Author Topic: READ The Second After (Read 10600 times)

shinjin · « **on:** June 10, 2011, 03:55:42 PM »

Its the book Congress mentioned during a discussion on Domestic Threats. Not your usual blood and guts jerry ahern but a realistic look at what could happen if an EMP said HELLO AMERICA.
Has me buying 22 LR and 12 ga by the case.

bkraft · « **Reply #1 on:** June 10, 2011, 05:13:13 PM »

Just finished it, one of the most frightening things I've ever read. Makes one wonder who will bomb whom into the stone age. Very well researched and well written.

powderman · « **Reply #2 on:** June 11, 2011, 01:44:42 PM »

Is Jerry Ahern the author?? I'll see if my library has it or can get it. POWDERMAN.

Lost Farmboy · « **Reply #3 on:** June 13, 2011, 02:00:46 PM »

Just ordered it from amazon. Only 9.99. Also ordered Rawles book Patriots: surviving the coming collapse only 8.61.

Need $25 to get free shipping so I ordered Primitive Wilderness Living & Survival Skills: Naked into the Wilderness. Tanning hides, fire with bow drill, flintnapping, making bows and arrows, should be interesting.

reliquary · « **Reply #4 on:** June 13, 2011, 03:59:39 PM »

Isn't it actually "One Second After", by William R. Forstchen, that you're talking about? It is truly a frightening scenario. It got me to wondering just how well prepared I personally am, and how fragile our civilization really is.

We live in the Gulf hurricane evacuation path and routinely have anywhere from several hundred (Ike) and several thousand (Katrina) evacuees. They totally overwhelmed our community and they weren't even the starving crazoids depicted in Forstchen's book.

When so many people are wards of the government, and so many career criminals infest our cities...and it seems that they are often the same folks...the countryside has to be prepared for the worst. After they loot the urban areas, they'll head for the farms. Get to know your neighbors and cooperate.

shinjin · « **Reply #5 on:** June 14, 2011, 09:38:34 AM »

It is ONE SECOND AFTER and not THE Second After, my mistake.

I'm a Gulf Coast resident and remember hosting the Katrina rabble. We got lucky and they were evacuated again when Hurricane Rita came to visit. The aftermath of Rita and my work as Head Food Nazi for the next 14 days left me with plenty to consider. My staff and I worked our way through things helping the office of emergency mgt and am thankful we do not have a levee to worry about! I hold an annual Refresher training for my empliyees the month before hurricane season. Remind everybody to MAKE A PLAN for themsleves and their families. Meds, food, water, flashlights, gasoline, auto, hotel reservations, etc. But what if we had something like ONE SECOND AFTER? Wow, scary.

Now I stock bottled water, water filters, sleeping gear, tent, dried food, small caliber ammo and fire starating/lighting gear in plastic E&E footlockers. I don't think its paranoia just planning for bad times while living in the good times. besides, with all this stuff I'm always ready for a camping trip!

powderman · « **Reply #6 on:** June 14, 2011, 01:27:49 PM »

I'll check tomorrow and see if my local library has it. POWDERMAN.

reliquary · « **Reply #7 on:** June 15, 2011, 05:13:36 PM »

Shinjin:

My relatives are scattered along I-10 from Orange to Winnie. Luckily, some of them have land in the Piney Woods up US 96 and have some half-baked plans to relocate there in the event of SHTF, but they've done no REAL planning. Their plan of last resort is to come to my place about halfway between Beaumont and Texarkana.

The Mormons have a good idea about food storage and general preparedness. Google one of their sites and see what they recommend for having on hand. Since Katrina-Rita-Ike, my wife and I have begun to accumulate dried, dehydrated, and bulk food and general supplies, with the goal of having a year's worth for two people.

Unfortunately, what we don't have is a nearby college full of patriotic young folks and veterans, like the scenario in "One Second After". The best we can do is be personally prepared; that includes having a decent armory. I trust in the American spirit, and in God, and if times get really hard, I think the locals here will band together to try to make it. I don't know how we would hold out against the hordes of crazies...may have to go to the woods and hide?

Lost Farmboy · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2011, 02:16:26 PM »

Well, did anybody read the book yet? I was hoping we could have a discussion about it after a few read it. Like good ideas, things missed, lessons learned and things like that.

reliquary · « **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2011, 03:54:41 PM »

I'm with ya, Lost Farmboy. Sounds like a great idea.

I've read it once and am looking through it again now. One thing I see is the need for chronically ill people to have a source of medication. That hits home with me, as my wife is one of them, including being an injection-dependent diabetic. She takes lots of oral meds as well, and we are stocking up on them as we can, and I am scavenging for a small, propane-fueled fridge to keep the meds in...have a line on one from a salvaged RV now. It uses 1.2 gallons of propane per week, and a home tank could keep it going for quite a while.

Also simple things like having one large bottle of multivitamin/mineral supplements per person. Generics are about $9 for 300 tabs.

And then there's the no-brainers about guns and ammo, particularly .22LR.

Over to y'all...

