Next 5 minutes.....

[tgallmey]

Well Id be at work (and have been since 8pm)and knowing those nazis I wouldnt be able to leave till my shift is over at 6am so my coworkers and I would be hanging out in the smoking area but the odds are pretty high if everything is dead in a long radius and ive called other people to verify id go to my truck and get my 1911 IWB theyd never know

 

[spencer rifle]

Worst case scenario:
Move everyone to the basement playroom for a briefing while handing out headlights/flashlights. Pull out futons and afgans we keep down there and calm jittery family members. Put fresh batteries in the emergency radio and turn it on. Block up playroom windows. Water, food and first aid is already down there. Turn off water heater and gas line. Issues firearms and magazines to qualified family members, making sure they have not forgotten where the safety is. Place a guard in the basement stairway and another 1 or 2 upstairs at windows with instructions not to use any lights or hang out too close to the window. Check on the generator and prepare it for operation. Fill the downstairs bathtub with remaining water pressure. Place bucket there to fill the toilet with. Wait for daylight or the radio to come on, trying phones occasionally.

 

[eldirector]

I'd let my wife and daughter sleep until morning or we needed to move. I'd probably set the emergency radio on the coffee table and get some sleep on the sofa. Might take out the shortwave and see what is up. At 10PM local time, the west coast would still be up and talking. Shouldn't take longer than 30 minutes to find a news broadcast.

If I was really worried, I'd walk over to one of the neighbors: one is a local fireman, and another is a county deputy. If there are sirens going, they or their wives would know why.

A power outage and some sirens in the distance isn't exactly SHTF. First guess is a substation gave up the ghost. The wide-spread outage described is a bit more concerning, but still no reason to panic. Stay calm, gather info, and respond appropriately.

 

[Sailor]

I'd let my wife and daughter sleep until morning or we needed to move. I'd probably set the emergency radio on the coffee table and get some sleep on the sofa. Might take out the shortwave and see what is up. At 10PM local time, the west coast would still be up and talking. Shouldn't take longer than 30 minutes to find a news broadcast.

If I was really worried, I'd walk over to one of the neighbors: one is a local fireman, and another is a county deputy. If there are sirens going, they or their wives would know why.

A power outage and some sirens in the distance isn't exactly SHTF. First guess is a substation gave up the ghost. The wide-spread outage described is a bit more concerning, but still no reason to panic. Stay calm, gather info, and respond appropriately.

This.

A power failure is not a trigger for me to rally troops and hand out weapons. I would continue to try to comm to my crew via group text, email, and ham radio. Let the family sleep and maybe walk to one of the 3 LEO within 400 yrds from my house to see if they have any info.

 

[spencer rifle]

Panic first, ask questions later.

 

[longbow]

Depends on how my dogs are reacting............then turn the scanner on.........

 

[Icarry2]

Copyright, Icarry2, WDY Media

Really shocked at some of the comments. Figured some of the more experienced members would be a voice of reason. Guess things are funnier then I thought. Figure most everyone liked Longbows story and it inspired me to thread this real world scenario discussion.

At this point I myself wouldn't over react but I would react. And I will add another amount of time and conditions and lets see where the path takes us. I would check genny, leave kids sleep, disconnect all un-needed devices from power and make sure have essential things completely portable if needed.

Back to the drill..


10:45 Lights come on for a very short time, long enough for the tv to come on and an emergency broadcast signal to fire off. You know that annoying tone that is supposed to wake you up.. A voice comes on and states the usual that this is the Emergency broadcast, blah blah blah but instead of saying this is only a test a different voice comes on and makes the following statement:

"This is the Emergency Management Agency of (whatever county you live in) and this is a special announcement for all persons who can hear this transmission. There has been an accident which has disrupted the power and communications grids and until further notice you are urged to stay in your homes and places of business unless medically necesary in which case report to your nearest trama center. Police, Fire and EMS may not be able to assist you at this time and or may take longer then normal to assist you. All roads in the area of this broadcast are closed to non-emergency vehicles so please stay in your homes or places of business until further notified."

And then the power, cable and radio's all go off again.. Static..

What do you do now that you haven't already?

 

[longbow]

I'd get out the shortwave radio that sits in the metal box and listen to what I could.

 

[LawDog76]

10:25 PM and everything went dead and you felt everything where you are shutter breifly.. You look outside all around where ever you are and see nothing out of the ordinary just everything is without power..

Cell phones have signal but no calls will go out, all circuits busy.. Same for land lines. Cable is out but satellite TV systems still work if you can power them. If you were able to turn on your TV and Satellite tuner no local channels are on the are, just snow on those channels.. You find that channels as far away as 200 miles are also out.

Radio's have static..

Ham radios are as if someone left a mic open, dead air..

You hear sirens, police, fire, rescue... Not in your general neighborhood, but close enough to hear them..

With the everything that you have listed above, at minimum I would have my G-17 with a TLR-1 on my hip. I'd then begin monitoring Police, Fire, and EMA/FEMA/Homeland Security channels for more info then go from there.

 

[Kase]

Wow, this is a really cool scenario. Really makes you think what you would actually do.

In my instance, I wouldn't dilly dally around. First, go outside to see if I notice anything REALLY wrong. Then grab weapons and small amount of gear. Girlfriend and I would then travel to our BOL, which is only about 1.5 miles away. Wait it out there until we hear more.

BTW, in this circumstance, is the weather inclimate? Or is it just like a normal summer night. And is it a full moon or new moon? Yes, I'm getting really into this

 

[Icarry2]

Weather is typical for this time of the year, cool and in the high 60's at night. It is clear, no clouds, no wind, no moon out at this time of night. Just stars that can be seen better then usual because the area is dark.

