EMP secrets revealed
During the Cold War, one of the biggest concerns of U.S. military officials was that the U.S.S.R might detonate a nuclear missile miles above the United States to cause an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that would wipe out electrical equipment across the country. A more realistic fear today, when we are more dependent on our power grids than ever before, is that a terrorist organization will set off an e-bomb that could create total blackouts on a more local level.
One of the big reasons everyone is worried about this is that this kind of bomb (or bombs) could be developed using inexpensive supplies and basic engineering knowledge. A low-level EMP could temporarily jam electronics systems, while more intense pulses could corrupt essential computer data. A very powerful burst could completely dismantle electronic equipment. It’s actually possible to use such a weapon to render an enemy’s military almost useless while taking very few lives.
I was shocked when I read this article, “How E-Bombs Work,” that reveals that the U.S. is vulnerable because our sophisticated electronics are built around consumer-grade semiconductor devices that are sensitive to power surges.
Based on the results of nuclear EMP tests conducted during the late 1950s and early 1960s, the U.S. has plenty of data regarding how EMPs work and what their effects are. You’ve got to think that we have e-bombs in our arsenal with plans to use them against our enemies if we need to, right?
Other than nuclear proliferation, I can’t think of a more effective way to subdue an enemy country than by completely disrupting communications devices and making ground and air vehicles inoperable.
How do you feel about this potential weapon? Is it something the U.S. should be putting more time and effort into developing? Or do you think these types of weapons are already prepared and ready to go should we need them? Let me know what you think in the comments.
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readers of this blog should look up a more probable threat of an EMP set off buy the sun. in 1859 a great emp from the sun destroyed electrical circuits in us telegraph equipt. the only such at that time. many scientist of today such as MICHIO KAKU say this could happen any time. this could happen all over world. what a disaster this would be to all.
I purchased the unit not just for an em pulse, but I live in Florida and my home was partially destroyed during Hurricane Mathew. We had no electricity for two days. I had the generator hooked to a sump pump and my refrigerator.
Although the pump only did 5400 gallons per hour we still flooded with a 7 foot surge and we live on the Intercoastal waterway.
However, Nat Geo has a 50 minute film all should watch now published on U-Tube:
http://www.fscj.me/chm1020/Projects/Project22ElectronicArmageddon/Project22ElectronicArmageddon.htm
Because of the the destruction process of removing dry wall from eight rooms, I had purchased 70 pint dehumidifiers for each room.
If an EM Pulse occurs and If I can figure a way to shield the dehumidifiers (electric control panel)…then each dehumidified will collect a gallon of fresh water from the air every 4 hours if high humidity. In my home it removes about a gallon of water every 8 to 10 hours from the wet rooms. One drop of bleach and it is pure clean water to drink
EMP is a hoax! brought to you by the same people that warned about Y2K.
Sorry for the misspelling and bad grammar in the previous post, I am in the doctor’s office with a broken finger (r. middle distal phalange) and using my new one day old cell phone with a strange keyboard. And the more I typed the more ‘tired’ I got. Adversity makes us stronger…Rrriight!
But you should be able to get the gist of my post
I find it hard to believe that the Gov’t hasn’t been aware of this vulnerability, and developed countermeasures. The Gov’t is stupid in many ways, but it’s inconceivable that, given the amount of time they’ve been aware of it, they haven’t developed some form of defense against this threat.
