Just Out: One Second After by Fortschen-a must read!

[maurice]

And all will gladly agree to massive tax hikes to pay for all of this.    

Civil Defence grain reserves were a federal function. But it need not be that way
again. The state of North Dakota for a long time has had a state-owned,
state-operated grain storage and milling enterprise, a key feature of its
"prairie populism" culture. North Dakota used to be accused of being a
socialist  state for this.

[EWHM]

And all will gladly agree to massive tax hikes to pay for all of this.    

Civil Defence grain reserves were a federal function. But it need not be that way
again. The state of North Dakota for a long time has had a state-owned,
state-operated grain storage and milling enterprise, a key feature of its
"prairie populism" culture. North Dakota used to be accused of being a
socialist  state for this.

North Dakota has geography working in its favor.  Most of the state is outside easy transit of the rest of the country in a breakdown situation, and the state is probably below post-crash carrying capacity.  So North Dakotans can have the reasonably belief that what they pay to put up for themselves will MOSTLY be used on their own behalf, rather than for the grasshoppers in other states.  But yes, states can and should start to get the ball rolling.  Churches and other social organizations should also.  Disaster and famine relief have been in the historic portfolio of the church, and to some extent still are, although in a telescopic sense mostly these days (they spend lots of time and energy on famine in foreign lands, but next to none preparing for one in their own).  I'm not a fan of Mormon theology, but I think their preparedness doctrines are solid and spot on.

[Simple Man]

And all will gladly agree to massive tax hikes to pay for all of this.    

Civil Defence grain reserves were a federal function. But it need not be that way
again. The state of North Dakota for a long time has had a state-owned,
state-operated grain storage and milling enterprise, a key feature of its
"prairie populism" culture. North Dakota used to be accused of being a
socialist  state for this.

North Dakota has geography working in its favor.  Most of the state is outside easy transit of the rest of the country in a breakdown situation, and the state is probably below post-crash carrying capacity.  So North Dakotans can have the reasonably belief that what they pay to put up for themselves will MOSTLY be used on their own behalf, rather than for the grasshoppers in other states.  But yes, states can and should start to get the ball rolling.  Churches and other social organizations should also.  Disaster and famine relief have been in the historic portfolio of the church, and to some extent still are, although in a telescopic sense mostly these days (they spend lots of time and energy on famine in foreign lands, but next to none preparing for one in their own).  I'm not a fan of Mormon theology, but I think their preparedness doctrines are solid and spot on.

I agree.

[maurice]

And all will gladly agree to massive tax hikes to pay for all of this.    

Civil Defence grain reserves were a federal function. But it need not be that way
again. The state of North Dakota for a long time has had a state-owned,
state-operated grain storage and milling enterprise, a key feature of its
"prairie populism" culture. North Dakota used to be accused of being a
socialist  state for this.

North Dakota has geography working in its favor.  Most of the state is outside easy transit of the rest of the country in a breakdown situation, and the state is probably below post-crash carrying capacity.  So North Dakotans can have the reasonably belief that what they pay to put up for themselves will MOSTLY be used on their own behalf, rather than for the grasshoppers in other states.  But yes, states can and should start to get the ball rolling.  Churches and other social organizations should also.  Disaster and famine relief have been in the historic portfolio of the church, and to some extent still are, although in a telescopic sense mostly these days (they spend lots of time and energy on famine in foreign lands, but next to none preparing for one in their own).  I'm not a fan of Mormon theology, but I think their preparedness doctrines are solid and spot on.

I agree.

I agree too. Coincidentally, North Dakota has the highest  incidence of of church
buildings per capita of any state.

[EWHM]

And all will gladly agree to massive tax hikes to pay for all of this.    

Civil Defence grain reserves were a federal function. But it need not be that way
again. The state of North Dakota for a long time has had a state-owned,
state-operated grain storage and milling enterprise, a key feature of its
"prairie populism" culture. North Dakota used to be accused of being a
socialist  state for this.

North Dakota has geography working in its favor.  Most of the state is outside easy transit of the rest of the country in a breakdown situation, and the state is probably below post-crash carrying capacity.  So North Dakotans can have the reasonably belief that what they pay to put up for themselves will MOSTLY be used on their own behalf, rather than for the grasshoppers in other states.  But yes, states can and should start to get the ball rolling.  Churches and other social organizations should also.  Disaster and famine relief have been in the historic portfolio of the church, and to some extent still are, although in a telescopic sense mostly these days (they spend lots of time and energy on famine in foreign lands, but next to none preparing for one in their own).  I'm not a fan of Mormon theology, but I think their preparedness doctrines are solid and spot on.

