Commonwealth of Susquehanna (1983: Doomsday)

Susquehanna, officially the Commonwealth of Susquehanna, is a country located in the former US state of Pennsylvania.

Pre Doomsday
Bloomsburg was a small town before Doomsday. It had a population of approximately 7890 citizens before the nuclear war.

Doomsday
On Doomsday, the town was not targeted. It was approximately 40 miles south west of Wilkes Barre/Scranton.

Many of the people in the area were watching the 35th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards when they received news of the war. People panicked and began to flee. The local governments moved police and fire departments out and attempted to contain the situation.

Before many people could flee, or attempt to escape, the EMP blast struck the area and wiped out the local communities.

Radiation and fallout luckily missed the town due to wind that was blowing west at the time. The mayor and emergency teams received reports of the war. The town triggered air-raid sirens to evacuate the town. People panicked and attempted to evacuate. The interstate was soon clogged with people attempting to flee the town.

The citizens felt the impact as the bombs struck the cities of Wilkes Barre and Scranton. Many fled to the town fallout shelters or attempted to flee the town.

Aftershock
After doomsday, much of the population of Berwick, Bloomsburg, and a few surrounding communities fled, fearing an explosion at the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station. The communities were spared from a flood of refugees due to similar concerns.

By early 1984, the population of Bloomsburg stood at 4,297; Berwick stood at 2,473; and surrounding communities were 3,790 people.

The mayors and town boards met to discuss the situation in October of 1983 to discuss the upcoming winter, food, electricity for the hospital, supplies and defense.

The towns begin to ration food, and the Army National Guard unit (contingent of 250 men) begin to regularly patrol the area.

Few refugees made it to any of the towns. One hundred thirty six survivors made it to Berwick, and another two hundred ninety one made it to surrounding communities. Scout groups sent to the ruins of Wilks Barre and Scranton found thousands of bodies on the roads and in the woods surrounding the cities.

It is assumed that most didn't feel that either city would be struck until it was too late. Many skeletons in cars and other vehicles were found in a pile up about a mile outside of each respective city. Multiple small aircraft were found, normally surrounded by a burned out patch of land.

Two small jets managed to land at the Bloomsburg Area Airport, crash landing. Both aircraft were put in storage due to their condition.

Exploration
By spring, the population of the area had dwindled to less than 7000 people. A group of civilians wanted to explore surrounding communities. A group of ten soldiers, a medic and 28 armed civilians begin to explore the surrounding communities, and found Mount Carmel sacked and burned. The explores estimated that less than 200 people lived in the town under barbaric conditions. When the group attempted to enter the town, shots were fired at the group, so they left the area.

Next the explorers went to Elysburg, and found the town still functioning, but in need of food and medical supplies. The travelers gave them food and water. The mayor of the town requested a meeting with the Mayor of Bloomsburg to discuss a possible union.

Danville was found to be in a similar situation as Mount Carmel was, with most of the population either dead, or gone. The town was claimed by Bloomsburg.

In late 1985 the leaders of the towns realized that there was no aid coming. Sparse reports from a HAM radio salvaged told them that the government had left the nation before it died. Marauders were becoming a serious issue with several raids that sacked Milton. The town was abandoned in early 1986.

Starvation
One major issue that came to light immediately after Doomsday was food, water, and medical care. Most of the stores had been raided immediately as soon as the power was cut. The towns that would form Susquehanna handled the situation in different ways.

Bloomsburg immediately sent police and guards to protect the stores from looters, then rationed the food until springtime, but that lead to many deaths anyway, cutting the population down by quite a bit.

It is believed that Danville lost control of the situation, and the town collapsed after the power was cut.

All of the stores in Berwick were looted with the police unable to stop it, and in some cases, joining it. That lead to a severe food shortage, ad less than a quarter of the population lived to see the new year.

After a rough winter, the population in the area had plummeted due to starvation, hypothermia, and fleeing refugees.

Although the summer was hotter than usual, this prevented flooding from occurring. By 1985, the communities had enough food to support the population.

Decisions
The towns had not formed any government, having each town like a small city-state. Each had farms, and a militia for defense, but they were lacking many supplies. In early 1991 the mayors and town councils met and put up a referendum for the people.

New Union
Each town voted whether to unify and declare independence from the United States and secede, declare independence as a provisional government, or remain at status quo. The voted were overwhelmingly to form a provisional government.

On July 4th, 1991 the Provisional Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was formed as a successor state to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The towns unified into the previous county structure, with Mount Carmel repopulated and forming the county seat of Schukill County. The capitol city was voted as Bloomsburg since it had the most infrastructure and was centrally located.

