If the cause is EMP vs a squirrel, multiple studies, both government and civilian written, say that up to 90% fatalities should be expected within a year. With a total shutdown, generators won’t make a difference because gas distribution would halt immediately. Same with food, medicine, baseball cards and chewing gum. A great book on the subject, “One Second After”, gives a terrifying account of what WOULD happen. It’s a real possibility and it’s a really BAD possibility.
re: “A great book on the subject, “One Second After”, gives a terrifying account of what WOULD happen. It’s a real possibility and it’s a really BAD possibility.”
EMP is in the same category as Global Warming; theorized, never tested (the street light thing in Hawaii is not conclusive of much.)
For a more reasonable, practical point of view see the work by Mario Rabinowitz of EPRI: “EMP and the Electric Power Grid”
https://arxiv.org/ftp/physics/papers/0307/0307127.pdf
Another view differing from the usual doomers is Jack Steinberger, Nobel prize-winning physicist who analyzes the effects here:
“The electro-magnetic pulse produced by a nuclear bomb explosion high above the atmosphere. Jack Steinberger. September 2006.”
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/272552-the-electro-magnetic-pulse-produced-by-a-nuclear.html