“I’d just spoken to Tim yesterday about organizing such a meeting, but hoped it wouldn’t have been under these circumstances.” John sighed, hating this next part. “I know wild rumors have been floating around since the power went out about what’s causing all this. I also know many of you are keenly aware this isn’t your ordinary grid-down scenario. I spent close to ten years in the military, experiencing things I don’t care to mention so none of you would ever have to. Seems all that was for naught. I believe that two days ago our country was hit with something called an EMP.”
The crowd began to murmur.
“In short, gamma rays from the detonation of a high-altitude nuclear missile caused an oscillating electric current and in turn an electromagnetic pulse which wiped out all electronic devices within a huge blast radius. A single missile exploding four hundred miles over Kansas would be enough to knock out every electrical device over the continental United States. Apart from a solar flare, I can’t think of anything else that would stop cars and fry cells phones and computers all at once.”
“We’ve been nuked?” Peter said incredulously. He’d been the one to bring blankets to the Hectors this morning.
“If I’m right, then it looks that way,” John told him. “But I wanna caution all of you that without some sort of confirmation from the military, we shouldn’t assume we’re at war. I tried telling you folks earlier, but my words fell on deaf ears.”
“It’s so hard to believe,” a neighbor named Rose Myers exclaimed.
“But we haven’t seen the worst of it yet,” John went on. “Most homes in major cities have a few days’ worth of food and water. Once that’s done, it’s only a question of time before the rule of law completely breaks down.”
“The water’s already stopped,” Al said. “Tried my tap this morning and only a few drops came out.”
“There’s still water in your pipes and in your water heaters,” John said. “It’s important when we’re done here that at least one member of your household be in charge of collecting what’s there. It’s also important moving forward that any water consumed be boiled first, since the treatment facility likely stopped working before the water was cut off. Now we can’t save all of Sequoyah Hills, but we can at least help protect those of us on Willow Creek Drive. I propose we immediately move to elect a committee of six men and women to make decisions on securing our street.”
“Why don’t we just vote on everything?” Peter asked.
John shook his head. “Having to assemble everyone on the street to make decisions will cripple us. It’s best to have a small governing body who can then disseminate the decisions.
“Each member of the committee will be responsible for a different area. Food-gathering, water filtration, security. That sort of stuff. The remaining residents will be divided under committee leaders and tasked with carrying out specific jobs.”
“Sounds to me from the way you’re talking like you won’t be in the committee?” Al asked John.
“I’d prefer not to,” he told them. “But I’m happy to help in any other way I can.”
Paul Hector came forward. “My family was almost murdered last night. I had to hand over all the food we had to criminals. What’ll happen when they return and I have nothing left to give them? We need someone with military experience on the committee.”
Everyone present agreed. John shrugged. He could see Diane in the crowd and she didn’t seem thrilled by the idea, but there was little else they could do. Things were getting worse, no doubt, but the situation wasn’t bad enough to bug out and leave all these people to fend for themselves. Not yet at least. John swallowed hard. “For now, I’m happy to act as an advisor to the committee until we secure the area.”
That seemed to satisfy people.
“Willow Creek is a cul-de-sac,” John went on. “There’s one way in by car and one way in by foot from the park at the other end of the street. I suggest while we’re assembling the committee and having our first meeting, the rest of you push stalled cars and trucks in the way to create a roadblock where Willow Creek meets Pine Grove and a barricade and checkpoint at the cul-de-sac by the park.” He looked to Peter. “Would you mind overseeing that?”
Peter nodded. “I’m on it.”
John turned to Al. “Now we gotta figure out who’s on this committee.”
Chapter 16
There had been talk of voting people onto what was quickly becoming known as the Willow Creek committee, but with everyone scrambling to create the barricades and gather what water they could, it was left to John to decide.
Gregory had joined the group at the corner of Willow Creek and Pine Grove while Emma had disappeared into the house. News of the attack on Brandon and his family had been hard on her.
“I don’t like having this much power,” John told Al and Diane, who had followed him back to the house.
“I know, honey, but it won’t be for long.”
John wasn’t convinced of that.
“You tried to back out and they wouldn’t let you,” Al told him. “It’s not like you were vying for it.”
“That’s the problem. When people are frightened, they have a tendency to hand over all their power to the first person who stands up.”
Al put his hands on his hips. “Well, we better get to work figuring out who’s on this committee before they elect you king.”
All three of them laughed uneasily.
“I don’t want anyone with a political background,” John said.
“Is that why you didn’t want me talking to Dan Foster when I mentioned him during the block party?”
“That was one reason. I know he worked in the mayor’s office once, but the last thing we need is anyone who’ll be inclined to game the system for their own advantage.”
“Well, that’s rather cynical,” Diane said.
“I’m not saying Dan’s corrupt,” John clarified. “Let’s face it, whether we like it or not, politics nowadays has become a game. Doesn’t really matter if you’re working for the local mayor or the president. I simply want to avoid anyone who’ll be inclined to play politics when what we really need in the next few days is solid action.”
“I see your point,” Al said and Diane nodded too. “We also don’t want people who’ve never had to make a hard decision in their entire lives.”
“Good point,” John said. “Opinionated is all right too, so long as they can provide a solution to the problem they bring up. I don’t want a dysfunctional group of people complaining to one another. I think we need to break this down into sectors and recommend someone who has experience in that given area.”
Diane seemed to think that was a great idea. “Food management, clean water.”
“Those are two big ones,” John said. “We also need security, health.”
“What about someone to liaise with other communities and local authorities?” Al added.
“And information,” Diane said. “People want to know what’s going on in other parts of the city, maybe even the country. We should have a group dedicated to gathering info and keeping the rest of us updated.”
John nodded. “Yeah, and I hate to say it, but that information they collect will need to be vetted first.”
“Really, John?” Al said, recoiling. “That sounds an awful lot like censorship to me.”
“I think the First Amendment’s important, believe me, but with so many rumors flying about, it doesn’t do us any good to spread anything that we can’t substantiate. I don’t want these people believing the National Guard’s about to swoop in and save us if most of the troops have gone home to protect their own families.”
“We’ll be heading down a slippery slope,” Al said, looking at both of them.