Finances in a "small"/temporary TEOTWAWKI

[Arzosah]

What got me started thinking was this. Instead of doing the work I had planned this morning, I've spent it on international communications about taxes, in relation to a little one-bed flat I half-own in France; the French authorities have been very dozy about sending out tax bills this year, and I've recovered the situation, but I'm still waiting on emails from various bodies before I send over the dosh - which is sitting there waiting.

So, first thing, my prepping worked! I knew this bill was coming, and I'm chasing up the authorities, so I don't get landed with a fine for non-payment, because of their mistake. So far, so good.

But what about a medium scale SHTF scenario? Whatever it is! One of those EMPs , a volcano, zombies, a virus from space that eats electricity for all I care . If something causes havoc, but our current assets and liabilities are restored after 3 months or so ... what happens? Does anybody know anything about the financial implications of a temporary event?

Its not eating me up, but after two hours playing catch-up, I just wondered ... off to do some googling myself now, and I'll report what I find, I just wondered if somebody already knew anything. I know we'd have bigger fish to fry while the event was on, like staying alive but afterwards..... afterwards always arrives, somehow!

[itsybitsy]

But what about a medium scale SHTF scenario? Whatever it is! One of those EMPs , a volcano, zombies, a virus from space that eats electricity for all I care !

There is virus from space that EATS electricity?!?

[pseudonym]

But what about a medium scale SHTF scenario? Whatever it is! One of those EMPs , a volcano, zombies, a virus from space that eats electricity for all I care !

There is virus from space that EATS electricity?!?

Shocking







I'll get my coat

[Arzosah]

stoppit, you two

[TorNicho]

But what about a medium scale SHTF scenario? Whatever it is! One of those EMPs , a volcano, zombies, a virus from space that eats electricity for all I care !

There is virus from space that EATS electricity?!?

This may seem weird, however I have seen a program covering these ants which are attracted to electric fields, and have subsequently taken out power sub-stations, blacking out areas of towns.

[Maddie_cat]

But what about a medium scale SHTF scenario? Whatever it is! One of those EMPs , a volcano, zombies, a virus from space that eats electricity for all I care !

There is virus from space that EATS electricity?!?

With ketchup or brown sauce?

[Zai]

But what about a medium scale SHTF scenario? Whatever it is! One of those EMPs , a volcano, zombies, a virus from space that eats electricity for all I care . If something causes havoc, but our current assets and liabilities are restored after 3 months or so ... what happens? Does anybody know anything about the financial implications of a temporary event?

I for one, prep for a short-term event (which my SO and I codename "zee-day") as there really hasn't been a prolonged disaster event in recent UK history that wasn't sorted out and order restored within a few days. I have radios for communication and enough food and defensive stuff to last a couple of weeks maximum.

As far as EMP is concerned, Faraday cages all the way, baby. I have my radios and one of my ancient mobile phones + charger stored in one just in case.

[TwoDo]

But what about a medium scale SHTF scenario? .... If something causes havoc, but our current assets and liabilities are restored after 3 months or so ... what happens? Does anybody know anything about the financial implications of a temporary event?

IMHO, I think you may be underestimating the fragility of our society. The only way that the above scenario represents a medium SHTF scenario is if the outage is localized. In that case it is highly improbable the financial system will be inoperable for three months. The resources of the rest of the country could be drawn on to put things right.

On the other hand, if the financial system shuts down nationally for three months to the extent that mortgage payments cannot be processed, then making the back payments will be the least of the worries we have. After three days, shelves in the food stores will be empty. Even assuming the refill requests from the stores can even reach the central computer which organizes the distributions nobody will import food into the UK (or transport it within the UK) without cleared payment. After three weeks with no ability to process payments electronically, the petrol stations and postal deliveries will have shutdown and there will massive effects on our organizational structure. Full martial law will have almost certainly have been declared and the troops would be on the streets to cope with widespread riots and looting. Three months of no financial processing nationally would imply a full on SHTF scenario and by that time the death toll (IMHO) would already be in the millions.

Consider this. The recent London riots were bad enough, but essentially those people were just bored - not particularly hungry. If the financial system shuts down to the point where mortgages cannot be paid, then the dole money will not be paid out either (it is all remitted electronically ) and the S will HTF with an epic bang.

To be honest the SHTF scenario you describe is not all that improbable - it has happened before. For those that don't know Google up the Carrington event of 1859

[Zai]

Google up the Carrington event of 1859

Without commenting on anything else you said, which all sounds well thought out and perfectly plausible, on a side note: don't fret about solar flares. This solar maximum is a pale shadow of those in the past, and experts think we might be heading for a period similar to the Maunder Minimum where the Sun goes to sleep for a century or so.