I agree.

I agree too. Coincidentally, North Dakota has the highest  incidence of of church
buildings per capita of any state.

I imagine North Dakota has a ton of little tiny towns inside its borders.  Really small towns tend of have a lot of very small churches rather than the megachurches you see in big cities.  After all, Catholics, Mormons, and some of the more exotic protestant denominations won't be caught dead in a non-denominational or community church, so in cases like that I suspect you see churches with 20-30 members.  Low property prices make starting new churches a lot cheaper than where I'm at also.
North Dakotans are probably somewhat more 'churched' than most too, but I can't really comment on that.

[Anasazi]

Evil Geniuses study history.
The only attacks on continental US soil from Japan during World War II were implemented using balloons.
http://web.mst.edu/~rogersda/forensic_geology/Japenese%20vengenance%20bombs%20new.htm

A freighter somewhere in the Pacific could launch as many warheads as they can get their hands on using helium balloons. Integrate GPS with the arming mechanism and send them off to the optimal EMP detonation points as far as altitude and lat/long are concerned.
Logic can be programmed in if the wind speed at a certain altitude is not favorable.
They would have a very low radar cross section thus evading detection. Additionally, weather balloons are not categorized as a threat which is the most likely profile they will fit.
Boom. Lights Out with low tech delivery.
No missile technology required. No launch signature. No border smuggling needed.
Sorry.

[Satori]

nuclear threat to the power grid

EMP finally getting the respect it deserves??

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8304256.stm

[counselor]

thanks for the heads up on this one.  i will get it this weekend.
counselor

[Satori]

interesting article on solar flares

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/06may_carringtonflare.htm

[EWHM]

interesting article on solar flares

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/06may_carringtonflare.htm

Massive Solar flares, EMP, 24 angry rednecks, and several other fairly probable scenarios all have one big thing in common.  They do most of their killing by destroying the power grid and thereby crippling most of the infrastructure in the US---specifically they trash the high voltage transformers for which there are very few spares, even fewer suppliers, and very long lead times to replace.  It seems rather criminal that there is so little redundancy for such an important system.

[Satori]

book report from The Daily KOS of all places

who new liberals could be doomers too

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/10/30/798737/-Book-report-One-Second-After;-things-that-may-you-go-hmm...

[Hope@ZeroKelvin]

interesting article on solar flares

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/06may_carringtonflare.htm

Massive Solar flares, EMP, 24 angry rednecks, and several other fairly probable scenarios all have one big thing in common.  They do most of their killing by destroying the power grid and thereby crippling most of the infrastructure in the US---specifically they trash the high voltage transformers for which there are very few spares, even fewer suppliers, and very long lead times to replace.  It seems rather criminal that there is so little redundancy for such an important system.

Why are you giving rednecks so much credit?  Most of them can't even spell "EMP".  Besides, why would they blow up the grid?  Then they can't watch TeeVee and heehaw reruns in the AC and their beer would get cold.  Sheesh.  Get your domestic terrorists straight, for the love of Pete.

Look, you.  It was the radical left, like Bill Ayers and this gang of merry bandits that did all the blowing up.  And Janet Reno that ordered the hit on Waco.

[Satori]

Look, you.  It was the radical left, like Bill Ayers and this gang of merry bandits that did all the blowing up.  And Janet Reno that ordered the hit on Waco.



and don't you forget it

[Hope@ZeroKelvin]

Look, you.  It was the radical left, like Bill Ayers and this gang of merry bandits that did all the blowing up.  And Janet Reno that ordered the hit on Waco.



and don't you forget it

I know, I know, I am quaking in my cowboy boots.  You guys might come after me and bite off my finger if I don't like your healthcare proposal or something.

Seriously, this EMP thing OR taking down the grid is the one thing that really gives me nightmares.  While I have a big generator on my place (having been unable to talk Mr. Kelvin into a solar program, yet), there is really no way to protect it from an EMP.  We could be okay with a temp grid down, as we have 2x 500 fuel tanks, but I'll bet that fuel will be tough to get out of the underground tanks!

The medical system will fold up like a paper hat.  And a lot of people are gonna die, rather quickly.

[Tropicalgirl]

Hey Hope, the kids are looking for you on the Swine Flu Thread, they have a situation in Western Ukraine??  Sorry, for the drift    Back to One Second After!