Sharon Cardino loved to read. One of her favorite genres was post-apocalyptic fiction, and she read about the end of the world and those trying to survive often. She never thought she'd need to draw on the knowledge she'd gained from those books for her own survival. Or anyone else's. Sharon and Dan Connelly are returning with their fifth-grade classes from a five-day camping trip when the warning is given. They pulled into the school and immediately hear the news; nuclear war has begun. Knowing there isn't much time to prepare, they rush anyone that has nowhere else to go inside and take shelter in the school basement. Sharon and Dan get lucky. The people that they're stranded with have many of the skills they'll need to survive. George is an electrician and Patrick and environmental engineer. Between the two they know how to get the green energy systems going, Mark is a contractor and can build or fix just about anything with the right tools, and Charles has just left the military and will take care of their security. Over the next few months, they'll face many obstacles, including a terrible gang that kidnaps and sells women and children. They'll have to work together to secure the area to keep them safe as many people join their group. They're determined to live an honest life and build a new community, or die trying