If an ElectroMagnetic Pulse (EMP) destroyed everything Electric on Earth, what would you do?

[AviatorTom]

Here's a possible situation...

In the dystopian near future, the Sun releases a massive solar flare that has the effect of a huge ElectroMagnetic Pulse (EMP) that causes everything that involves electricity to stop functioning on Earth.

Cars and trains stop moving, people get stuck in elevators, and planes fall from the sky.

Most importantly for many, all mobile phones and means of communications cease, and the Internet is no more.

If such a situation happened, what would you do?

[RavVid]

Not so dystopian. In 1859 telegraphs were burnt out by the Carrington event. See

https://www.history.com/news/a-perfect-solar-superstorm-the-1859-carrington-event

Telegraphs a pretty chunky compare to modern electronics but the telegraphs are a long aerial so maybe it is a toss up on vulnerability. I think we can assume most electronics will be dead.

A major phone carrier went out last Wednesday in Australia. Apart from mobile phones, land lines were out, trains were stopped. All we could do is wait for it to get better. In this scenario we would have to wait for all computers/mobiles to be re-manufactured.

Not much to do. Go out and buy some stamps and a few pens if the post still works which it probably won't with the sorting machines fried but classic mail will be easier to restore than email.

[RavVid]

Thanks for an MHO. Given the Carrington event was 164 years ago and human kind would not have noticed anything earlier than 1859 we might be due another.

Perhaps we should start preparing.

[TheSpaceGnome]

Build new electrical devices to replace them, and repair old ones that got EMPed.

Also that can't actually happen. Many devices are already emp resistant, no man made object can ever emp a city, let alone the planet, and if a solar flare like that directly hit the earth, and wasn't haulted by the upper atmo and deflected along the poles as an aurora, it would fry us all in deadly radiation.

Global EMP where tech is gone but we are not, is a fictional setting, in reality, the raw electrical power needed to EMP the entire world's electronics, would kill most life on earth.

[AviatorTom]

@thespacegnome Scientifically, you are correct, but that doesn't usually stop the movie from being made. 🤔

[TheSpaceGnome]

True, which is good for movies/tv/games/books as a whole, because without fiction/fantasy, entertainment media would be boring. But I think its a good thing that people know the reality and are still able to enjoy fiction.

I know the force can't possibly exist, but I still like star wars.

[TheSpaceGnome]

Your reply is actually why I added that first sentence in my answer, I wanted to account for a fictional setting where it was actually possible, the rest is the real answer.

[TheSpaceGnome]

Also worth noting, a lot of buildings contain lead, especially bunkers older city buildings, which would block at least some or all emp radiation in an area.

[FreyaRed]

Most small devices with memory and CPU are shielded against EMP. Power network will probably collapse by strong EMP impulse due induction, but only for minutes until over voltage protection switches back to normal. Most cars are made of steel that makes them to Faraday's cage. 5 class physic.

I don't think we should be worry as long as some supernova bombs earth with gamma rays which turn into gigantic amount of microwaves when they hit gases of our atmosphere. However I think we will have in this case other problems than damaged electronic devices.

[TrueConfection]

I'd get on my bike and pedal my way to gather my kiddos.

[Drumlin2001]

So no cars, no phones.
I'd make sure OH and kids were safe in house. Grab a hammer and machete from shed and head over to sisters house 3 miles away to talk to them. Pool resources, invite them to mine (brother in law is pretty handy with lots of things) Neice and Nephew would bring a good skill set. I'd assume the biggest shops would be ransacked first, go for smaller shops to get provisions. Pharmacy for medications, as many as I could grab. Outdoors shop for camping type gear, need water purifiers.

[Effably]

If we assume its some sort of persistent magical no more electricity in the world works?

I'd probably... go visit the library. Check out or take a bunch on relevant topics for things I don't know. Then off to gather up with friends and family. I don't feel society would stop for long though. Some initial panic and then back to normal, minus electricity.

[Joshydavid25]

Learn new skills to help me and the family survive, and get ready for the incoming mess that would be involved with the global loss of power.. I can imagine I would be in shock for a minute and probably down for a bit before I realize I gotta get back up.

[Anonymous]

In a solar flare-induced EMP scenario, I will prioritize safety, establish local communication, acquire survival skills and supplies, collaborate with my community, and prepare for long-term living without modern technology.

[AviatorTom]

Nice plan!

[Opinion Owner]

I just pray that such situation don't arise.

[Guido]

It would be an absolute disaster for most. If you think the gun deaths are high now, it will be thousands times worse. Safety is first and get out of the city. Find a nice secure cave in the mountains that is easy to defend. Since I love cooking on a open fire, it would be back the basics I enjoy.

As for daily life, time to don the loin cloth, grab club, hunt for food and find a woman to drag back to the cave. Caveman days are back.

[exitseven]

I guess I would movecto Florida so I wouldn't freeze to death

[AviatorTom]

How would you get there? New England to Florida is a long way to walk.

[exitseven]

Take my truck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp02twEvmCE

[AviatorTom]

Your truck, like all vehicles, won't work. Its ignition has been fried.

[RavVid]

Old vehicles with classic distributor and ignition coils will be ok but new vehicles and teslas won't cause they rely on electronics. Diesels have a fair chance of working as ignition is from the temperature of the compressed gas and glow plugs and not spark plugs.

The crux is does the battery & starter motor survive? I think they would.

[exitseven]

I have my garage outfitted to be a Faraday cage for just this thing.

[RavVid]

That is the way to go.

[lightbulb27]

that be really cool...

I mean like freezing, I'd freeze to death in this northeast winter.

We'd really be screwed, but it may end up being better for humanity.

[MiddleAgedClimbee]

Life's been good, who is ready to eat :-)

[Constatine]

"What would you do.."

Living like it is 1300BC.. Trade my sheep for a cow and use fire to talk to the neighbors

[McLlovin]

Welp, that would be all she wrote. That would send us back to the stone ages. We are heavily plugged in.

[OlderAndWiser]

Life would return to the way it was around 1900 until the grid and everything else was restored.

[TonyMetal___86]

I'll do nothing, will just continue my life normally in my cave, rub some stones and make a fire than go out to hunt a wooly mammoth to use his fur at night so i stay warm 🧔🏻

[thegreenyogi]

I guess I would just sit still and meditate on the ground.

[Anonymous]

Find the toughest strongest guy and f*ck his brains out. Probably my sister's husband who is a vetrean. I the rol law collapses and the shtf

[NathanDavis]

I'd get to work... and start fixing it

[RedInnocent68]

Be grateful for my coin collection 😂

[msc545]

Revert to steam power of course.

[QuietRunner]

gardening, I'd try growing food

[laozhu]

i will go back to primitive