New Year
By the turn of the millennium, the provisional commonwealth had managed to acquire enough food and farms to be self-sufficient, and surplus for storage and trade. Many people were curious about the outside world and two expedition groups had been sent out earlier.

Outside Contact
In mid 1999 after eradicating small gangs in the area, an exploration unit using two pre-Doomsday improvised armored cars, was sent west. They were given a radio unit and rifles. Another, smaller team was sent south by foot. In early 2000 the southward group had returned, after discovering the nation of Reading. Areas south between the provisional government and Reading was sketchy with warlords and gangs dominating the area.

By late 2000, the second group had returned after discovering State College and North Pennsylvania. These discoveries excited the people that there were other survivor states in the former nation of the USA.

Although not long later, a man leaked news to the public that secretly in 1992 the government had sent ten explorers west. They never returned which is why the nation put off exportation for so long.

Independence
But many were saddened to hear the news in early 2005 that the United States of America in-exile had dissolved in the late 1990's. When this new reached the ears of the Provisional Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government, they officially formed the Commonwealth of Susquehanna, with the namesake being the Susquehanna River, a vital waterway in the nation.

On September 12, 2005 the government of the Provisional Commonwealth of Pennsylvania officially retired the American Flag and Pennsylvania State Flag, and raised the Commonwealth of Susquehanna Flag. It was a yellow flag with a blue vertical bar on either end, and the former Pennsylvania State flag emblem emblazoned in the center of the yellow.

The fledgling nation also recognized State College as the successor state to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Today, though, the American Flag is flown on July 4th, alongside the former Pennsylvanian State Flag, and alone on September 23 at half staff to honor the victims of the Third World War, and Doomsday.

New Industry
In 2008 after eradicating surrounding gangs (With aid, weapons and support from State College), the Commonwealth begin to heavily invest in repairing infrastructure, industry, and communications. The first coal mine opened in March of 2009 and the first iron mine in June of the same year.

The Montour Coal Power Plant that had been abandoned after doomsday but, after looking into it, much of the equipment is sill there, just needing rewired or repaired. Some people want to do that to become less reliant on outside power sources. Some light repair work has been done including repairing the steam towers and smoke stacks, and laying new rail lines into the facility.

Steel, cement and asphalt were all produced and used to build and repair railroad tracks, sidewalks, highways, and roads. Reconstruction of the pre-Doomsday primary internal infrastructure (Highways, Railroads, main Roadways) to is a current ongoing project, and complete infrastructure revitalization is expected by 2030.

Demographics
In the constitution, the government must take a census every five years starting in 2005. The census taken in 2010 show that there are 12,946 citizens in the Commonwealth. It is estimated that there are 42,431 people in the nation, after the union with Hazleton.

Currently the nation has a low population density of 40.5 people per square mile. Much of the population resides in the countryside tending farms and livestock. The most densely populated city is Hazleton, with over half of Wyoming County's population residing in the capital.

Government
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna is a democratic republic, with the people electing in a governor, a lieutenant governor, and representatives, in the form of the National Council.

Executive Branch
List of Governors of Commonwealth of Susquehanna (1983: Doomsday)

The Governor heads the executive branch wielding much of the power that the former President of the United States would have wielded, including the ability to declare war, sign bills into laws, pardon criminals, and other duties. He may serve for one term of five years.

The Lieutenant Governor can take over the power of the governor if he becomes incapacitated or dies in office. One difference that the Republic of Susquehanna has is that the candidate for governor with the second most amount of votes becomes the Lieutenant Governor.

The Governor of State College is recognized as the ceremonial governor due to the close ties between the nations.

Elections for the seat of Governor are held every five years, and the next one is due in 2015.

The current governor is Lou Barletta, who was elected in 2010. Barletta happened to be in the area on that fateful day. He was out visiting a construction site near Bloomsburg. When reports of a nuclear strike came in, they all fled to fallout shelters.

In the late 1990's, Lou Barletta decided to run for office as a representative on the town council of Bloomsburg. After sucessfully convincing many government officials that forming a sucessor state to a nonexistent nation was not treason, he became the head of the new legislative body. In 2010, after polls showed his popularity, he ran for and was sucessfully elected governor.

Legislative Branch
The National Council is the legislative branch of the Commonwealth, with two member per 1000 citizens in each county. There are 42 members as of 2012.

The National Council acts as the pre-Doomsday legislative branch in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. They pass the budget, can declare war, pass laws, and hold a committee.

Elections are held every five years for the Councilmen as they are called. Next election is to be in 2015.

Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch is arranged similar to the court system of Pennsylvania, with a bench of three Supreme Court judges, one from Montour County, one from Columbia County and one from either Sullivan County, Schukill County or Wyoming County.

Each county maintains their own county court for domestic disputes, theft, child custody arrangements, robbery, threats, assault, and other such types of cases.

The Commonwealth of Susquehanna Supreme Court handles larger cases, such as murder, armed robbery, terrorism, theft of military equipment, rape, and other types of larger scale crime.

The Supreme Court also handles appeals from the county court level.

The nation has abolished the death penalty, in favor of life in prison with hard labor. Life in prison has a different meaning in Susquehanna. There is no possibility of parole, and unless found medically in eligible, they are sentenced to hard labor. That includes repairing infrastructure, working in contaminated environments, building roads, bridges, and other structures, and any other task needed to be performed that is dangerous for most people to do it.

Political Parties
The Commonwealth has two major political parties: the Democratic Party, and the Republican Party. Both were formed pre-Doomsday and are currently the largest political parties in the nation. One party that is growing in size is the Unionist Party, who advocate reunification with the United States or a Pennsylvania survivor state in the near future.
 * Republican Party: Largest political party, based in Montour, Northumberland and Schuykill County. They follow a conservative political view believing in free market, small government aid, and low or no corporate taxes. They have 43% of the citizen population.
 * Democratic Party: Second largest political party. The Democrats stress welfare programs for the poor, high corporate taxes, and strong government regulations and laws. Strongholds in Berwick and Mount Carmel. 41% of citizens are registered as Democrats
 * Unionist Party: Growing political party with 8% of the population. This party stresses reunification with the United States or a Pennsylvania successor state as soon as possible, citing the small size of the nation, lack of modern infrastructure, small military, and the fact that the nation is smaller than many states. They have strongholds in Bloomsburg.
 * Libertarian Party: This party has 7% of the population, and has seen some growth in recent years. They advocate limited government interference in people's lives, leaving decisions, such as gun ownership and retirement security in the people's hands to prevent corruption and greed. They have a stronghold in Bloomsburg and Sullivan County.
 * Commonwealth Party: This party is seen as the successor to the former Social Democratic USA Party, and criticized as no different than the Soviet Union. Advocates push for free health care, and a strong, nationalized industry. This party is very small with approximately 1% of citizens registered as a Socialist. They are very scattered and many predict that the party will not last until 2020 at the current rate that they are losing membership.

Political Divisions
On May 3rd, 2014, the National Council announced the division of the Commonwealth of Susquehanna into counties. It was decided after the addition of western Luzerne County, and southern Sullivan County, it was the only way to stabilize the borders.

The county lines will be redrawn later, in an attempt to give each county a fair share of land. Currently, there are plans for five counties and one territory. The capital will be part of a county.

Economy
Much of the Commonwealth of Susquehanna's economy is based around agriculture, with 58% of the population engaged in some form of it. There are several manufacturing companies in the area, and mining has made a comeback.

Because of shifting climates, cotton is grown in the southern reaches of the nation, corn in the northern part, with wheat and barley being grown throughout. Grapes are grown in southern Columbia County.

The Commonwealth is a steel producer in the region with the Danville Steel Mills producing railroad tracks, and other products. Much of the coal is mined in Mount Carmel. Although the facility is operational, it produces about half a ton of steel per years, much of it going to repairing crippled infrastructure from Doomsday. Analysists believe that the Commonwealth will not be up to levels enough to export until 2030-2040.

The mills opened in 2010 after a collaboration came between some engineers from the Commonwealth with the knowledge of the mills operation, money from State College investors, and equipment purchased from North Pennsylvania. The plans to reopen the steel mills had been made in 2001 and much of the time had been waiting for North Pennsylvania to be able to produce the needed machinery.

Geisinger Health System which owns a hospital in Danville, and several outpatient clinics in Berwick, Danville, and other communities employs a large majority of the population not in farming.

Another large section is snacks. The Wise Foods Incorporated survived Doomsday, and was repaired in 2011 by several entrepreneurs who also restarted Catawissa Bottling Company in late 2009.

There are several future plans for the Commonwealth of Susquehanna. One major project that may start by 2035-2040 is to reopen the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, and the Merck Pharmaceutical Facility.

There are no power facilities in operation in the nation. Since coming in contact with surrounding nations, the Commonwealth has repaired transmission lines and imports some electricity. There are hopes to be able to repair their own facilities in the future.

To provide power to the government, military, industry, and radio, the government refurbished by hand 50 gas generators that were converted to natural gas. On the former Merck property, there were two generators. They both individually provided 5000 kWH of power to the factory. The Commonwealth has managed, by stripping apart the other unit, to bring one back on line producing 2000 kWH of power to the nation. It is hooked up to the Danville Steel Mills across the river.

