36 Hours: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Fiction Series by Bobby Akart
Authors: Bobby Akart
Tags: Science-Fiction, adventure, Literature & Fiction, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, War & Military, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Religion & Spirituality, Christian fiction, futuristic, Teen & Young Adult, post apocalyptic, Dystopian, Christian Books & Bibles, Mysteries & Thrillers
Ads: Link
damaged.”
“Kathryn, how is this information different from this morning’s NSA briefing?” she asked.
“Madame President, the timing of these events determines the impact on Earth. As of eight this morning, we were able to provide a fairly accurate analysis of the strength of the incoming solar ejection. Now, with an additional four hours of data, we can predict the probable sphere of impact.”
“Don’t leave me hanging here,” said the President, growing impatient.
Secretary Sullivan continued. “Based on Earth’s relative positioning and our proximity to the fall equinox, we are predicting a direct hit to the northern hemisphere around twenty-three hundred hours.”
The President remained silent for a moment. She spun in her chair and glanced out into the Rose Garden. “Do we have a protocol for this?”
“We do, Madame President,” replied Secretary Blumenthal. “The Space Weather Preparedness Strategy, or SWPS, was adopted by the prior administration in late 2015 to prepare, respond to, and recover from potentially devastating space weather events.”
“That’s admirable,” she interrupted. “What do the guidelines suggest?”
“The first step establishes the magnitude of the space weather event, and then we craft a response at the federal, state, and local level. Protection efforts would include assuring continuity of government, minimizing risks to our critical national infrastructure, and managing societal reaction to the event’s aftermath.”
“Well, at this point, I hardly see a need to implement martial law.” She laughed in her own unique way. “I think it’s important to figure out how we notify appropriate agencies without causing widespread panic. We do have to do everything we can, however.”
“Madame President, if I may,” interjected her Chief Political Advisor. “There is an action plan in place per the SWPS. Whether the next ten hours is sufficient time to implement it is not for me to decide. At this point, the media is beginning to drive the narrative. The British print media led the way early this morning, and now the cable news outlets are parading their experts out to the televisions of millions of Americans.”
“Okay, I get it,” said the President. “We need to issue a statement, and I assume you have a draft copy in the works.”
“I do,” he replied.
“Then how do we issue a public warning without causing widespread panic?”
“This is an issue that has been raised regarding the threat of near-Earth objects, NEOs, like asteroids,” replied Secretary Sullivan. “A key issue associated with the hazard from NEOs is that the length of time needed to implement a mitigation plan is affected by the accuracy of the trajectory of the NEO. In the case of a solar flare, whether a geomagnetic storm warning should be issued or not depends on the data received from our satellites. In this case, we were given nearly twenty hours’ notice of the solar event, but only ten hours’ notice of the probability of impact.”
“In other words, if we issue the order to prepare prematurely, we could unduly cause fear to the public,” said the President. “But if we wait too long, then the mitigation strategy will be for naught.”
“Madame President, I’ve been in contact with Dr. Dennis Mileti, a professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder,” said Secretary Sullivan. “He’s been a consultant to the SWPC in Boulder.”
“What does he think?” the President asked.
Secretary Sullivan summarized. “Dr. Mileti is of the opinion there are several myths associated with providing the general public warning of an impending disaster. The first myth is panic. He believes the fear of instilling public panic has repeatedly constrained providing an endangered public with effective warnings. It typically leads to downplaying risks, which robs the public of both the time and the motivation they need to act.”
“People panic easily,” interjected the Chief
“Kathryn, how is this information different from this morning’s NSA briefing?” she asked.
“Madame President, the timing of these events determines the impact on Earth. As of eight this morning, we were able to provide a fairly accurate analysis of the strength of the incoming solar ejection. Now, with an additional four hours of data, we can predict the probable sphere of impact.”
“Don’t leave me hanging here,” said the President, growing impatient.
Secretary Sullivan continued. “Based on Earth’s relative positioning and our proximity to the fall equinox, we are predicting a direct hit to the northern hemisphere around twenty-three hundred hours.”
The President remained silent for a moment. She spun in her chair and glanced out into the Rose Garden. “Do we have a protocol for this?”
“We do, Madame President,” replied Secretary Blumenthal. “The Space Weather Preparedness Strategy, or SWPS, was adopted by the prior administration in late 2015 to prepare, respond to, and recover from potentially devastating space weather events.”
“That’s admirable,” she interrupted. “What do the guidelines suggest?”
“The first step establishes the magnitude of the space weather event, and then we craft a response at the federal, state, and local level. Protection efforts would include assuring continuity of government, minimizing risks to our critical national infrastructure, and managing societal reaction to the event’s aftermath.”
“Well, at this point, I hardly see a need to implement martial law.” She laughed in her own unique way. “I think it’s important to figure out how we notify appropriate agencies without causing widespread panic. We do have to do everything we can, however.”
“Madame President, if I may,” interjected her Chief Political Advisor. “There is an action plan in place per the SWPS. Whether the next ten hours is sufficient time to implement it is not for me to decide. At this point, the media is beginning to drive the narrative. The British print media led the way early this morning, and now the cable news outlets are parading their experts out to the televisions of millions of Americans.”
“Okay, I get it,” said the President. “We need to issue a statement, and I assume you have a draft copy in the works.”
“I do,” he replied.
“Then how do we issue a public warning without causing widespread panic?”
“This is an issue that has been raised regarding the threat of near-Earth objects, NEOs, like asteroids,” replied Secretary Sullivan. “A key issue associated with the hazard from NEOs is that the length of time needed to implement a mitigation plan is affected by the accuracy of the trajectory of the NEO. In the case of a solar flare, whether a geomagnetic storm warning should be issued or not depends on the data received from our satellites. In this case, we were given nearly twenty hours’ notice of the solar event, but only ten hours’ notice of the probability of impact.”
“In other words, if we issue the order to prepare prematurely, we could unduly cause fear to the public,” said the President. “But if we wait too long, then the mitigation strategy will be for naught.”
“Madame President, I’ve been in contact with Dr. Dennis Mileti, a professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder,” said Secretary Sullivan. “He’s been a consultant to the SWPC in Boulder.”
“What does he think?” the President asked.
Secretary Sullivan summarized. “Dr. Mileti is of the opinion there are several myths associated with providing the general public warning of an impending disaster. The first myth is panic. He believes the fear of instilling public panic has repeatedly constrained providing an endangered public with effective warnings. It typically leads to downplaying risks, which robs the public of both the time and the motivation they need to act.”
“People panic easily,” interjected the Chief
Similar Books