Also let's say if you live near rail tracks you hear no trains as you normally would.

 

[Icarry2]

Copyright, Icarry2, WDY Media

11:45 PM - lights come on long enough to hear the same warning on the radio and tv's as before. This time it warns that being out and about on the roads will result in ticketed and maybe arrested for impeeding an emergency vehicles during a declared emergency.

Scanners also come on but are garbled as if scrambled or encrypted.

 

[deo62]

too bad for me, I d have to go to work, I m a lineman...

 

[indytechnerd]

Keep switching my WX radio back and forth between the emergency channel and the SW channels. Turn off the lights and unplug the big electronics. No reason for yo-yo'ing power to keep my kids awake. Put them to bed in the master BR and take up residence on the couch. G23, flashlight, WX radio, and cell phone on the coffee table. Plug-in nightlight (doesn't everyone have them), plugged in next to the couch, should alert me when/if the power springs back on without lighting up the whole place for God and everyone to see.


Might jetboil some H2O for coffee, this could be a long night.

 

[Glockshooter149]

I agree with most everyone on here. I would have the wife in the master looking out the windows to see if there is any movement (tall 3 story house) master on the top level. I would be taking my spot on the main floor which I can be in one spot and cover every point of entry into our house with the Glock on the hip and the AR on the chest. The shotgun would be up with the wife for worst case. I would have the scanner going to see if we can figure out what exactly has happened and would be trying to get a hold of the brother in law who is a fireman.

 

[Gamez235]

At this point, I'd be on my 4-5 beer and letting the family sleep. It's quiet outside I assume and well see how the morning treats us before going all ape crazy and loading the prius and unleashing my combat poodles.

 

[Icarry2]

Up to now, sounds have woke me off and on, everyone else is still asleep for the most part, better half has gotten up and checked on me once, I am on the couch, radio ready but off, checked every so often, still static. Dressed in normal every day attire, boots on, pockets full, pistol on hip, spare mag light on weak side hip, shotgun next to me, spare rounds on bandolier on the coffee table. In the bedroom better half has kidos in bed with her, she has her hand gun, her flashlight, etc. near her. No real panic but something is up, hair on the back of my neck is buggin me..

Copyright, Icarry2, WDY Media

02:05 AM - Choppers overhead, slow moving hover at 500 feet is what I hear, sounds like at least 2-3 in the general area. Can't tell exactly what type, just hear them and they are running dark..

02:08 AM - Chopper(s) fly off North -North East direction.. Took off fast, one lingered for a few seconds but then flew off in the opposite direction, South-South West.

 

[dudley0]

Typically I am a light sleeper. After the initial power outage I would have most likely decided to go to bed. When we lose power the kids usually sleep on first floor, next to master bedroom.

I already have a shotty with a light in there as well as a nightstand pistol and a spare light so I don't see me running for a safe. Free to air TV so if I couldn't get local stations (Indy and Ft. Wayne) I would be concerned. No phone, internet or radio would have me more concerned.

Guess I would be a little more on edge than usual, until I heard the radio announcement. I can't think of a valid reason for this county to start talking about people not being allowed to leave. I wouldn't jump in the truck right off, but would wonder why I was being told not to.

Then the helicopters... well, I live outside of town. There would be absolutely no reason for three choppers to be flying black in my area unless the bad was upon us.

Now I grab the bags from the den, the wife and kids, and head to the basement. Make sure that the windows are blacked out, and set up camp down there. Drag out a few pop guns and wait for something to happen.

I wouldn't go outside to get the genny because at this point I wouldn't run it anyhow. Would light a candle or two just to keep the family more at ease. The dog never goes downstairs so he would be my first line of defense. Hear him going ape and then nothing means time to put out the candles and lay in wait at the bottom of the stairs.

Wife would be covering other exit, which isn't as easy to get to outside. Kids would be huddled up in a corner with soft cover and a couple carbines an arms length away.

Realize that although I am a bit paranoid this situation has just escalated into a small scale SHTF event. The copters are what did it for me, with my location and all.

 

[GREEN607]

Stop, something has happened, it's 10:25 PM and everything went dead and you felt everything where you are, shudder briefly.. You look outside all around where ever you are and see nothing out of the ordinary just everything is without power..

What do you do in the next five minutes..

Take this serious and lets see what your honest reactions are..

List where you are, what you were doing and what you would do in the next 5 minutes..

Call this a mental shakedown run...

GO!

Based on your initial info, especially the 'shudder' part....... I would definitely not go outside. You stated "you look outside" which I will assume means I have done so from a window or two.

Might be a nuke hit Chicago or Cincy... and so, after grabbing a few flashlights and getting the pistol strapped on.... I am taking a few large towels or small blankets; wet them; and place them at the bottom seal of each door leading to the outside. Then I'm taking painters tape or duct tape... and sealing off the sides and top of each door, as well as the seams in any windows that can open. This sealing of the doors/windows is to keep any nuclear fallout (nuke snow) from permeating the air inside.....if it turns out to be "the big one".

Turn on the Emergency radio & weather radio, and see if I can get any info/news on what's going on in the area....

Then, wake the wife up and communicate things w/ her....

My five minutes is up. (and I've worked up a sweat......)

 

[ThrottleJockey]

I think the safe gets opened and defensive tools get handed out to those old enough to handle them. BOBs at the ready along with some other gear not usually grabbed if in a hurry.....Now here is where it starts to get a little different for me, I think I would post myself somewhere high up and away from the house....perimeter established, begin patrols.....keep situational awareness at it's highest at this point because we really don't know WTF is going on, we only know it is pretty big. Don't eliminate any options at this point and more importantly, don't let someone else eliminate them either.