The nation has a low tax rate due to a small government and the lack of major imports and exports.

The national per capita GDP is $2,286.06 per annum.

The national GDP is 97 million dollars per year, and the yearly government budget is 35 million dollars per annum.

Exports and Imports
The nation has only recently begun trade with foreign nations, mainly focusing on internal needs and affairs. But with recent private enterprises springing up, exports have become more common.

Importing has been done since contact was made with outside nations. It has picked up in recent years. Tourism, and education are included as both imports and exports.

Exports

 * 1. Foodstuff
 * 2. Soda
 * 3. Wine
 * 4. Beer
 * 5. Textiles
 * 6. Milk
 * 7. Snack Foods
 * 8. Maple Syrup
 * 9. Raw Materials (ie: Concrete, Asphalt, Lumber)
 * 10. Paper

Imports

 * 1. Oil
 * 2. Education
 * 3. Military Hardware
 * 4. Machinery Parts/Equipment
 * 5. Electricity
 * 6. Raw Materials (ie: Copper, Steel, Cobalt)
 * 7. Gravel
 * 8. Fish
 * 9. Collegiate Studies
 * 10. Automobile Parts

Natural Resources
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna is lucky enough to have a large deposit of natural resources at its disposal. The major issue in the nation is removing them from the ground. Coal is mined in Schukill County, Northumberland County, and southern Columbia County. Iron is mined in and around Danville, Montour County.

There is a shortage of oil in the country, with all supplies being imported from North Pennsylvania. But natural gas is in abundance. The government operates one drill in northern Columbia County, and has plans for two more to supply vehicles. Most of the newer vehicles and aircraft operate off of natural gas, with oil being used in some older vehicles that cannot be modified.

Iron is processed into steel at the Danville Steel Mills, and is shipped out by rail to Bloomsburg to a storage facility.

Agriculture and Food
Immediately following Doomsday, food and drink became of vital importance to the survivors of Doomsday. The police and various other groups defended stores and warehouses to prevent raids by desperate people.

Today, agriculture is the most vital industry for the Commonwealth. It produces all of the food needed in the nation, plus a surplus to trade and sell. In recent years it has begun trade with Virginia and other southern nations for more variety in the availible food crops.

Grains
As in many newly formed nations, people were concerned about the radiation content of soil in eastern Columbia County, so for years following Doomsday, most of the cereal crops grown came from Montour County and western Columbia County. In recent years though, corn crops have been grown in eastern Columbia.

Corn is the most common grain in the Commonwealth. It is sold and consumed in many different forms. The most common following Doomsday was as a porridge or a dish similar to cream of wheat. Today, most of the corn is consumed as bread, muffins, and porridge.

Barley and wheat are the two other cereal crops grown in the nation. Although, unlike corn, it has not rise to pre-Doomsday consumption rates. Wheat bread is too expensive for many people to afford, so it is mainly consumed by the wealthy.

Potatoes
Potatoes was the crop that nearly saved the nation from collapse. As the end of winter came in 1983, food supplies got dangerously low. A man suggested planting potato eyes in decontaminated soil, then after placing them in underground caves, using wood fires to keep them warm. Each bed was pushed out for a bit each day to receive sunlight.

Today, it is widely consumed, mainly baked or mashed. The potato is a relatively cheap food, and many can afford to grow them, and store them in dry cellars.

Sweet potatoes, also known as yams are grown on two farms in the nation. They are expensive to purchase, but are slowly becoming more popular. Many eat them baked, or boiled.

Fruits
Immediately following Doomsday, many fruits were consumed within days to prevent them from spoiling. Unfortunately, since Doomsday, the only fruits grown in Susquehanna on a large scale are apples, grapes, tomatoes, blackberries, and rasberries. Pears, blueberries, strawberries, and cherries have become scarse, with few of them grown in the nation due to easier crops being grown. Meanwhile, bananas, and other tropical fruits have become unheard of, simply because it is too expensive to purchase them.

Vegetables
As with staple fruits, many vegetables that were easily grown became commonplace at the dinner table.

Today, vegetables such as lettuce, green peppers, hot peppers, dandelions, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower are the only vegetables produced or eaten in the nation.

Most families have a small vegetable patch and a stores cellar to keep them over the winter.

They are one of the cheapest foods, and many large farms in the nation grow them, being the second largest crop behind corn.

Farmers in the nation use natural ways to prevent insects, and animals from eating their crops. Many are transported by wagon to the towns.