One word to you Jim… New Orleans. (Well, two words).:-)
Oh, one thing I forgot – Cars or trucks – things with motors. While we have heard of the computer in cars newer than the mid to late 70’s that control timing, and thus would render those motors inoperable when the integrated circuit/transistors burn out. There is one other thing to consider – Charging systems, or the Alternators in cars newer than 1960. Originally, most of the cars had voltage regulators that were positioned on your firewall and were made up of wrapped wire and resistors/non-transistor components – some of you older guys will remember these separate units, in fact they had “generators”, not alternators in the really older cars – with mechanical regulators. They went to the newer types because when they changed to the more powerful alternator from the generator, the car would pulse the charging voltage at idle speeds without the newer controls. During the mid 60’s I believe some manufacturers went to the transistor based regulator on their alternators (cars changing to alternators in the early 60’s). Delco and some others integrated the voltage regulator into the alternator directly (they looked like plastic blocks filled with resin for those that have opened one) later for AMC and Jeep vehicles in the early 70’s. These defiantly contained power transistors in them and diodes. So, those people that believe vehicles made then will still function should consider that particular control part of the vehicle. You diesel guys are going to need to do your research – I am not sure about those engines and their charging systems. And I may be off on the exact dates when these events each occurred – but having rebuilt alternators for a shop in the mid 70’s – I can tell you without a doubt that the regulators were integrated into the alternators by then. I hope this won’t be affected – But I’m guessing there will be an awful lot of people that purchased older vehicles for the ability to survive the EMP, when that may not be correct. Oh, you could drive the car for a short while, but it would not charge the battery, and its possible would short out everything if the diodes burned out (meaning the current voltage could flow backwards in the charging system if they “shorted” as opposed to becoming an open circuit, however unlikely). Just a thought.
The founding fathers of this great nation often said that our form of government will work only for a moral people. if you want someting to concern yourself with, consider the moral state we are in.
I’m sure this will get people arguing again, I’m not going to pull my credentials out like some of you, let’s just say I’ve been working with electronics and high frequency generators for a very, very long time. I will try and keep a complicated subject as simple as possible for the layman. It is obvious that many people are misinformed about this subject. Dave H. at the beginning of the comment section was very close. We are talking about an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) event now – not a nuke set off at 200 ft above your house or one within the blast radius of your house. You have many factors to consider, those types of explosions produce emissions across the spectrum as some of you have mentioned, these are “frequencies” for all intents and purposes. The things we are talking about are electromagnetic pulses, not the x-ray, gamma, and light spectrum emissions (from the short list), etc., and these can be explained with an example of a common motor, and looking at its function. You run electricity through wire which produces a magnetic field, thus turning an armature on the motor = motion. The reverse (a generator) is also true – electricity is produced by passing a magnetic field through wire (or past wire to be more specific) obtained by turning an armature with magnets on it = electrons (Power). Some problems: Current surface mount electronics are very small AND thus susceptible to small currents (electrons) that are produced by a quick pulses of magnetic energy, since they are now produced in thin layers, it’s even worse. Since just about everything we have has some sort of integrated circuit in it, it will cause problems without the proper shielding by burning out those chips. Tests that were done in the 50’s and 60’s don’t count anymore since the methods of producing the chips not only have reduced their size, but reduced the amount of power they run on, and thus are more susceptible to (For those of you that are wondering, the smaller size not only increases it’s speed, it reduces the power required to run the chip, and it reduces the heat output from it). You also need to take into consideration the duty cycle (A duty cycle is the period of time it takes for a signal or pulse to complete one on-and-off change, I.E. from ground to the highest power state and back to ground = one cycle, or duration) is very, very fast high frequency energy pulse – the waveform shape, and power (the height of the pulse, or energy component of it) also greatly effects the damage. I believe it is highly unlikely that energy could build up a charge in anything like a car battery – way too fast – but motor controllers, car computers, LED flashlights, just about everything else with chip electronics, yes. HOWEVER, large electric lines AND the things connected to them are also susceptible since the lines act like a collecting antennas for the energy produced by the passing pulse (just like the motor, only on a much larger scale). And since the pulse is broadband high frequency it tends to jump easily through and across non-conductive areas (Those that remember the “Van de Graaff generator” – the electrostatic generator from science class will understand this). Faraday cages are a way to block these emissions, however, a normal one I don’t believe will work for this. Think of a microwave; The Klystron which produces the electron beam that warms your food is at a specific frequency. The mesh on the front of the glass is designed and grounded to not allow microwaves of that frequency to pass through the holes in it, thus, you can see you food without burning your eyes out. A faraday cage made from a mesh would need to cover a broad spectrum of frequencies to be effective. I don’t believe you could guess ones that would be produced. I’m betting a far more effective method is what others have alluded to – the steel garbage can, with an inner lining that keeps anything from touching the inside steel of the can. I have my doubts on if grounding it would be effective or not considering the speed of the pulse width, however, I don’t think it could hurt. As long as it’s not attached to anything that would gather energy (I.E. grounding it to a large house beam instead of a grounding rod directly) and as long as the magnetic waves can’t pass through the can through any open holes or seams – it should be OK. For those that are wondering about the car’s spark plug example: it’s true – it produces a radio frequency pulse, what they used to call a gap-pulse used in Morse code many years ago. The frequencies are broad but within a range that can be managed and shielded (yes, just like your radio picks up, only energy – no information). Everything that passes electrons produces a magnetic field of some sort. Try this – put an AM radio next to your computer and tune across the radio dial – you will find at certain points you can actually hear the processor on the computer running – on your radio – or every time you type a key – it is the electrons flowing producing radio frequency emissions that is picked up by the radio (manufacturers call this RFI – Radio Frequency Interference). A bolt of lightning does the same thing, although obviously at a much higher power level, and across a much larger spectrum. And for those that get the connection – you CAN build a small circuit to tune into a specific frequency (like a really powerful AM radio station), rectify the energy, and produce a small amount of power from it, I.E. energy from the air. Before you start critiquing – I wrote this for the common person. I hope it helps some of you.
