Total shutdown.

[Peck of Arabia]

I'd walk to my grandfather's and learn to use his guns. There are enough supplies there to survive a couple of weeks, and then you can always pillage the neighbours by threatening them with that lethal-looking shotgun.

That'd be kind of what I'd be worried about- having said that, while I've got no guns, I do have a cricket bat somewhere, I think, and a mean looking broom handle!

 

[hobbsyoyo]

So how do you all who plan on making shopping trips after the solar storm plan on getting around when mass transit stops working and the electronic starters in your newish cars are all fried?

 

[ace99]

A week. Come on, you've never camped in the woods or visited a developing country? Anyone should be able to last a week. If you're dead because of a week without electricity....well I don't know what to say. Hell some people have gone 3 weeks because of Sandy.

 

[Skwink]

I predict survival of the fattest and shortest.

The fattest because their reserves are larger. And the shortest because their requirements are smaller.

The fat and short will suffer in combat.

It wouldn't be bad at all cuz my apartment just bought $50 in soda, hot pockets, chips, and pretzels.

What about when the soda gets warm?

 

[madviking]

What about when the soda gets warm?

Virginia is pretty cold.

 

[Catharsis]

So how do you all who plan on making shopping trips after the solar storm plan on getting around when mass transit stops working and the electronic starters in your newish cars are all fried?

And where will you go? Will the supermarkets be open, will they be staffed? Will they have been looted clear by the time you get there...

 

[Farm Boy]

Interesting. I think that one's prospects look worse the larger town you live in. The biggest enemy isn't going to be heat or food or water in the short term, though that won't be fun, it'll be your "neighbors."

So how do you all who plan on making shopping trips after the solar storm plan on getting around when mass transit stops working and the electronic starters in your newish cars are all fried?

Actually, I think if you have fuel injection instead of a carburetor you are still screwed.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Actually, I think if you have fuel injection instead of a carburetor you are still screwed.

....the hell are you talking about?

My car is a transformer!

 

[Farm Boy]

....the hell are you talking about?

My car is a transformer!

If we are shutdown because of electromagnetic interference frying out computer circuits, if your engine gets fuel regulated by a fuel injector(a basic computer) rather than a mechanical carburetor, that car isn't going to run even if you get it started, which you aren't. I think you are going to have to go back to early 90s automobiles and some diesels if you want to find anything that runs.

Formy would be better here for the details.

 

[peter grimes]

So how do you all who plan on making shopping trips after the solar storm plan on getting around when mass transit stops working and the electronic starters in your newish cars are all fried?

Read The Road.

I'm not a member big fan of fiction, but I read the book in one sitting and still think about it nearly every day - 3 years after reading it.

A week. Come on, you've never camped in the woods or visited a developing country? Anyone should be able to last a week. If you're dead because of a week without electricity....well I don't know what to say. Hell some people have gone 3 weeks because of Sandy.

There are still people without electricity here.

Thousands.

But there is a support system if sorts, so it's not precisely the same.

 

[ace99]

Why assume that would break down entirely, correct me if I'm mistaken but damage would only be to sensetive electronic devices right?

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Read The Road.

I'm not a member big fan of fiction, but I read the book in one sitting and still think about it nearly every day - 3 years after reading it.

I did, it was very creepy.

Why assume that would break down entirely, correct me if I'm mistaken but damage would only be to sensetive electronic devices right?

In most modern mechanical systems (i.e. cars), the synsetive electronic parts are absolutely critical to starting or regulating the mechanical parts. So without them, you have a useless chunk of metal.

Unless your car is an autobot like mine. They survive EMP's no problem.

 

[Borachio]

<nvm>

 

[kochman]

Why not? As mentioned earlier, you can theoretically get by with very little food if it was only a week. It's not like hot pockets have negative food value.

It was a failed joke... Hot pockets are absolutely terrible for you, but yes, you would survive.

You don't need to eat at all and you won't starve to death in 7 days. It'll just hurt a lot.

