Posted on 09/06/2009 7:04:14 PM PDT by immadashell
I have just finished reading William R. Forstchen's new novel One Second After. Briefly, it is about the instantaneous breakdown of American way of life as the result of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) which disables the nation's electrical grid as well as all sophisticated electrical components in cars (they stop), planes (they crash), telecomunications of every sort, etc. leaving the population in a world similar to that of the Eighteenth Century. Shortages of every variety create societal strains, chaos, death and destruction in a matter of weeks and months. Forstchen's book (with a forward written by Newt Gingrich), while fiction, creates a scenario which can happen to us today, since the technology already exists. The possibility of this devastation has been largely ignored by our politicians and media, and, to a lesser extent, by the military. Only a very small proportion of our citizens has ever heard about EMP. Even fewer have taken measures to deal with it. Experts on the subject have no doubt about whether we will have to eventually face such an attack. They only question when it will occur.
After reading this book, my first thought was we spend billions (potentially trillions) of dollars preparing for a hypothetical calamity we are powerless over like global warming and yet ignore preparing for this ultimate weapon of asymmetrical warfare.
I highly recommend this very frightening but readable new book. It is science fiction (#1 on Amazon) today but could be reality One Second After.
Are you sure the old cars would still run? What about the coil and generator?
So who has a plan for getting out of an urban/suburban area without a vehicle? Any ideas on how to move a month supply of food and water, extra gas, camp equipment, “defense” tools, etc?
I don’t worry...I live in a Faraday cage ;-)
Cars built before computer diagnostics and electronic ignition and electrical devices that are not solid state (vacuum tubes rock) will probably work. First place I would head for after the fact would be an antique store.
“One second after”
“The Associated Press is distributing a photo of a Marine fatally wounded in battle, choosing ***after a period of reflection***.... “
Associated Pimps thread?
I have just read that book not too long ago. It is a very good book because I think it is realistic in ways most aren’t.
I had tears at certain points. Not that I would admit it to anyone I know.
That pretty much tells it like it is, except I thought they tasered the preacher and blew away the granny. But I reckon they might have done it both ways at one time or another.
I think in the story it was a lot more than “most” that died.
nextbigfuture.com/2008/08/electromagnetic-pulse-risk-not-total.html
The 1962 bomb affected street lamps, circuit breakers, cars and radio stations in Hawaiian, 800 miles to the north. Still, even there the effect was far from comprehensive. Los Alamos National Laboratory physicist Michael P. Bernardin said that "the 30 strings of failed streetlights [from Starfish Prime's EMP] represented only about one percent of the streetlamps on Oahu at the time."And noted physicist Richard Garwin said the Starfish detonation "had barely noticeable effects on military systems."
One of the worst books I’ve ever read.
It is a line-of- sight effect and the inverse square law does not apply.What - a new branch of physics has been discovered?
My sister gets dialysis.
They'd go even faster than those who need insulin
Old car's with mechanical ignition systems will be unaffected.So will the new ones ... EMP is overrated, unless you want fear and panic ...
I don’t mean to rain on your parade but what you say may be true for military equipment designed specifically against EMP burst.
There are millions and millions of civilian stuff that will go poof in that event! Plus all that financial stuff in the Wall Street and Banks!
A couple of diodes across an antenna will not protect the gear! What about the power line surges?
It is something to think about and try to do a better job of protecting ourselves.
Relaxing with a beer ain’t goin’ to do it!
Can electrical spares be shielded and protected and installed after such an event?
Thanks for your insights on this thread.
Regards,
TS
Diesel four wheel drive tractor and wagon, most folk where I live have at least 1.
Can you explain, why electrical components that are turned off and have no electricity running through them will not just be damaged but 'destroyed' by a high atmosphere EMP?Think 'lightning strike', only everything in the area as affected. (And yes, things do survive lightning strikes where most effects are secondary, induced effects.)
Did you miss the link to an article I posted? (Here it is again for expediency: nextbigfuture.com/2008/08/electromagnetic-pulse-risk-not-total.html
Diesel engines won’t be affected by an EMP?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.