Great article, Thanx. However, your attempts at humility were most amusing and kept me reading your post just to follow the high wire act!
How would you shield a house from an emp?
So much of this discussion is BULL. Significant EMP over anything bigger than a city block takes humongous power. The only thing that powerful is a nuclear weapon. To get a nuclear weapon close enough to do significant EMP damage means you’re already dead from the nuclear explosion or radiation exposure.
1. When an EMP pulse passes through an electronic object, it excites the electrons in semiconductors and reduces the internal electrical resistance. When a voltage is present (i.e. the power is ON), more current flows through the reduced resistance and burns out the circuit. If the power is OFF, little or no damage occurs. However, stored electronic data, such as computer memories, will probably suffer erased data bits, so files and programs may not work.
2. Many military devices have Nuclear Event Detectors, which are essentially very fast acting semiconductors that detect the event and shut down the power for a fraction of a second while the event passes, and automatically restart/reboot afterwards. This is why military planes don’t drop out of the sky after dropping a nuclear weapon.
3. EMP primarily affects only semiconductors. Older devices such as vacuum tube radios or cars using ignition points (typically before 1972) are immune to EMP because they have no semiconductors.
4. I don’t see how a battery would be affected. It is not a semiconductor. Wrapping it in metal foil is asking it to blow up in your face as the foil creates a dead short between the terminals.
5. A Faraday cage made of metal foil and garbage cans can shield against electromagnetic fields, but it is of zero help against neutrons, X-rays, gamma rays, etc., from a nuclear event. These things passing through your electrical device is what damages it. Same with the human body.
6. Every time your car generates a spark (up to 40,000 volts) to a sparkplug, the ignition coil generates an EMP event, about 10,000 per minute at freeway speeds. This is the static you sometimes hear in the radio when tuned to a weak station.
7. Back in the 1950s and 60s, the military set off numerous nuclear bombs in tests. Many of these were airbursts above ground inside the USA. Some of these were 100 times as powerful as the one at Hiroshima. How much did EMP affect folks then?
8. I would put less effort into worrying about if your TV or lights will work, and more into the blast shock wave caving in your roof, or the flash setting your house on fire, or the blast radiation exposure, or the fallout radiation exposure.
9. Yellowstone Park is a Super Volcano. The last 3 blasts have been about 600,000 years apart. The last one was 700,000 years ago. It is now overdue. But unless you can bury a very large nuke many hundreds of feet into the rock, so the blast force doesn’t go up, I think a puny little nuke would be laughed off by 3 miles of crust. Like huffing and puffing at a 3 foot thick concrete wall. But for those interested in the effects on civilization, read Harry Turtledove’s 2 fiction books: “Supervolcano”.
10. I’d worry more about what one illegal OTM Muslim terrorist could do to California with a book of matches in August, in one night.
I agree about the Yellowstone Park thing. But I think another obvious one is where the San Andreas, Sierra Madre, and the San Jackinto faults come together. I’m guessing something there might cause major slippage for the faults in California, and major damage along with them.