My initial comment was 1/2 joke, but people seem to think that society would remain totally calm during these 7 days and just hole up...
I would predict massive looting, violence, etc... total breakdown unless martial law was imposed.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I would predict massive looting, violence, etc... total breakdown unless martial law was imposed.

Everywhere except Japan.

 

[ace99]

I did, it was very creepy.



In most modern mechanical systems (i.e. cars), the synsetive electronic parts are absolutely critical to starting or regulating the mechanical parts. So without them, you have a useless chunk of metal.

Unless your car is an autobot like mine. They survive EMP's no problem.

I don't know if it's be too horrible, I don't know if this is the same thing but power came back in 9 hrs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1989_geomagnetic_storm

The James Bay network went offline in less than 90 seconds, giving Quebec its second massive blackout in 11 months.[9] The power failure lasted 9 hours and forced the company to implement various mitigation strategies, including raising the trip level, installing series compensation on ultra high voltage lines and upgrading various monitoring and operational procedures. Other utilities in North America, the UK, Northern Europe and elsewhere implemented programs to reduce the risks associated with geomagnetically induced currents.[8]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859

On September 1–2, 1859, the largest recorded geomagnetic storm occurred. Aurorae were seen around the world, even over the Caribbean; those over the Rocky Mountains were so bright that their glow awoke gold miners, who began preparing breakfast because they thought it was morning.[3] People who happened to be awake in the northeastern US could read a newspaper by the aurora's light.[4]

Telegraph systems all over Europe and North America failed, in some cases shocking telegraph operators.[5] Telegraph pylons threw sparks and telegraph paper spontaneously caught fire.[6] Some telegraph systems continued to send and receive messages despite having been disconnected from their power supplies.[7]

 

[Smellincoffee]

I've actually been trying to get ready for something like this, not because I'm a survivalist or a prepper, but because I like the idea of being able to laugh in the face of fortune in the event of something like Sandy happening. Part of that is material preparation -- I have canned food goods and am planning on getting one of those plastic tubs to keep water in - but you have to be mentally ready, too. You have to be used to improvising solutions, to adapting to circumstances instead of living in an artifical environment. For instance, if the A/C is out, you can help keep your house cool by blocking the windows, and raising them at night to let cooler air in.

If every system we depends on fails, I think I could be OK. In the short time, I have a bike and the grocery store is 2 miles away. Work is only 3 miles away. Both are managable, though depending on the length of the scenario the store would be exhausted fairly quickly and I'd probably abandon my job. In the end of the world, people aren't going to need research assistants and computer techs. I have lots of relatives living in the countryside about 10 miles away, and they can garden, fish, and hunt. Of course, if everyone starts fishing and hunting, then we'll quickly exhaust the supply of fish and game. In an extended scenario global hunger and death by the billions is probably inevitable, so prepping is impossible.

 

[Murky]

I think prepping for "doomsday" is a bit pointless. If it's supposed to be the end of the world why would a few more weeks worth of food/water and having loaded guns help?

Preparing for disasters I could see. In that case you want to have enough to get by without running water or electricity. And a little "protection" wouldn't hurt.

 

[Chiteng]

Say IF there was a crazy solarstorm and it shut down everything on earth, by electro-magnetic flares. It will last for at least a week, we can't repair anything until the storm is over.

How would you survive?

I wouldn't survive, in the long run. I think I can handle slaughtering squirrels and rats, but beef comes in a packet, provided by Safeway!!! I can't kill animals for fun, so I'm in a tough situation here. Better learn quick and raid some farmers, but too late. They're already raided by the guys with the guns.

I have no idea. I probably try to kill something, but fishing is still there, so I get my food from there.

Be prepared to safeguard your pets. Some people are NOT so picky. Especially if they know you have them.

 

[Borachio]

You're painting rather a grim picture here.

Why not get together with 2,000 friends? That should mitigate some of the worst effects of predatory nutters.