If an Apocalyptic Event Occurred, Which Service Would Be the First to Go?

When considering the impact of an apocalyptic event, communication is often the first service to fail. This can include the internet, cell phones, and television. In fact, communication breakdowns are a common theme in many hypothetical disasters scenarios, often depicted in fiction and non-fiction alike.

Communication and Internet

The internet, while seemingly ubiquitous, may not be the first to falter. However, the current reliance on digital infrastructure is significant. The COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, highlighted how vulnerable modern economies are to even partial shutdowns. Yet, if an event were to hit 80% of the world's population, the situation would be far more severe.

Essential Services in a Catastrophe

In the event of such a wide-scale disaster, communication issues are just the tip of the iceberg. Vital services like utilities, grocery stores, truck drivers, chip manufacturers, police, firefighters, hospitals, and more would quickly crumble. With a substantial portion of these essential workers disappearing or incapacitated, even the buildings that remain standing would be left without the manpower to maintain them.

Without electricity, water, and gas, civilization would fall apart rapidly. Unoccupied homes and buildings would deteriorate or even burn down. Crime rates would soar, and communities would fragment, leading to a breakdown of social order. It's likely that those remaining would retreat to smaller, more sustainable communities, fostering a sense of local resilience.

Real-World Examples

Even in specific, localized disasters, communication and essential services are often the first to fail. For instance, during the cyclone Tracey in 1974, the primary failure was electrical power, which led to a cascade of other failures: no water supply, no sewerage, and no functioning fuel stations or open shops. This scenario is a stark reminder of the critical interdependence of our modern systems.

Survival and How People Adapt

Most apocalyptic scenarios that involve severe human casualties, whether from a pandemic, radiation, natural disasters, or other catastrophic events, will result in a complete breakdown of societal structures. This is because these events impact the people who run and maintain these systems. Whether it's paramedics, police, power station staff, food delivery drivers, water engineers, and countless other roles, the absence of a significant portion of the workforce will disrupt everything.

The sole exception to this rule might be a Carrington event – massive solar flares that could potentially fry our electrical systems. While such an event would cause immediate and extensive damage, the human impact would likely be less severe. Planes would crash, vehicles would stall, and medical facilities might face challenges, but the overall death toll could be lower compared to other apocalyptic scenarios.

Conclusion

In summary, if an apocalyptic event were to strike, the first service to go would not just be the internet or cell phones, but a much broader range of essential services. Understanding this can help in preparing for such scenarios, whether it's planning for local communities to support each other or mitigating the impact of digital infrastructure failures.