I attended a EMP test bed at an undisclosed location. The test area was an area about 14′ x 14′ with about a 16′ ceiling. The entire area was enclosed in a copper mesh that was charged with a certain amount of voltage and the results recorded. I was in it when it happened and felt nothing and have no delayed physiological problems. But my personal favorite was the missile impact test that was a large lever with about 100 lbs. at one end. They hoisted the weight, then let it go and slam into the test unit. Hilarious. I’m am not entirely confident that our testing procedures mimic real life events.
Dave H is completely wrong. An HEMP goes off over 20 miles high and the blast does not reach the ground. Setoff over Kansas will completely wipe out all our electronics and the power grid. We will be sent back to the 1800s. Cars older than 1980 will not work most cars before that will function. I know this as a fact and don’t ask how but believe me I know.
Optimum height for an EMP detonation is 250 km. All x-ray and gamma radiation and explosive power is absorbed by the atmosphere before ground. The Electromagnetic Pulse is at a much lower frequency and is not absorbed, so the primary effect at ground level is about 1x 10 to the 27th power watts of radio wave.
From a former member of the Dept of Energy’s EMP Task Force.
What people are over looking is no matter how well you protect your electronics’ if the grid goes down they are rendered useless anyway.
The envisioned EMP is NOT the boogey man here: a terrorist does not have the delivery system to put the bomb at 100+ miles above the ground that is required to make the EMP effective. No point in doing so since “lighting off” a nuke in a populated area (NY City for example) would generate more damage and create more fear. If you are going to worry/prepare for a Doomsday Scenario, at least prep for ones more likely than an EMP.
With enough juice, you can generate just about any electro-mechanical you want.
I believe, that if you have a Large metal lined Recreational Vehicle that is Grounded to a Copper pipe or grounding Rod. The Electronics that are inside the RV will be safe if they are NOT plugged in. They would also be safe if they are plugged into an AC circuit that is protected by a Quality Surge ? Spike protector.
it will go through electrical cables and cords. unplugging your electronics wont hlpe. any thing you don’t want ruined wrap in heavy aluminum foil. fareaday cages are a grand too 2k. they have bags. they use aluminum. if you have a battery in your car, disconnect it and cover the treminals with tape or platic caps and wrap your battery in foil and the battery cables.
Thanks to all for your relevant and valuable comments !
It is actually quite easy and inexpensive to construct a Faraday cage.
Go to Lowe’s, WalMart, or any other “box” or hardware store, and buy 1 or more large, steel, “outside” type trash cans with tight fitting lids. Using plywood (choose your own thickness, 1/2″ will do) carefully cut a circular piece that fits tightly in the bottom of the can. Next, cut 3 or more 1″ strips the inside height of the can. Cut 2 or more tight fitting, circular pieces to fit at various depths inside the can and notch the 1″ strips to hold these shelves.
Using ^ AWG or larger wire, and suitable lugs, attach lugs to ends of cable. sand a spot on the outside of the trash can(s), apply an electrically conductive grease (No Ox ID is great, and can be obtained from electrical supply stores, Graybar, etc.), and attach one end of the cable using self-tapping sheet metal screws.
Wrap and stack electrically sensitive items (computers, walkie-talkies, emergency radios, spare automotive items (like auto computers, control modules, and ignition parts, alternators, etc.) inside the can(s). Ground the outside of the can(s) to an EARTH GROUND like underground water pipes, or a copper rod sunk into the ground, using the other end of the cable attached to the can(s).
Using kitchen grade aluminum foil, fold a long piece over the top of the can(s) edge entirely around the rim, and place the lid of the can(s) tightly on .
Your stored items are now safe from EMP.
It would also be a good idea to store batteries of all types in such a device.
Just for info: I am a retired U. S. Air Force electronics/avionics technician and worked on nuclear hardened (thus, EMP resistant) systems, taught the same for 6+ years as a Master Instructor, and have a degree in same.
Sorry; 6 AWG cable.
I have a friend who is also retired A/F electronics/avionics. He said use the trash can, but he lined his with several layers of cardboard and did not ground it. Is this sufficient? He has several cans designed as I stated.
