I called my mom last Sunday to wish her a happy Mother’s Day. Aside from a couple significant topics, I half-listened (I know, I’m a terrible daughter) to her ramble on about the recent goings-on in my small Oregon hometown, which are for the most part, not very different from the past goings-on there. But then she brought up something she had heard, something that made her worried about me and my brother, seeing how I am living in New York and he is living in L.A. (Being a country girl her entire life, she is skeptical and fearful of cities, as well as the distance my particularly HUGE city is from her.)
There was a report on CNN (I bet my grandma told her – she’s as sharp as a vampire's incisor, and let’s face it, Mom can hardly stay awake once she sits down these days, television or not, thanks to her sleeping disorder) about Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea now or soon having the capability to detonate an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) in the atmosphere (as in somewhere above the U.S.), wipe out the national power grid, and then possibly take advantage of the mass panic and vulnerability.
I did some follow-up research. The Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse Attack recently
testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security on this matter. It anticipated that in the worst-case scenario, "[i]n a matter of hours after an EMP, American cities would be in flames and they would burn down." There would be no electricity to pump water to put out the fires, nor to refrigerate food. They, and then my mom, spoke in terms of months, or possibly years, before systems would be completely restored in this worst-case scenario, of subsequent looting, and of the lack of drinkable water or communication. How would I be able to contact her, or she contact me? My mom spoke of me needing to think of a plan ahead of time, so I will be prepared if something like this should happen. I told her, “Well, I could somehow get out of the city, and send correspondence the old-fashioned way – through the mail.” I understand that this possibility of disconnect terrifies her. For me, (and half of me realizes how insensitive and yes, stupidly romantic – or just plain stupid to some -- I am for saying this) and while I do not want anyone to get hurt, I am not so much scared as I am intrigued with the possibility of a grand adventure, a la Stephen King’s “The Stand” or other glorified tales of disaster and survival (of course, being the heroine of my story, I am assuming that I am one of the survivors).
This topic of survival has always intrigued me. What would we do if one day, we had no more access to safe running water or electricity? We have become so dependent upon it and all of the other conveniences-turned-necessities that, according to the history books and my grandparents, quite recently did not even exist. And yet somehow people survived before our beloved cell phones and internet, not to mention the “basics” like electricity, refrigerators, televisions and telephones, were integrated as “natural” parts of our everyday existence. I have always been a fan (in theory for the most part so far) of do-it-yourself, back-to-nature skills. Maybe it is because once all the superfluous distractions are stripped away, what everything really comes down to is that which gives and sustains life: breath, water, food, shelter, and hopefully some compassion and love. All of the layers after these undeniably contribute to our lives, and help distinguish and make possible all of our individual, wonderful peculiarities, but they cannot really be
substitutes for the essentials – but rather additions, and sometimes I think we lose sight of that.
But back to the plan. If I was to devise an action plan in case of emergency, what would it be? Should I start stockpiling bottled water and canned food, 1950's bombshelter and Y2K style? That’s just embarrassing once nothing comes to pass of this, and not very handy if everything is burning. Should I instead pack a small bag of essentials in case flight is imminent, and if so, what should it include (I need to be able to carry it, and should assume that access to electricity is inaccessible)? (This is reminding me of a certain questionnaire I recently filled out online. M – I know you know what I’m referring to. Except I didn’t take that one so literally.)
* Ipod is pretty much out of the question, since I won’t be able to charge the battery. Damn.
* Wireless phone is out. (However, I could still attempt to reach Mom on the landed line for a couple days, so maybe I’ll need some quarters for payphones – do those still exist? And a list of my phone numbers, since I only remember the number for my own cell phone and those of my childhood: my mom, my dad, and my grandparents.)
So I guess that leaves:
* Passport – just in case I can catch a flight, need to hop across a border, or need ID when they start establishing new governments. Ha...more like a memento of my past life.
* Cash
* Bottled water
* Some food (Peanut butter? That could tide me over for a while, right? Throw in a side of chocolate, and mmmm, I can be happy, too (or sick). Maybe some vitamins? Some fruit? And for longer term: some seeds – herbs, veggies, fruit – for starting life in the new world, or whatever forest I get lost in...)
* Matches/lighter
* Flashlight
* Some sort of weapon (maybe my wine key – bottle opener/corkscrew
and tiny little blade! Maybe someone will forget to lock the wine store...)
* Would I have room for one book? Maybe Thus Spoke Zarathustra, to keep my wits about me, or lose them, depending on your point of view...
* And of course, I would need to plan the perfect outfit ahead of time (it takes me way too long if I’m just waking up or caught off guard by something like cities burning): Hmm, which season? Better plan for the cold: Black down coat, black knit hat, scarf and gloves, denim Sevens, a black tank, under my drapey black short sleeve V-neck shirt, under my funky black Plein Sud sweater, and my calf-high black and white Puma sneaker boots. Might as well go stealth for the occasion, and with layers to blend into various possible scenarios.
* Do I have any room for a blanket?
* One more thing – I think I need to invest in a bicycle, with a basket in the front, just in case transportation is really out of control when it comes time to escape the chaos. And then, whatever the outcome, I can at least ride it to the grocery store or check out the local neighborhoods.
OK, Mom. Plan is all set. Now you can rest easily, knowing your daughter is prepared. For what, exactly (based on my list of ingredients), remains to be seen.
***
Oh, and probably not to worry too much about the vulnerability reported by the Commission, at least according to the rest of what they reported (if it is to be believed, and not just a ploy to appease the masses). Plans have been recommended and some steps are already underway; if their recommendations are heeded, the U.S. should be prepared to secure the power grid and save the day in a couple years. Also, despite their finger-pointing at Iran, China, Russia and North Korea for attempting to possess the technology to use the EMP (as if the U.S. doesn't horde this techonology themselves!), it seemed like they viewed only North Korea being crazy enough to carry it out (anyone posing a threat to the U.S. has to have
something wrong with them, you know), and even then not for a couple years. By which time the U.S. should have everything and everyone back under control...
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