Quote History Quoted:
Interesting, I thought you were sort of counting on stores being open to an extent.
View Quote
No, not really counting on it, just planning / hoping for the possibility that this is the case. I do think it's likely that if something like this did happen, the stores would still be operating on a cash basis for at least a few hours until they got cleaned out. I base this upon the following:
1. If it happens and I have to use this bag, then it happened while I'm at work, and everyone else is likely working and many stores are likely still open, at least for a while.
2. If my vehicle isn't working, then most (if not all of) other people's vehicles will be similarly disabled, and making a run to the local store to clean it out might not be feasible for most people - or the first thing that occurs to them in this situation. Again, most people are inclined to sit back and wait for the power company to turn the lights back on when things like this happen, and most people are too stupid to make the connection between EMP and everything being disabled, much less understand the implications. I don't expect accurate information about this to spread as quickly as normal in this scenario, as communications will almost certainly be severely disrupted. I expect a lot of confusion and likely paralysis in the ensuing fog.
3. Based upon past grid-down experiences I've been in (Katrina, Rita, and Ike), most stores - at least the types that sell food - generally still operate on a cash-basis until they're cleaned out, until the employees go home, or until the security situation deteriorates to point everyone has to leave. I don't see this hypothetical scenario as much different in the initial hours, since most people will be unaware of the true nature of the problem at first.
4. My plan would be to hit the nearest convenience store very quickly (it's on my route less than a mile away from my work), and if they are still operating then I'll buy whatever I can for the trip. If not, I just keep moving and enjoy my emergency rations and the ensuing managed weight loss. I'm packing the rations for an "enough to get by" baseline, but I'll add to it if possible. I'm gonna burn a lot of calories.
5. There are a couple of stores along the way that might still have bicycles (if they're still open) as I make my way home. If possible, I'll get a bike and make a beeline home with it, if not then I just keep walking. I'm still trying to figure out a way to incorporate a bike into this, as that would drastically change my planning for the better. I still have nowhere to put it, and while I could rent a storage nearby work or something, I'm not prepared to commit to the open-ended costs of that for something that is so unlikely to actually occur.