I have a degree in Areonautcs and Electronic’s and computer design. I was an aircraft tech and flight engineer for over 25 years. took classes on emp and static discharge. your idea is crap. the foil is a good idea. dude you won’t have time to take your car apart . disconnect your battery and wrap it in aluminum foil and wrap all the cables with foil. attach jumper cables to the frame and lay the clamps on the ground. if it’s from a solar flare you have about 15 minutes to prepare. you crack me up . :-)
Paul,
Can you explain the purpose of the conductive grease. (I’m electronically challenged). “-) Also, do you feel it is safe to put my cans under my house (we have propane heat… MT). Another question, what about HF towers? My wife and I just got our HAM license and are now working on our Gen. Lic. to get a tower. We are way out in the mtns. Also, by your info, it makes me think I could get the extra parts for the cage (2000 ford) and still have a working car?
Robert, your VHF/UHF/2 Meter tower will amplify any pulse that is produced from a detonation. Anything attached to the tower, i.e. shielded antenna cable, would carry the voltage directly back to your base station and fry any electronics attached to it. So, printers, DTMF key encoders, power supplies, etc. all would die. I’m not aware of any easy way to isolate the tower from your equipment unless you maybe use a dedicated quick release on the cable itself. I’m not sure what that will do to matching the signal impedance though. But it would allow you to disconnect while you were not in use (assuming you keep your set off and not on standby/alert). This of course is really a moot point. Unless you actually keep your equipment in a Faraday cage, it will die anyway. Now it is possible that a pulse, depending on where it was set off may not reach your sets, but would be carried by the antenna – so in that scenario, a disconnect would work for you. Not very likely though. I also suspect that having a tower up higher, just like it improves your reception and distance would equally amplify any pulse just that much more, I know, not good news, sorry.
Thank you!!!
I have been five years writing a novel about an EMP event and the social consequences that result. It has taken a long time to complete this project because there is much uncertainty as to the actual effects of EMP on electric grids, autos, and computers. In fact, we just don’t know for a fact the effects. The social reaction and events is not so hard, human nature being what it is tempered by religious, ethnic and social backgrounds. My research indicates the lack of preparedness will kill thousands, maybe millions. We are so greatly dependent upon electrical resources that food, transportation and and medical survival as we know it will stop.
Hi, Kevin. If you haven’t read it, you should pick up a copy (e-book is available from most of the usual sources) of “One Second After”. It deals with exactly the scenario your novel does. It was written by William Forstchen, the author of numerous books and co-author of several “alternate history” novels with Newt Gingrich. If your effort is half as good as his, I’d love to read it. Good luck.
Best book EVER !!
I don’t have a web sight nor the four with to purchase all the information and the supplies needed to create the gizmo’s either, therefore I am having to choose Weapons/Food and Water/Power/EMP safety/ either or fashion. Those with whom I associate are so out of touch from REALITY that they are “BUSY” passing blame for all these woes we all face. Fact the passing of THE PATRIOT ACT under the Bush/Chaney administration was made LAW of the land, the end took place, Our Economy, Legitimacy as True “Free American” Citizens can be interrupted at any given moment; especially mine just because of these facts. I bought most of the Survival down loads printed them out read them and Realized I have FAILED all ready. I would suggest getting all the information ALL the Books and GET BUSY the clock is ticking – I hope it is not August 2013.
Frank,
I sent an email about the link not working to purchase the EMP materials and still cant get it I have not got the time to go through the video again. I Don’t a hours of low tech video to convince me to by the information. Just give me a way to buy it without jumping through hoops.
If you click to leave the page, a pop-up will appear that asks if you are sure you want to leave it. Then click “no”. What will happen then is that you will get the written page, instead of the video. Scroll to the bottom of the page & you will be able to order. I hope this helps.
It is rather small but I can understand due to cost factors. I liked the use of space but my concerns are the air filtration system uses outside air. Why not have a filtration system for water and air that is independent because if you can’t live outside. More than likely the air quality will not support a person either. I did not see anything to hear communication with the surface either or an antenna system to reach past twenty feet through the rock. It seems prudent to know what is going on in order to be prepared. I would have battery operated items such as walkie talkies in case the family members were separated or could not come together so they knew where each other was or if they were in need of help or warning each other of danger. Also, a radio or device that would work and a backup in case they malfunctioned as well as extra batteries.
