Posted on 07/19/2017 8:11:33 AM PDT by NRx
A very interesting and sober discussion of a subject too often given short shrift by extreme preppers, i.e. those planning on taking up long term residence in a bunker to ride out a civilization ending SHTF/mass casualty scenario, such as large scale nuclear war.
Even so, I never believed in ‘unilateral disarmament’ or whatever the heck they called that.
Right. It gets ugly without electricity. It would take a LOT of work to rebuild the power grid.
I’m no electrician [any more than a nuclear physicist] but as I understand it nukes would cause power surges from hell that would blow up the entire system. Power relays and power plants would explode. Even the larger wires.
We would need electricians, thousands of miles of new wires, etc. before the mess is cleaned up. We would even be calling on the milatary engineers. Ships and subs would sail back to help before the mess is cleaned up.
Starvation. Zero gas for 99% of towns and even then it would be rationed. Anarchy. Martial law. Dark Ages although survivors could get some traction within thirty years or so.
Thanks for the ping. Interesting. I was refreshing my memory by reading some of the 1960’s information. Due to the wind patterns they estimated that fallout would cover the entire USA within 24 hrs.
Anyone that is at least 25 miles from ground zero, has a chance to survive with the right preparations. Estimated time in the shelter was 2 weeks but then it was to be limited time out just to do necessary stuff - like take out the pooper holder. Get more food or water or whatever.
Since we have an all brick home and a basement that’s part of the battle. Our two fireplaces have a concrete block foundation that is solid - so that just leaves one wall and the roof.
Some of the information showed improvised shelters where people piled stuff up around and on top of a table in the basement corner etc. We had intended to make a fallout shelter/tornado shelter combo, but never got around to it.
We are prepared for the emergencies that we experience the most here. And we are doing what we can to be as self sufficient as possible. We have a well and wood for the fireplace, and plenty of trees.
Fans that run on batteries, rechargeable batteries and solar panel to charge them. We have a generator for short term power outages, but still need a long term solution for the well in case the grid goes down.
We’ll continue to prepare, even though we are older - mostly because the kids aren’t and don’t - so if SHTF, Mom and Dad’s preps might just help them to survive.
I’m no electrician [any more than a nuclear physicist] but as I understand it nukes would cause power surges from hell that would blow up the entire system. Power relays and power plants would explode. Even the larger wires.
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Actually, not so much.
What happens to the grid is that there are over voltage situations where the voltage destroys much of the equipment attached to the grid. What happens is that the overvoltage destroys electronics. Most of the grid equipment has recently been updated with devices that harmlessly drain away high voltage spikes on the long lines.
the long lines allow the current from a nuclear blast to be induced into the wires and then the wires carry the induced current to any way the current can get to ground, usually through our electronic equipment.
Many manufacturers of electronics now include drains to harmlessly drain away these high current/voltages.
If a blast is right on top of you your local equipment might be affected, not unlike an electrical, or lightening strike near you.
People worry more about EMP’s than necessary. The main scare in an EMP is that the large transformers will be destroyed. Electric companies are taking pains to keep that from happening by installing protective equipment, it takes time though to do the whole grid.
‘Most of the grid equipment has recently been updated with devices that harmlessly drain away high voltage spikes on the long lines.’
So EMPs no longer such a serious threat? Thank God! I still keep my flash drives in tin cans though. [Grin.] I heard that metal containers of any kind protect from EMPs.
A tin can maybe, but necessarily.
A metal container with metal on all sides is best, grounded is even better.
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