Infrastructure
The infrastructure of the Commonwealth of Susquehanna needs some major repairs in the outer regions of the nation. Currently, the government is undergoing massive revitalization of the national transportation system and quality.

Roadways
Before Doomsday, the counties that make up the nation were based around Interstate 80, State Route 11, State Route 642, and State Route 54.

Immediately after Doomsday, this roads became clogged with abandoned cars, a handful of crashed aircraft, and people's abandoned belongings. There were many animal carcasses that were hit by out of control vehicles that were damaged by the EMP.

Today, Route 11 is the cleanest, most intact roadway, traveling from Danville through Bloomsburg, to Berwick. The road remains the same as it was before September 25th, although new overpasses have been installed, as well as repairs to retaining walls, and a larger bridge over an expanded Roaring Creek.

Interstate 80 has been cleaned up an repaired to an extent, but still is not open for public use. Plans are to finish connections to State College and North Pennsylvania to ease transportation issues.

State Route 642 west was completely abandoned after Doomsday, from the Montour County line out. Today, where the road meets the Susquehanna-State College border, the border patrol has a small checkpoint set up, with a concrete barrier and old metal gate. It is mainly used by the military, and businesses today, who are in contact with other nations.

Route 54 connects Danville to Washingtonville. Today, the road is down to one side, one lane traffic, due to Interstate 80's overpass collapsing into one of the lanes. There are plans to clear out the damaged area and patch it, opening it to two lanes once again.

Railways
There are two railroads that run through the Commonwealth. One runs from Danville to Berwick, and the other runs from Riverside, through State College, back up to Catawissa. It was named the North Shore Railroad before Doomsday, but today is named Montour-Luzerne Rail Line.

The second rail line was finished only months before Doomsday, and was not even in operation on September 25th. It was unnamed at the time of Doomsday, and has been expanded to connect with Elysburg, Mount Carmel, and other towns. It has been named Riverside-Schukyll Rail Line.

Two trains run, one per railroad track system. Each are coal fired with ten railroad boxcars behind them.

Waterways
The Susquehanna River is the only navigable river in the nation, and is quite important. Trade done with Gettysburg, and some to Reading is done by boat. Roads between the nations are in disrepair and raider attacks are still threatening.

The government operates a ferry between Danville and Riverside, as well as Bloomsburg and Mainville.

Flat bottom boats and small hulled boats are the only waterway vehicles capable of navigating the waters. Since doomsday, the average water height has risen to 8 feet from 5 feet pre-doomsday.

Communication
As Doomsday occurred, the Commonwealth lost all forms of communication as the EMP rendered the delicate electronics useless.

In 2007, the nation completed the installation of telegraph lines throughout the nation, and has begun repair of the telephone lines.

By late 2013, telegraph lines were connected with those from Reading and State College, linking Susquehanna to the rest of the world.

Currently, the goal is to have complete phone service by the middle of 2014. There are payphones installed at stores, and government buildings. Coverage is slowly improving.

Energy
Obtaining energy is a crucial issue for the small nation. Although there are depots of natural gas and coal, there are no facilities to burn it. Currently, the nation is using an old power generator at the former Merck facility.

There was a single nuclear power plant, named the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, operational in the region before Doomsday. When the EMP struck, the plant went dark and technicians scrambled for an emergency shut down. Today the government has repaired the emergency deisel gererators to the point that they can keep the uranium fuel rods cool. There are no plans to reactivate the facility, and there are talks about dismantling the facility and selling the equipment to foreign nations.

The other power plant was the Montour Power Plant. It was coal fired, and operations ceased after Doomsday. The facility sustained damage from the EMP blast, and is still inoperable today, although repair work has begun. One issue is the lack of step up and step down transformers left. Currently there are negotiations with Canada and Delmarva about purchasing ten to begin to reinstate power through the nation.

Airports
There are two operational civilian airport in the Commonwealth. The main one is the Thornburgh Regional Airport. Before Doomsday, it was a small, untowered municiple airport. In recent years, the nation has extended the runway to 6000 feet from its current 2800 feet. The main reason is to accommodate small jets from other nations, as well as larger propeller driven aircraft.

The other airport is the Hazleton Regional Airport. It has a 4,898 foot runway. The Coonwealth plans to move one military flight there to defend the area, and plan to construct a tower as well.

Education
The nation has a mandatory education from grades 1-12, with kindergarten and college optional. The national education system is divided into school district. Military service can be postponed if the student is perusing higher education.

Although the nation attempts to enforce education to help improve the nation's self sufficiency, only about 57% of the current citizens under the age of 18 actually attended school at some point, but most who started school, graduated high school, with a 89% graduation rate, and 5% going on to college.

