Grid Down: The Beginning - An EMP Survival Story by Roger Hayden

Author:Roger Hayden
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2015-11-27T23:00:00+00:00

***

Having finally reached their neighborhood street, Rob pedaled with a fury, running on pure adrenaline. So far, he was confident he had made the right choices. Offering supplies to his business neighbors and landlord and explaining what they needed to do was the best he felt he could do under the circumstances. He stood up to pedal faster, even though the pack weighed heavily on his back and he was already winded.

Up ahead, he caught sight of a man in a mechanic’s jumpsuit running up the road toward him in seeming panic. The man raced past without making eye contact. Further ahead was a garbage truck, likely broken down, in the middle of the road. Rob moved on, his house within a few more determined pumps of the bike pedals.

He rode up the driveway to find Mila standing there, inside the garage with Ken. Her eyes lit up as he skidded to a stop. She was wearing jeans and a T-shirt and looked ready to go.

Rob jumped off the bike, letting it fall onto the pavement. His legs felt cramped, and exhaustion nearly sent him to the ground in a sweaty heap.

“Rob! You made it,” Mila said, running to him.

Ken said hello and tipped the brim of his sun hat.

Rob nodded at his neighbor and then noticed for the first time the distress in Mila’s eyes. “Are you OK?”

“I’m fine. I have everything ready for us to go, just like we discussed,” Mila said.

Rob took a step back and pulled his backpack off, placing it on the ground. “And the car? It starts?”

“Absolutely. It’s a miracle.”

Ken stood to the side, confused.

Rob continued. “Then we need to get the kids right now. We know where they are. They’re not going anywhere. But we have to hurry before things begin to turn ugly.”

“What’s going on, guys?” Ken asked.

Rob turned to Ken, trying to remain calm. “EMP, Ken. We’ve been hit with an EMP. The standard range on one ballistic missile alone is enough to cover half, if not all, the country. We’re leaving.”

Ken looked at their old car. “In that old thing? Why?”

“Because we have to get our kids,” Rob said.

Ken nodded. Rob and Mila then told him that they had to go and that they’d be back. They went into the garage, but before getting into the car, Rob gave Ken a few words of advice. “Keep your house secure and stay alert for looters. Keep your supplies well hidden. I’d cover that garden, too.”

Rob took the driver’s seat and turned the ignition. The reliable Datsun started without issue. He had never seen the theory put in practice of older-model vehicles resisting an EMP. But there they were, and he felt extremely fortunate and vindicated.

Mila stepped into the car cradling her cell phone. Rob told her that it wasn’t worth it—that her phone had been destroyed. “Magnetic waves are designed to destroy the internal circuitry of electronics, not to temporarily disable them.”

“Does anyone really know for sure?” she protested.

“I’d say we’re seeing evidence of it now,” Rob conceded.

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