrastructure were quite unexpected.
A few hours after the sun rose in Kazakhstan on that cloudy October morning, the Soviet Union detonated a 300 kiloton thermonuclear warhead in space at an altitude of 290 kilometers (about 180 miles) over a point just west of the city of Zhezkazgan in central Kazakhstan. The test was generally known only as Test 184 (although some Soviet documents refer to it as K-3). It knocked out a major 1000-kilometer (600-mile) underground power line running from Astana (then called Aqmola), the capital city of Kazakhstan, to the city of Almaty. Several fires were reported. In the city of Karagandy, the EMP started a fire in the city's electrical power plant, which was connected to the long underground power line.
The EMP also knocked out a major 570 kilometer long overhead telephone line by inducing currents of 1500 to 3400 amperes in the line. (The line was separated into several sub-lines connected by repeater stations.) There were numerous gas-filled over voltage protectors and fuses along the telephone line. The entire over voltage protectors fired, and all of the fuses on the line were blown. The EMP damaged radios at 600 kilometers (360 miles) from the test and knocked out a radar 1000 kilometers (600 miles) from the detonation. Some military diesel generators were also damaged. The repeated damage to diesel generators from the E1 component of the pulse after the series high-altitude tests was the most surprising aspect of the damage for the Soviet scientists.
Subsequent analysis has shown that the warhead used in the 1962 Soviet test was particularly ineffective at generating EMP. If the W49 warhead used in the U.S. Starfish Prime test had been used in the Soviet tests, the EMP damage over Kazakhstan would have been far greater. (Emanuelson, 2010)
Emanuelson, J. (2010). Nuclear electromagnetic pulse. Retrieved from http://www.futurescience.com/emp.html
“It’s still pretty hard to figure things out with even that bit of information, David.” Jack said after reading the article and looking somewhat confused.
“Well, anything could have started that fire in Clanton; think about how many planes just fell out of the sky when their electronics completely failed them. At any given time there are well over 5,000 non-military airplanes over the air space of the U.S., so it must have been raining bombs for those that couldn’t glide in or crash land on the interstates or something. Even if you were lucky enough not to be in one, think about all the travelers stranded in the Atlanta Airport for example with no lights, no food, and no way to get out of town to their families, though most likely that whole airport went up in flames.” I said gloomily.
“David road a tractor back from Atlanta.” my mom interjected to reroute the conversation.
“Lawn tractor?” Jack asked skeptically. Thinking there was no way to keep the thing from overheating on the way back without a lot of careful planning.
“No an old crank start farmer’s hard row making and plowing affair. I will tell you that story later how I got that booger, Jack” I said dismissively, wanting to get to another point to consider.
“When you leave out, Jack; you probably want to maybe avoid that intersection by Baptist hospital. They are probably, or I say most likely, in a state of chaos; overflowing with panicked patients and medical personnel fighting losing battles. Their backup generators will be useless most likely, as they typically operate with some electronics to turn them on and off with a power shortage or need.” I advised Jack and in telling him this bit of info, adding a lot of miles to his pre-speculated trip by avoiding that likely bad intersection and remembering the other hospitals and clinics in the area he needed to get past.
Jack paused for a moment, and rubbed his balding pate, while mentally detouring his road trip and searching for an alternate route and replied,” I hadn’t thought of that. Can you imagine being in the middle of some kind of surgery and suddenly have the power go off without even so much as a warning beep?” he said bringing up scary thoughts for all to contemplate.
Mental Preparedness comes more readily when we allow ourselves to mentally picture scenarios and then allow our brain to strategically work on solving the anticipated problems, but this one I didn’t want to wrap my head around. Without refrigeration lots of drugs would quickly go bad. Anyone that required help breathing or anything else has already died and what could they do with the bodies? That hospital was only about a mile from me and it spelled trouble, no matter how I thought about it.
It won’t be long until people in the city are starting to die of dysentery from eating bad food, drinking bad water or having infected wounds from the car wrecks that occurred when the big switch cut off power steering and brakes while they were zipping along down the road. I need to start working on a plan to get out of here, NOW, I reminded myself.
Hells bells! How many Americans are simply living today, because they have access to all kinds of medical technology and treatments or those in hour glass mode, waiting on the sand of their lives called medication to run out? Type 2 diabetics are probably counting the hours, and going to be dying on the vine if they haven’t already expired. With death comes new diseases for the living, hurry up, find the way out David, I said to myself.
