The sun eruption is far larger than expected, affecting the entire globe. Power grids are down for years, and all things with electronics in them are also badly damaged, so vehicles of any kind no longer function. With no power, there is no water service or wells running, and in cities, it becomes a fight to survive that become a nightmare. This story follows a family of three that are new to the area and living in a new subdivision over ten miles from the city limits. Only a few homes are occupied, and for reasons later discovered, the family finds themselves the only family there after the CMEs arrive. The event occurs in July, and summers are quite hot where they are, and the husband, Ethan, labors daily to build things they need to survive. Ethan had reasons to believe that it would be years and not hours that the power would be off, and he left work to buy many items he felt would be needed, and they really were key to their early survival.
The family is not alone forever, and two small families arrive over time, so their adventure continues, becoming more exciting in totally unexpected ways. They not only survive but thrive and prepare for more families that would eventually arrive by the fourth or fifth year. The addition of more adults and many more children create more challenges, and their adventure continues as an isolated community.