The other day, I talked to my partner about the future and how we see the current events panning out around us. During the conversation, I had the idea to perform a thought experiment based on the circumstances from “One Second After” written by the incomparable William R. Forstchen.
In that post-apocalyptic thriller, an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is detonated over the United States causing all electronics in line of sight of the detonation to stop working immediately. As a result, in the blink of an eye, the east coast is thrust into the Middle Ages.
Some might say an EMP is a bit radical of an idea to consider as a possible plan of action from a foreign adversary. Still, those folks should read this article by the New York Post detailing the successful test of a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile by the People’s Republic of China in August 2021. Or more recently, the supersonic missile reportedly used by Russia. In my personal belief, an EMP would be one of the most catastrophic events to occur in our modern world, and thus it makes for a strong resilience mental exercise.
“America is like an exotic hothouse plant. It can only live now in the artificial environment of vaccinations, sterilization, and antibiotics we started creating a hundred or more years ago,” wrote Forstchen. In truth, Americans are accustomed to getting practically anything we want, within reason. In just a couple of days, if we know the suitable internet sites to probe, everything can be delivered directly to our home.
by cmartenson 