“You know Jack, you might want to hang around a day or two, I might have just thought of something interesting.” I said looking his way and smiling a bit, as something dawned on me.
“Oh yeah? What’s that?” he said looking quizzically my way.
“I am thinking, maybe some cars stored in underground parking garages would possibly work depending on that pulses proximity. I am not sure if some areas got different doses or not, but it sounds like a reasonable idea anyway.” I said thinking hopefully.
“Well, maybe. But there are not too many parking lots around like that. Downtown is the only place I can think of offhand and we don’t
want to go there.” Jack said as we resumed our pondering of possibilities and problems...
“Let’s get your sleeping arrangements out of the way and we will go talk in my shop awhile.” I said standing and going towards the linen closet.
2
DISTRIBUTION DAY
Jack and I argued the finer points of getting the hell out Dodge, and how to be as far away from the masses as possible, until late in the night.
“You know, David, they started looting the local Walmart and grocery stores not too long after this shit hit; and people simply took what they needed or wanted, because nobody was around to stop them.” Jack said recalling the pandemonium.
“Well, Jack, that old communist Vladimir Lenin was often quoted as saying, ‘Where there is hunger, there is no law.’ I bet the grocery stores are already looted or have been stripped bare, as people flocked to them like locusts in the beginning of this realization of lost resources.” I said considering the possibilities of what might have occurred in other neighborhoods.
The world surely does end at a prepper’s door, when you get so little local news, even from a few miles away. What is happening is unknown without the technology we were used to having access to.
I would be very surprised if any local agencies or responders really had a clue at all what's going on, since there is no communication to speak of. No cell phones. Hardly any radio to even talk about. No phone land lines, Emergency management might have some commo on the restricted hard lines. The grid is gone; I had a sinking feeling what was next though in this circus of loss and smoke and mirrors. The second die off coming, would be due to disease and starvation.
Jack and I got up the next morning and got ready to go to the distribution point. “You going to have to just put that CZ 52 in your waist band, all I got for it is the military holster that came with it.” I told him.
“I don’t think it’s the season for open carry yet.” he replied and shoved the pistol behind his belt in his waistband and adjusted his shirt over it.
“I got a rolling backpack suitcase and a fold up little hand truck to take, so we can take to carry back whatever we get. Will most likely be a case of MRE each and those things will make it easier to carry.” I advised putting the hand truck inside the suitcase.
“I can carry that.” Jack said and collapsed the handle and slung it on as a backpack.
“I got an extra backpack with a frame around here somewhere that would probably work, but unless I took the stuff out of the boxes it would be too awkward.” I said considering all options.
Jack headed for the door and said, “This will be fine, you can figure out what you want to do different next trip.”
“You know I bet most people, probably 70%, would choose to stay in their homes for as long as the food in their pantry lasted, and are not going to walk over there today.” I said thinking about how many folks might be showing up.
“ Yeah, but you know the whole entitlement thinking bunch from around the neighborhood are not going to miss a free anything, no matter how far away it is.” Jack replied as we were walking along.
“Well, there are a lot of people who are sitting around waiting for the power to come back on; and they haven’t realized yet it’s not going to, not any time soon.” I offered.
“Within a few weeks, when people realize the power will not be coming back on, is when it’s really going to be hell out here.” I suggested looking around at some people starting to make there way I assumed towards the distribution point.
“Well you know the entitlement crowd in some of these neighborhoods is going to say they are not getting their fair share and then the rioting, looting and burning will begin, you seen it before David.” Jack said, remembering some of my disaster relief stories.
“Hard to say how many folks will show up today, most people don’t have more than a few weeks worth of food in the house, so I imagine a lot of people may be getting pretty desperate already.” I concluded and asked Jack if he wanted me to carry the pack for awhile, but he said it was light and declined my offer.
I spied somebody driving their way around the stalled cars in a vintage model T. and admired the sight with my buddy.
“Now there is a brave soul.” Jack said wondering about the safety of what appeared to be the husband and wife team riding in it.
“Money ain’t going to be worth shit pretty soon.” I mused aloud.
“What are you planning on buying and where?” Jack replied
“I want something that runs or a bicycle etc., I got some silver and some cash, if I can get someone to let go of something.” I speculated.
