What is the first sign of devastation seen within the Amish community in the novel, When the English Fall?

The plane that crashes near Jacob's farm symbolizes the fall of modern society. When the solar storm begins, the plane falling is the first of its many effects that Jacob sees. They are able to see the smoke from the burning plane for days. They do not yet know about the devastation that has occurred throughout the world, and so they go about their normal business, and the smoke from the plane is the only sign of the chaos that is gripping the rest of the world.