Lost Farmboy · « **Reply #10 on:** July 17, 2011, 02:33:59 AM »

I think the author and most Americans put far too much faith in modern medicine. He makes it sound like people will start falling like flies if they run out of cholesterol and blood pressure medications. Those problems are curable by natural means. Going on survival rations will cure many fast. Cinnamon will stabilize blood sugar for many.

Insulin dependent diabetes is a different story. I would try a 12 volt cooler and a marine battery with a solar battery charger. It might be more efficient than propane, but might not cool enough.

The only vitamin I take is D3. 97% of people in America are deficient of D3. I am stocking 2000 mg capsules. If I can't get adequate sun light I take 2 or 3 a day. D3 will be your best defense against the diseases that will spread after a short famine. I keep a bottle of Cognac on hand for my second defense. A doctor in Germany saved his town from the black plague with garlic fermented in Cognac. He used 20 drops in a cup of tea a day. Crush a cup of garlic and ferment it in a quart of Cognac for tree weeks.

reliquary · « **Reply #11 on:** July 17, 2011, 02:25:35 PM »

I've often thought that my wife and I would be a lot healthier after we lost a few pounds on an enforced diet.

There's a 45-watt solar panel on special at Harbor Freight. Haven't looked into its utility all that much yet. To use it to charge 12-V batteries, do I need an intermediate device like a trickle-charger, or will it just hook up straight to the battery? Shows how little I know.

I have several books on folk remedies, including the early Foxfire series; haven't seen the one with the cognac and the garlic yet. Strnager things have happened.

One should also have on hand dehydrated and freeze-dried food, bags of grain and beans, and spices. Salt is a must, for preserving meat. Seeds, for a survival garden, are a necessity.

I have a Katadyn water filter on hand and know how to rig a solar still. We can't all be so lucky at the people in the book, to control a fresh-water reservoir.

bilmac · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2011, 04:01:00 PM »

Reli, The Harbor Freight panels come with a regulator to prevent overcharging your battery. They are a pretty complete system including a couple of flourescent lights. The rack that is included is a joke though. I make racks for them out of 2X4s and use screws with washers to hold them to the 2X4s. Watch for Harbor Freight ads in magazines and newspapers, and you can find the set for as low as $150.

jcn59 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2011, 07:03:18 PM »

I just finished the book and it kinda rattled my cage. I never thought much about these things, which is why I bought it. I bought 1400 bullets for reloading yesterday & am thinking about a generator. And I'm still thinking.........alot.

Locally, gun dealers are talking about how business increased dramatically since November, 2010. Sales as high as November 2008. Nobody has a good explanation for that. I don't think anyone knows the answer for sure, but I'm concerned.

What do you think?

reliquary · « **Reply #14 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:19:25 AM »

Thanks, bilmac; that's exactly the one I was looking at. There's a Harbor Freight outlet store that I go wander around in while my wife browses the mall, and they have them for $149.95. Good tip on the frame. I'm going to get one from them, and a charger kit for the smaller rechargeable batteries, next time the eagle flies.

Two of the local gun dealers are close friends, and they think it goes back to the economy and the Arizona shootings, that it's not just tied to the Nov 2010 election. The gungrabbers in DC will try something, any chance they get. Any time they start talking about "common sense measures" and "strengthening existing enforcement standards", the market responds by increased sales.

The local stores have a decent supply of powder and primers at present; good time to stock up. Also, don't forget the bricks of .22LR. AWal-Mart in my area had 100-round boxes of 9-ball prettty reasonable the other day, on special. I bought one, even though I don't have a launcher for that round.

Lost Farmboy · « **Reply #15 on:** July 18, 2011, 11:10:04 AM »

Quote from: reliquary on July 18, 2011, 04:19:25 AM

Thanks, bilmac; that's exactly the one I was looking at. There's a Harbor Freight outlet store that I go wander around in while my wife browses the mall, and they have them for $149.95. Good tip on the frame. I'm going to get one from them, and a charger kit for the smaller rechargeable batteries, next time the eagle flies.

Two of the local gun dealers are close friends, and they think it goes back to the economy and the Arizona shootings, that it's not just tied to the Nov 2010 election. The gungrabbers in DC will try something, any chance they get. Any time they start talking about "common sense measures" and "strengthening existing enforcement standards", the market responds by increased sales.

The local stores have a decent supply of powder and primers at present; good time to stock up. Also, don't forget the bricks of .22LR. AWal-Mart in my area had 100-round boxes of 9-ball prettty reasonable the other day, on special. I bought one, even though I don't have a launcher for that round.

+ Operation Gun Runner and Fast and Furious

jcn59 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 18, 2011, 11:59:54 AM »

I can't help but think that if the crooks in congress made it illegal for us to own guns, that we would finally replace them with mentally competent persons before they confiscated anything or arrested anyone. I'd bet my life on it. Our right to own firearms trumps their right to take them from us, and I think we all know this.

Lost Farmboy · « **Reply #17 on:** July 18, 2011, 02:00:52 PM »

Quote from: bilmac on July 17, 2011, 04:01:00 PM

Reli, The Harbor Freight panels come with a regulator to prevent overcharging your battery. They are a pretty complete system including a couple of flourescent lights. The rack that is included is a joke though. I make racks for them out of 2X4s and use screws with washers to hold them to the 2X4s. Watch for Harbor Freight ads in magazines and newspapers, and you can find the set for as low as $150.