School Districts

 * Bloomsburg Area School District
 * Susquehanna School District (Combined Southern Columbia and Central school districts)
 * Berwick School District
 * Montour School District (Combined Danville and Warrior Run school Districts)
 * Hazleton Area School District
 * Montour-Columbia Vocational Technical School (Part of Bloomsburg Area School District)

Colleges

 * Bloomsburg University - (Bloomsburg, Columbia County) Main Majors: Teaching, Medical/Nursing, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Business
 * Hazleton University

Medical Care
There is one hospital in the nation. The hospital is based in Danville, Montour County and is responsible for major operations and severe emergency care. They do operate small clinics with two or three nurses in several far out towns.

Medical care is basic with few medications or treatment options for doctors. Many terminally ill patents are sent home to prevent them being a drain on the few supplies left. A Merck facility that is outside Danville has a possibility of being reopened by 2050-2100. (Author's Note: there is a Merck facility outside Danville that has been in operations in some form since before WWII)

There is a high mortality rate in the medical system, so it is not used as much as it could be.


 * Geisinger Medical Center (Danville, Montour County)
 * Geisinger Bloomsburg Clinic (Bloomsburg, Columbia County)

Commonwealth of Susquehanna National Guard
Main Page: Commonwealth of Susquehanna National Guard

The Commonwealth of Susquehanna maintains a small armed forces. Most of the military units were formed post doomsday, with a few pre doomsday units training troops after the apocalypse. Military service is mandatory unless the draftee can prove religious objections before a military board. If found reasonable, they will be assigned to the medical corps or a non-combat role.

Much of the equipment operated by the Commonwealth are pre-1960's equipment that cannot be replaced due to cost.

The total military strength as of 2014 stands at 264 active members; 1100 reserve; and 800 county militia members.

History
During Doomsday and the nuclear war, the Bloomsburg police, and BU campus security formed the backbone of the security forces, guarding the town. They were supported by students in ROTC, and 25 troops from the Bloomsburg Armory. There were several armored vehicles there, but they all have been disabled by the EMP blast, and are still out of service.

Not long after Doomsday, the small town governments realized the need to provide for their own self defense, and organized militias, mostly armed with privately owned rifles and shotguns. The most powerful in the region was the Bloomsburg Citizens Militia, using WWII era M1 Garands, and a few M-14 rifles.

This militia organization remained until the official formation of the Commonwealth, and on September 14th, 2005 the military was officially named the Commonwealth of Susquehanna National Guard.

Since then, the army has been active in eliminating the raider presence in around the nation, and currently is performing Operation: Retribution (2006-present). This operation has 100 troops and 200 militia members in former Schukill County eliminating raider strongholds, and freeing small towns. Many of these freed towns have a population of less than 100 survivors, but there have been three towns with over 300 survivors. There has been a push to annex these towns, but the government is allowing a referendum to avoid forcing people unwillingly into the nation.

Current Programs
The Commonwealth has a program designing the XM-20, a replacement for the M14 (OTL: AR-10). The caliber will be the .243 caiber, and it will have 20 round magazines. There are plans for iron sights to be standard, and possibly import scopes for snipers, increasing the caliber to .308 ammunition for snipers and scouts.

A design phase is finishing for a heavy machine gun similar to the M2 Browning heavy machine gun. It will support planned production of the M1919 in infantry support role, as an anti armor, and anti vehicle mission. The current planned name is the M13 Susquehanna. The first production models are expected for 2015.

The first M1919's are beginning production. One have been produced with another three planned for this month. It is hoped to be able to finish six weapons a week by late 2014. They are modeled off one captured from raiders in late 2013.

Currently the Commonwealth of Susquehanna is purchasing ten Alvis Saladin armored cars from Virginia.

Law Enforcement
Law enforcement is mainly taken care of by each individual town. Most larger towns such as Bloomsburg, Danville, and Mount Carmel have a police force of about eight officers. Many smaller communities only have one or two policemen.

The federal government operates a SWAT team from Bloomsburg, Mount Carmel, and Benton. Each office has four SWAT members, and one commander.

Nationally there are 46 police officers and 15 SWAT team members.

At the foundation of the Republic of Susquehanna remaining local police stations and some State Police members made up the police force.

The police and SWAT forces can be federalized in time of war.

Recently, there have been talks of purchasing 12 unmodified cars from Virginia to provide quick transportation between towns for SWAT.

Police officers standard sidearm are Glock handguns, or the Browning Hi Power. Each officer is also equipped with a night stick and handcuffs. Each police vehicle is equipped with a Remington Model 870.

