truly prepared, you obtained an amateur radio license (see the communications chapter). Assuming the radios were double wrapped in tin/aluminum foil or in a galvanized steel trashcan you can communicate with your other family members assuming they also have amateur radio licenses. Cell phones and “landline” telephones will be dead. There are other types of radios (see the Communications chapter).
Let’s hope your entire family and/or group is near your provisioned and prepared area. It happened at night or a weekend and everyone was home but what if everyone is scattered all over a city or even out of town. If “out of town” count that person as on their own and prepare yourself for never seeing them again. Before going further I should say I won’t sugar coat anything I write in this book. Nothing is vague so as not to upset the reader. This subject is too important to do otherwise. Assuming everyone is in a city that is not huge (walking 60 miles across a large city hit by EMP without being killed is probably impossible). In these uncertain times keep each other informed of your daily plans. You should have predetermined meeting points so head for that/those location(s) unless it or they are many miles away. The number one Meeting Point is your area the “safe” place all provisioned and prepared to accommodate your group for, perhaps, months.
Unplanned disasters always happen at unplanned times (stop and think what I just wrote) so, hopefully, the disaster happened when you and your family are close together. Your double foil wrapped radio (or stored batteries removed in a galvanized steel trashcan) when unwrapped the shortwave band(s) should pick up stations from Europe or other continents. You’ll learn what has happened in the world. As much as you want to inform everyone, now is the time to go to your safe area and become “stealth”. You and your group should commence being lost to the world until the danger has passed. Perhaps pass a note to a neighbor detailing what happened IF he or she can be trusted not to reveal who learned what happened nor where you are. Be cautious as you put your entire group in danger by doing this. On the other hand the mayor and police chief will now know why every radio and TV in town does not work, only very old vehicles will start and communications to the outside world is gone. You’ve done your duty so now assemble your group in your safe area and prepare to remain stealth (hide).
What is the second thing you do? You’d never think of it, if you are home, immediately fill every bathtub and sink and any large container you have with water. It may be the last fresh water (other than what you should have stockpiled) for many months. In their infinite wisdom (before terrorism) water departments began to change over to water pumps from using plain old gravity from water towers. Why, got me? Other than making a system ten times less reliable (gravity always works, pumps fail or won’t run without electricity). Within minutes, with the pumps stopped, there will be plenty of water in the water tower but not a drop to drink. Some systems have an override allowing them to go back to gravity. Don’t count on it. Keep in mind stagnant water that was fresh and safe three months ago probably no longer is. Try to use that water for washing and the like. If you must drink it, use the water tablets you bought, strain (many times through cheese cloth or tight weaved cloth) then boil the water. If you followed the Supplies chapter of this book you should already have plenty of sealed fresh water to drink. You didn’t skimp on water did you? Walmart is sold out and their building probably burnt down by looters by now. See the Food and Water chapter for more tips. There is no reason to run out of water – ever.
Chapter Three
Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)
EMP (Electromagnetic pulse): You may have never have heard of EMP. So why does the author rank it number one
Learning to Kill: Stories