MNN - Mother Nature Network

We'll experience a shortage of perishable items in only three days. For smaller stores, only one or two days.

Consumer fear and panic will make shortages worse. (Remember how empty the shelves in the stores become before a snow storm? It takes retailers up to three days to recover from a run on supplies.)

News of shortages will spur hoarding.

Drinking water supplies will run dry in two to four weeks. On average, trucks deliver purification chemicals to water plants about every seven to 14 days. Without truck deliveries of these chemicals, there will be no drinkable water within 14 to 28 days. Lack of clean drinking water will lead to illnesses.

Health care providers and consumers rely on the delivery of medications and health care supplies to hospitals, pharmacies, nursing homes and other facilities. Trucks deliver nearly all of these.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources, over-the-road commercial transportation is as important to life and death to the patient as hands-on medical care.

Many hospitals don't order supplies such as syringes and catheters until they are depleted. Without trucks to deliver them, within just a few hours, hospitals won't be able to supply critical patient care.

According to the Medical Materials Coordinating Group of the Dept. of U.S. Health and Human Services, there are not enough medical supplies in any local area to support a large scale medical emergency.

There will be no food for hospitals and nursing homes in as little as 24 hours because these facilities lack significant warehousing capabilities.

Pharmacies will run out of prescription drugs because they depend on receiving deliveries daily.

Hospital oxygen supplies will be deplted within seven to ten days.

Truck stoppage would also affect all other modes of transportation. Trucks deliver fuel to rail yards, airports and service stations.

Service stations will run out of fuel in just one to two days.

Without access to automobiles, there will be labor shortages and economic collapse

Without fuel, emergency public service vehicles will be paralyzed, jeopardizing public safety.

Mail won't be delivered.

Garbage will pile up creating a health hazard.

Waste processing facilities will be unable to operate equipment such as backhoes and incinerators.

Within days, Americans will be buried in garbage with serious health and environmental consequences, creating breeding grounds for microorganisms, insects and vermin.

Hazardous material and medical waste will introduce toxins and infectious diseases.

Food waste, animal waste, slaughtered animal byproducts, overripe fruits and vegetables will create toxic conditions.

Biological pathogens, radioactive materials and hazardous chemicals will be released into the soil, water and atmosphere.