Forty-Nine Doomsday Chapter 42: The Grim Situation

"Emergency seminar regarding the fourth Doomsday Rule begins now!"

At the Doomsday Rules Countermeasures Research Office conference room, director Gao Liangwei announced with a serious expression.

"This is a survival rule similar to the first one, Sleep Deprivation, and extremely dangerous! If we don't properly prepare, many people could die!"

"Exactly, while this Snow in June rule appears to only require staying indoors, the transportation of food and other supplies is actually a major problem!" said a meteorological expert.

"Many of you who used to watch weather forecasts might know that snowfall is classified into six levels: light snow, moderate snow, heavy snow, snowstorm, severe snowstorm, and extreme snowstorm. My assistants and I just conducted observations using instruments for a period of time and confirmed this snowfall will reach the extreme snowstorm level of 30 millimeters within 24 hours!"

"It might even exceed extreme snowstorm levels! Because this is an extreme snowstorm under Doomsday Rules—the snowfall won't diminish at all for an entire month!"

The meteorological expert's voice trembled slightly as he spoke.

"This means that without human intervention, the snow accumulation on the streets outside will exceed 50 centimeters by this time tomorrow!"

After the meteorological expert finished speaking, everyone present gasped sharply.

Fifty centimeters of snow accumulation in just one day—what kind of concept was that? One step and you'd sink up to your knees!

And this was just one day's accumulation, while the entire rule would last for thirty days...

"This kind of extreme snowstorm will severely impact public transportation!" said a transportation expert. "I'm afraid transportation everywhere will be suspended, with only a very few underground rail lines still operational."

A logistics expert spoke up: "Has everyone considered that with such deep snow accumulation, transport vehicles won't be able to move? How will we transport daily necessities for the public? Right now, large numbers of people rely on the Livelihood Security Bureau for free food and other supplies. If transportation stops, they could starve to death!"

"We can't ignore the temperature issue either," said a climate expert with a worried expression. "Continuous extreme snowstorms will quickly drop temperatures below freezing, but everyone remember—it's currently June! Originally, the weather should be gradually getting hotter. Every region is severely underprepared for winter insulation."

"Mental health issues also deserve attention. When people face such extreme environments long-term, their psychological states can rapidly deteriorate, potentially leading to self-harm or harm to others..."

"That damned Fire Thief! Did it deliberately choose this timing to release such a rule?"

"Transportation, logistics, temperature, supplies... there are just too many problems! This rule might be..."

The discussion gradually became chaotic, with everyone talking over each other.

Moreover, since many experts had rather pessimistic assessments of the situation, the entire conference room fell into a gloomy atmosphere.

"Everyone, stop!" Director Gao Liangwei's voice cut through firmly. "It's not time to give up yet!"

His words immediately silenced everyone.

"I know the situation is severe, but don't forget where you are. This is the Countermeasures Research Office established with massive national resources. Its very purpose is to help our citizens face the challenges brought by the rules. If even all of you panic, what will happen to our citizens?"

After Gao Liangwei finished speaking, everyone nodded in agreement, their spirits lifting. The previously pessimistic atmosphere in the conference room completely vanished, and various experts began offering practical, effective suggestions.

One logistics expert said: "Based on my many years of experience in logistics, to ensure high efficiency, the best approach is concentrated resource distribution."

A disaster relief expert agreed: "Exactly. In this situation, dispersing transport capacity would only delay rescue efforts. The urgent priority is to gather people from various areas into large buildings for centralized shelter. Only by transporting large quantities of survival resources there uniformly can we maximize rescue coverage."

Someone mentioned upon hearing this: "What about remote villages and such places, I'm afraid..."

The disaster relief and logistics experts fell silent.

In this context, silence undoubtedly meant abandonment.

Everyone clearly understood that given the current situation, ensuring rescue operations for densely populated major cities would already be extremely difficult, let alone remote areas with inconvenient road access.

Gao Liangwei said: "Continue."

Various experts continued offering constructive suggestions.

"To reduce snow's impact on roads, I believe we must deploy large numbers of snowplows working around the clock."

"Although this is an extreme snowstorm, the wind isn't very strong. Perhaps we could deploy helicopters for low-altitude flights, continuously spreading large quantities of salt and snow-melting agents on the ground to assist cleanup and reduce snow accumulation."

"Don't forget to consider power issues!" said an electricity expert seriously. "With the sudden temperature drop, people will heavily and collectively use air conditioners, electric blankets, water heaters, and other equipment for warmth. This will cause electricity consumption to surge everywhere, potentially overloading power plants! Plus, over time, thick snow accumulation might collapse some power cables... If various factors lead to unbearable loads causing blackouts, the consequences would be unimaginable!"

Everyone nodded deeply upon hearing this. Indeed, in modern society, prolonged blackouts would cause public panic no less than some disasters.

"Water faces the same situation," said another expert. "The sudden temperature drop might cause numerous water pipes to freeze and crack. If water supplies are cut off, that would also create major problems."

"And there's cold protection items. It's currently June, so many people probably haven't prepared cold-weather clothing. Rescue supplies should include such items besides food."

"The Ascension Store does have a Constant Temperature Tech Underwear..."

"Most Ascendants have purchased Gene Optimization Fluid and simply don't have enough Ascension Coins to buy underwear. Besides, that underwear can only provide constant temperature for up to six hours per day, leaving eighteen hours remaining! It can only serve as emergency use."

After the experts each expressed their opinions and proposed response methods for specific problems, they all looked toward Director Gao Liangwei, waiting for his final decision.

Gao Liangwei said solemnly: "Time is urgent. Everyone immediately input the various situations and response methods—personnel concentration, road cleanup, supply transportation, water and electricity management, cold protection, etc.—into the computers. The recorder will compile them into an electronic manual to distribute and transmit to emergency response departments everywhere, so they can conduct rescue operations according to the manual."

After speaking, he paused and added: "As the military representative and director in this research office, I'll add one more thing. Every building where citizens are centrally sheltered must have an armed squad equipped with military weapons stationed there."

Everyone looked at Gao Liangwei in surprise upon hearing this.

Gao Liangwei's expression was stern, his gaze sharp as he said: "Has everyone forgotten what happened during the first rule? Don't overestimate human nature. Back then, some people dared to harm others to obtain Alertness Mints. Now they'll similarly dare to do so for survival supplies. At critical moments, having armed squads present can suppress these people's restless violent intentions."