“Good luck on that, but knowing you, you will find some creative way of doing it.” he said, as we both began to sweat as the heat of the day started to rise.
“They will probably announce Martial law today, if they haven’t already.” I told Jack.
“I was already worried about a curfew when coming in last night, but I figured who the hell would be out to enforce it this early in the game.” Jack replied.
“No one’s going to be able to create but a very tiny amount of new food in the city and then you will probably see everyone trying to get to the country. Eventually, virtually everyone must leave the city, because there will be nothing left to eat; if they don’t burn it down first or kill each other off in turf wars. The means to produce new food here will not exist, except for the very few folks who have gardens, if they can protect them.” I said to Jack sharing my opinions.
His only response was to say, “Desperate people do desperate things.” And we just kept on walking.
Most people, I thought, would find it impossible adapting to a lifestyle without the public and private infrastructure which brought the necessities of life to the masses. If you take away electricity, clean water, flush toilets, communications, wheels, a full cupboard, a universally accepted currency, and stores full of things to buy; it’s not hard to figure out what happens next amongst so called civilized people.
“Jack, when we get back, I want to fortify the house some more. That’s if you sticking around for another day or two.” I said hoping to have his help doing a little barricading and determent.
“I will stick around for another day.” he responded.
“I don’t know why I am going to the bother. I will most likely bug out within the next two weeks, but better to be safe than sorry.” I said despondently.
“Where are you going to go?” Jack said full of interest.
“I am pretty sure; I will be going to the Lake.” I told him and wondering, if perhaps he would consider tagging along, or at least travel part way with me.
“You know the highways are not a pretty sight these days, there are bodies everywhere. Some folks couldn’t handle the heat, the stress, fear, or they were unaccustomed physical exertion of having to walk 20 or so miles to get home and it triggered heart attacks, strokes, etc and they died by the waysides.” I said painting a gruesome scene of rotting corpses and stench.
“I saw a few nasty sights on the way in. I was glad it was night and Lois couldn’t see much with all that stuff packed on top of her.” he replied, now pouring sweat as the temperature had gone up at least 15 degrees since we left the house.
“You know what our dumb asses forgot, David? To bring some water.” he said accusingly to me.
“I didn’t, but we only got two small bottles in that pack.” I said proudly, but also wishing I had brought more.
“I still can’t figure out how the National Guard units could even be mobilized; since how do they mobilize, if no one’s personal vehicles run and all communications are down.” Jack directed my way in hopes of an informed answer.
“I don’t have a clue on that one, only thing I can think of is that they were already drilling or had some advance notice to activate, from NASA maybe.” I said wondering the same thing.
“You know it won’t be long until millions more people die on the interstate trying to get out of the cities, to get
with relatives or friends out in the country, thinking there is food there.” I told Jack, while reaching to share carrying the pack for awhile.
“What else you got in that thing besides a couple bottles of water, I know that little fold up hand truck doesn’t weigh that much?” Jack said scrutinizing the pack while being happy he was relived of the burden.
“72 hour kit.” I said smiling.
“We are only a 30 minute walk away, are you crazy? No, you’re a damn Prepper, never mind.” he said and, I think, picked up the walking pace just to punish me a bit for dragging the item along.
“It’s only a small one; I took the food out of it. Look, if you had been through what I have, you are never going to be without some basic survival gear again, no matter how short the trip is.” I said indignantly
“I guess.” Jack wearily said, knowing it was pointless to pursue the matter.
“Jack, watch your ass up here. It’s hot and some people will be getting all irritable and feeling froggy, unless there are several guards.” I advised as the shopping center came in sight.
“Yeah, I remember you told how after Hurricane Fredric that people started pulling guns on each other in the food stamp line, just because it started to drizzle rain.” he replied looking around to see how many people were coming down the same street we were on. There were only a few, but up ahead it looked like maybe thirty or so people had the same idea as we did to get here early.
“The crap usually starts with a shoving match or some idiots start cutting in line, and then the National Guard or the cops got to threaten to butt stroke somebody; but if not too many troops are around, it can get out of hand fast.” I said looking around at individual groups to see if I recognized any neighbors.
“Dang, they already hit the dollar store pretty good.” I said pointing out the debris strewn about and broken door glass on the shop at the far corner of the center.