One Second After by William R. Forstchen is something that everyone should read, and that goes double for all preppers out there.
This novel takes John Matherson, a retired U.S. Army Colonel who at the time is teaching History at the University and his life after disaster hits the country. The idea of the book is that the countries entire power grid has been taken out by an EMP bomb, a nuclear war head detonated above the earths atmosphere that over loads not only the power grid, but renders everything that uses electricity, microchips, everything plugged into a socket useless. That even goes for running water. The time line spans a year from day one when the bomb goes off to one year after.
Enough about the plot now, the whole idea and what I see coming from a preppers perspective this will cover a lot of points that might not cross ones mind. The first being our societies complete and total dependence on electronics and how we've totally failed to protect these things. Even if North Korea doesn't push the button, China is very aware of this vulnerability as is Russia, and Iran.
Even if this scenarios doesn't play out, there is a lot of valuable information here to make you think of things that might not come to mind during prepping for any disaster. The biggest one in my opinion is outside forces. Sure you can store food, water, medical supplies as well as bullets. But if everything is cut off, no more trucks delivering supplies, what happens to hospitals, retirement homes, prisons, and those who are on anxiety, depression and other medications when it all runs out. Not only that, but seeing when cigarettes run out, coffee, and addicts looking to take advantage of the situation. It will be an extra tax on a person in the event. Also, if this were to happen, the planes falling out the sky and the forest fires that are no longer manageable because there are no fire trucks able to get to the area or even pressurized water.
The hardest part of the book for me is when Johns 12 year daughter with Type 1 diabetes dies due to the insulin running out. After that having to kill one of his dogs to supply meat for his other daughter who is 3 months pregnant. Then seeing how people once in high and powerful positions reduced to beggars as their livelihoods are whipped out in just one second. No more computers, no more cell phones and a million other things that we take for granted that will essentially cease to exist.
My take away, again even if it doesn't happen like that, being here in an earthquake prone area, the things to consider here are the ultimate check list for preppers and what to expect and try to prepare in not only physical ways, but emotionally as well. I encourage you take a look and check this one out. The red pill is of course included and let me know what you think.