SWAT members are each armed with an M-16A1 rifle, a Glock handgun and handcuffs, as well as body armor acquired from Canada, and a scope.

Fire Personnel
Fire is mainly provided by a handful of refurbished 1950's fire engines, and one 1930's fire engine salvaged from Knobel's Amusement Park. There are several fire stations in the country.


 * Bloomsburg Fire Department-
 * 1: 1950's fire engine
 * 1: 1930's fire engine
 * 1: 1960's water tanker
 * 2: Modified brush truck
 * 1: Water Rescue fireboat


 * Danville Fire Department-
 * 1: 1950's fire engine
 * 2: Modified brush truck


 * Berwick Fire Department-
 * 1: 1950's fire engine
 * 1: Pickup truck for firefighting


 * Benton Fire Squadron-
 * 3: Pickup trucks for firefighting

Recreation
Much of the Commonwealth of Susquehanna's history has been reconstruction or repelling raider attacks. But recently there has been some reconstruction of facilities for the peoples enjoyment.

The town of Danville hosts the Iron Heritage Festival once a year in the middle of the summer. Organizers restarted the festival in 2012.

Bloomsburg holds the Bloomsburg Fair during the end of September, and several other shows (mainly military shows) throughout the year. The fair has reopened in 2011. Between Doomsday and now, much of the land was used as a temporary military outpost.

Prior to doomsday outside of Bloomsburg and Elysburg, there was a amusement park named Knobels, which was the largest free amusement park in the nation. After doomsday, the entire park was abandoned and ignored because people were concentrated on survival, not a theme park that there was no interest in.

In 2013 several wealthy members of the surrounding communities reopened the park to business on the anniversary of Doomsday, holding a minute of silence, and giving people free hand stamps for the rides. This had helped boost the Commonwealth economy as the government opened its borders to allow tourists and other individuals.

Sports
Sports have attracted a small group of followers, with football and baseball both being popular. Each high school has a football team, and a baseball team who routinely compete.

The main university, Bloomsburg University, has several sports teams, with football and baseball being the most viewed. The teams normally compete against high school level teams, as there is no other competition.

Currently there are no plans to operate professional leagues, but there are talks of playing teams in other nations at the collegiate level.

Foreign Relations
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna maintains diplomatic contact with most of Pennsylvanian survival states. It has embassies in State College and Reading and has a diplomat in North Pennsylvania and Gettysburg. Through several of the surrounding nations, the nation has contact with the United States of America, Vermont, Outer Banks, Canada Remainder Provinces, Gettysburg, Virginia, International Falls, Saguenay, Toledo Confederation, and Kentucky.

Even with the distance, the government has chosen to maintain a diplomatic mission in the United States.

In recent years, Commonwealth began diplomatic contact with the Toledo Confederation, the Republic of New York, London and to an extent, the Republic of Superior.

In late 2001 the nation came in contact with the survivor city-state of Hazleton. On June 23rd, 2014, at 8:00 AM, the Commonwealth of Susquehanna and Greater Hazleton signed the Treaty of the Wyoming Valley, officially reforming Hazleton as the County of Wyoming, bypassing territorial status. There are plans to move people out of the dense area of the new county to Montour, Schukyll, and Sullivan Counties, which are underpopulated.

Susquehanna purchases much of the needed military equipment from State College or North Pennsylvania, with little domestic supply of heavy weapons.

Some citizens are pushing for the Commonwealth to join State College or Reading. The government is considering this for the future but for now maintains independence.

On April 25, an application for membership in the United Communities was submitted through State College. Many hope to be accepted by late 2014, and hope that joining this organization will give the small nation new trade partners, increase business, and ease communication, transportation and power grids.

Recently in a poll taken, it was found that 56% of citizens want to join the League of Nations, feeling the stability and contact with other nations will be useful for the Commonwealth. There is still opposition by the Commonwealth Party and some factions in the Republican Party.

On April 2nd, 2014, the Commonwealth of Susquehanna turned over control of eastern Northumberland County minus Elysburg, Riverside, Knobel's, and Mount Carmel to State College, in exchange for recognition of claims in Sullivan County, and Luzerne County.

List of Embassies, Missions and Consulates by Nation

 * North Pennsylvania
 * Diplomatic Mission (Franklin)
 * Reading
 * Embassy (Reading)
 * Diplomatic Mission (Allentown)
 * State College
 * Embassy (State College)
 * Diplomatic Mission (Williamsport)
 * United States
 * Diplomatic Mission (Torrington)
 * Virginia
 * Diplomatic Mission (Charleston, Beckley)

American Spring
The American Spring has been a series of protest in 2013 after news of CRUSA reached the ears of some citizens.

