“the big question I have is whether the power went off due to an EMP or something else.”
Early in the episode one of the characters was talking to some children and he said that “physics just stopped working,” so that’ll excuse most logic and reason.
But I was happy to see that modern firearms still worked, as one of the militia men had a desert eagle. But apparently most of the good guns and bullets are not available to the masses.
Yeah, this being Abrams, there will be some sort of either supernatural or alternative universe, or at least alternative physics kind of explanation. Logic and reason? There is usually a reasonably consistent internal logic to his story lines. That's enough for suspension of disbelief. That's what makes his stuff fun to watch. Should be a great ride.