Thanks bilmac. I plan to experiment with them, just too many things to do.

reliquary · « **Reply #18 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:45:38 PM »

Something else to kick around...in the book, most newer vehicles were not operable because the electronics were fried the the EMP.

Generally speaking, what years or models would not be affected by EMP? Or is it just the models with computer-controlled this'n'thats that are vulnerable?

It looks to me as if most tractors, especially the diesels, and most older ATVs, would still be operable. What am I missing?

I don't really want to have to hunt down an Edsel, but might look for a good old 'stang.

Lost Farmboy · « **Reply #19 on:** July 19, 2011, 02:16:11 AM »

Maybe we need to do some more research. I'm not sure solar cells would survive an EMP strike. If they do any voltage regulators would burn up for sure. My understanding was that electronics that were turned off would survive. But that is in case of a nuclear attack. The EMP strike in the book was completely different. The scenario the book described with Iran, N Korea and Pakistan is a very real possibility. Especially the way Obama is double crossing Pakistan. Maybe a wind generator would be better.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #20 on:** July 19, 2011, 02:44:24 AM »

I read the book . Old vehicles can be affected also. Starter mts, gen. condenser etc all may need to be replaced if EMP takes place . New parts need to be stored in a steel box I have been told . Old diesel tractors with a comp. release to stop them seem a good choice for use after EMP occures. The book also points out the community you live in or find yourself in could mean surviving or not. The thing that reall stood out for me was the fact that either you were a producer or you were turned away . Gone were the free loader . This world has a way of cleaning itself of waste and over use a time like these may be just such a cleaning house.
If you read the book and find you need to learn some of the old skills your grand parents used to stay alive and well check out the Fox Fire books , great reading and usefull skills.

jcn59 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 19, 2011, 04:21:11 AM »

Has there EVER been an EMP experiment, of any level or size, which disabled ANY electronic device? Or is it just a hypothetical posibility based on some scientific theory?

no guns here · « **Reply #22 on:** July 19, 2011, 04:28:37 AM »

Nope... modern wind generators have all the small parts and circuit boards for contollers that could/would get fried too. Inverters are the same. Best to look into OLD engines with no electronics and mechanical wind mills.

NGH

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #23 on:** July 19, 2011, 04:39:55 AM »

google EMP plane

no guns here · « **Reply #24 on:** July 19, 2011, 04:58:43 AM »

I'm glad I started reading this thread. This shed light on a story that I've been trying to rediscover for some years now. Back in the mid-90's I read "The Gray Nineties" on-line. I lost the title and link to that shortly after. I've thought several times over the years that I would like to read it again but could never remember the title or anything else about it. So I started looking up reviews of the books listed in this thread and lo and behold... it's there. I'm definitely ordering the book. According to the reviews, the author signed a deal to write two sequels which will be set comptemporaniously with the Patriots book instead of as successive stories as is normal with sequels. I'm going to the base library at lunch and see if they have any of these...

NGH

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #25 on:** July 19, 2011, 08:16:48 AM »

If a liberal reads this book it will drive them insane .

reliquary · « **Reply #26 on:** July 19, 2011, 04:41:28 PM »

Lost Farmboy, ref reply #10:

I've been looking up the specs on 12V coolers and am not very impressed with what I've found. In the brand name Koolatron, an ice-chest sized cooler will use up a fully charged deep-cycle marine battery every 3-4 hours, according to their tech department. They suggested three 45-watt solar panels rigged into a battery bank of four deep-cycle batteries. That's a lot of $$$ for something that is basically a motorized ice chest. No wonder the solar power industry needs so many government handouts to survive.

Is there anyone using a rig like I've described? Or any kind of solar cooler/fridge?

Still leaning toward a propane (maybe natural gas as an option?) RV fridge for the diabetic meds.

jcn59 · « **Reply #27 on:** July 19, 2011, 05:07:58 PM »

I think you could run a gas fridge about forever off a stationary propane tank.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #28 on:** July 20, 2011, 02:37:04 AM »

Quote from: jcn59 on July 19, 2011, 05:07:58 PM

I think you could run a gas fridge about forever off a stationary propane tank.

If you can get propane . An Ice house would be nice if you had a pond to use for ice. There is a sorta cooler where you make a box place it on a post so air can move all around it. Place it in a shadey spot and cover with lose cloth. Set up a water drip to keep the cloth wet . As the water evaporates it takes the heat out of the box. People on the Outer Banks of NC and other places used these. Also warehouses and garages used a similar cooler called a swamp cooler to cool the place. It had water flow across a panel with a fan moving air across it. Today there are large buildings using a similar unit to cool .

jlwilliams · « **Reply #29 on:** July 20, 2011, 03:41:11 AM »

I read that a couple months abck and it really hit me like a kick in the teeth.

People need to read this book. I'll give my copy to someone who will promise to read it. Not read it when they get a chance, but read it right away then pass it on to someone else who will do the same. If that's you it's yours.

First "I'll take it" gets it for free.