Many wanted to immediately rejoin the United States as the State of Susquehanna, and began protesting the government. But, the government managed to calm down the populace after a handful of street protests. The governor said that the distance was unfeasible to attempt to rejoin the United States at the time. But in secret, the government drafted Resolution 17. It states that once the United States expands to a point of approaching Susquehanna, they will negotiate with the USA about rejoining. But an unreleased section shows that negotiations have begun already.

Modern Reaction to Doomsday
Most citizens would be willing to join a reformed state of Pennsylvania if the United States ever reached the East Coast. A poll taken by the newspaper the Press-Enterprise showed that 68% of people support joining the United States of America, 13% oppose it, and 19% would rather join the North American Union.

Another poll taken in 2011 showed that 89% of citizens believe that the USSR was responsible for the Third World War, 2% believe the USA/American Provisional Administration was responsible for Doomsday, and 9% believe that it was just a terrible mistake and neither side was solely responsible for the aftermath of Armageddon.

In the Bloomsburg Town Square there is a piece of steel from the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station with a plaque on it saying - ''In memory of the innocent people who died in the unintentional nuclear exchange between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on September 26, 1983. This is another day that shall live in infamy.''

Religion
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna is a Secular state, allowing the freedom of religion to its people. The nation has a high percentage of people who are actively participating in a religious group. The predominant groups remaining are Christian and Amish.

The Catholic Church is the most predominant religions in the region with 48% of the population claiming to be Catholic. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Reading and has 4 major parishes: Saint Joseph's Parish, Danville; Saint Colombia's Parish, Bloomsburg, Christ the Redeemer Parish in Mount Carmel, and Immaculate Conception Parish, Berwick.

Another large Christian denomination is Protestant, with 27% of the population. There are three churches in the nation. One in Bloomsburg, one in Danville, and one in Mount Carmel.

The smallest defined population of Christianity is Baptist with 3%. They have a church in Bloomsburg.

4% of the population are a mix of Christian faiths.

The Amish Community holds 8% of the population, although many are New Order Amish. They tend to avoid associating with the government. The concentration of their population is in Northern Montour County.

2% of the population claim to be other faiths, with Judaism claiming just over 1%.

The remaining 8% of the population is atheist or agnostic.

Newspaper
The Commonwealth of Susquehanna has recently formed several media outlets for people to use. Newspapers were one of the first forms used, being hand typed on old typewriters that had been stored at area high schools from the 60's and 70's. One of the first newspapers to reform was the Morning News in Bloomsburg.

Today the nation has one major newspaper distributor: The Press Enterprise.

The Press Enterprise is the successor to the Morning Press, being renamed in 2004. They operate nationally, providing national and world news, cartoons, advertisements, and coupons for the citizens, along with serving as an announcement bulletin for the government, printing upcoming bills, elections and issues. The paper operates every day of the week, and prints a special edition on Sundays with puzzles and a color section of cartoons. Originally the Danville News operated independently, but after two months became cost prohibitive, and merged with the Morning Press to form the Press Enterprise. The newspaper is distributed in the entire nation through pre-Doomsday newspaper racks and stands.

Radio
Radio is one of the newer forms of media and entertainment in the nation. There are two major stations that operate. They are:
 * 1610 AM: Government Broadcast Channel
 * 106.5 FM: Y106.5 Clear Channel Radio

Note: All stations run on generators or external power supplies

1610 AM was the first station opened from the Bloomsburg Court House, transmitting news and information to the public. It opened in 2003 with a 1000 foot radius, and now covers the entire nation and a bit into State College. The station is government owned and operated.

106.5 FM was originally based in Sunbury PA before the EMP blast knocked all the stations off the air. The last broadcast it played was the Emergency Broadcast System. It had a smaller station in Bloomsburg prior to Doomsday that was also fried by the EMP. In 2006 the station, with federal funding, reopened and covers the entire Commonwealth, playing pre-Doomsday pop, hip hop, country, rock, and some R&B. It plays post-Doomsday country, pop, and rock. It also covers sporting events and the news, along with some 1930's and 1940's classic radio dramas including War of the Worlds, The Twilight Zone, and The Lone Ranger tapes that were found in peoples homes and abandoned stores. They have over 500 different dramas. A favorite is every May 25th, the station plays the Star Wars soundtrack in honor of George Lucas.

106.5 is privately owned and operated, but may be seized by the government during a national emergency.

Many citizens can also pick up radio transmissions from State College and Reading.