Thursday, March 29, 2012

EMP Strike. What Would You Do?

Electromagnetic Pulse


Hi folks. Here's the scenario:

An EMP has rendered all non-shielded electronics useless. Cars. Radios. Cellphones. You name it...it's toast.

You live 30 miles from where you work.

What Would You Do?

  • How do you get home?
  • Do you stay at work?
  • What do you eat?
  • What do you drink?
  • What do you wear?
    • What if it is below freezing?
    • What if it is over 100-degrees Fahrenheit?
  • How do you protect yourself?
  • How do you navigate?
    • What if major roads are closed? Do you know alternate routes to get home?
  • What about family?
    • How do you meet up with them? Do you have a plan?
  • What about friends?
    • Do you have like-minded friends who you can join up with? There is safety in numbers.


That issue has been bothering me lately. I read the .pdf e-book 'Lights Out' by HalfFast and it got me thinking. What do I do if we have an EMP strike here? I live 30 miles from where I work. I work in the city and live in the country. That's a long walk. Granted, I could do. It would take me two days most likely. Sadly it's mostly uphill. I would have blisters and a sore back--but I can do it.

I would choose not to stay at work. I like my coworkers--but I don't want to stay and take care of them in a SHTF situation. I'm not being mean...I'm being realistic. My main focus is to take care of my family and my close friends who I consider family. I also think looting would begin pretty rapidly after a major power outage. The sooner I'm out of the area the better.

I have a Bug Out Bag under my desk at work. Nothing fancy. A change of clothes, a few granola bars, extra socks, tennis shoes and a hat. I obviously need to beef it up with more stuff. Here's what I'm thinking of adding:

  • A poncho
  • Paracord (With the poncho I could make a simple shelter to get out of the elements if I needed to stop and rest.)
  • Water purification of some sort (Most likely Micropur tabs. I'm lucky enough to live near lots of rivers and streams.)
  • ASP tactical baton
  • A tritium compass
  • Coast Guard rations
  • Fixed blade knife
  • First aid supplies (bandaids, tylenol, VetWrap, sunscreen, etc.)
My buddies and I have been talking about keeping an old bicycle at work to help us get home faster. I could keep one in the basement of the building I work in locked up in the corner. I would need an air pump and some patches just in case. The thing I was worried about is what happens when people try to take my bike on my way home? Do I fight? Do I surrender the bike and proceed on foot? Depends on how many of them there are I guess.

Hopefully I've got you thinking what you would do if you were presented with this situation. I'd love to hear what you think.

Thanks for reading,
NinjaClerk