James,
You said: A cable as short as 3 ft can build up a charge of nearly 50,000 volts… but longer runs, like the wiring in your house, or the on the electrical poles on your street, can build up HUGE charges. Anything plugged into THOSE wires will get hit. Imagine a lightning strike on every foot of wire. If something is plugged in, it will get fried.
Question! What if all of your electrical stuff is “off-grid”? Would it still be affected? Or do we still need to protect it in a Faraday cage?
“Without fear and a perceived enemy to fight there can be no cohesive society”…..so for the most part if you do your homework all this fear-mongering is an illusion….behind the scenes all “enemies” work in cooperation for one common purpose and those in the know know what that is….so I consider all this just history repeating itself….and is a bunch of hooey….it’s a game, that’s all it is…
Of course the US has had EMP devices/bombs etc. for a long time to perpetrate more fear…by the time a public test has been released in the open media the technology already has been around for a long time….the test was more to let the public know the technology exists and to instill more fear in the general public long removed from being able to sustain themselves….we are all slaves of the industrial military complex, UN and the plans they have for the world…..it’s a game and the general world populace is losing because most are ignorant of the facts….
Perhaps we should turn off our power for a week and have a EMP “test run”. The only true way to see if we are prepared is to live it and see what we need the most. Lets see…City water is pumped with power and the toilet only holds so much back up supply, YUM Stores need electricity to operate and sell you food. You will have to walk to work….Oh WAIT! Work no longer exist because they need power also. You can all run to the bank and pull your money out to spend on some last minute….Huuuum….Banks are closed and you have no money. No gas to escape with because the gas station also requires electricity. You are not going to get very far without gas. Wow…I guess most are screwed. Hope you do not live close to a nuclear power plant. They only have enough back up diesel to run for five days. I guess you can wait for the emergency FEMA trucks to arrive and save the day. OH WAIT…FEMA trucks and helicopters also need electricity so the government help is completely shut down. That was not a fun test run. I need some wine. Uuugh
We already have them. There was a public military test months ago. video clip showed a whole complex of computers and the camera taking it going pfffffft. Probably on you tube.
A EMP is not the worst that can happen Frank.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a recent report from Newsmax, they claim that between October 1, 2010 thru September 30, 2011 that the U.S. Border Patrol and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection division of the Department of Homeland Security arrested 327,577 aliens illegally entering the U.S. JUST along the U.S. – Mexican border and another 6,552 illegal’s along U.S. coastlines.
Of the illegal’s captured along the Mexican border, 46,997 were listed as ‘other than Mexican’. Among the ‘other than Mexican’ were people from countries listed as ‘special interest countries’ such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Somalia, Tunisia, Syria, Uzbekistan, Jordan and Indonesia. Looking at the countries of origin, I think it’s safe to assume that many of them were Muslim, making me wonder how many may have terrorist ties.
………….Do ya think they want to pick tomatoes? I don’t think so.
Terrorist scouts are testing for soft spots to smuggle nukes across the Mexican border.
…………….Hm, but where to put them.
How about in the bottom of Yellowstone lake atop the thin 3 mile thick porous cork over the super volcano. If that sucker blows, radioactive ash 10 to 3 foot thick all the way to the Ohio valley.
All farmland, DEAD. Livestock, DEAD. Rivers, DEAD. Fish, DEAD. Transportation as we know it, DEAD. 200 million, DEAD and dying! 75% of the country DEAD in a month and it will continue to erupt for three months.
This has a high probability precisely because Obama, Holder and Congress will not secure the Mexican border and enforce existing immigration laws.
They LOVE illegal’s and weak national security!
However take heart, MAYBE we can knock down a ICBM from North Korea with the new airborne laser if the launch is patterned like the staged marsh mellow tests to date.
Didn’t the Navy take one down with a missile from an Aegis ship a few years ago?
EMP are real and the USA has done nothing to prepare for this type of event, they are too busy with there bottom line. Iran and No Korea have the ability to use this. If the Elites want to cut the population down in this world, so they have a better chance to gain resources for themselves, it would a cheap ,effective way to accomplish this goal. We the people would die within weeks from lack of food, water, and depending on the season the weather. Eccept for a few survivalists “the survival of the fittest would kick in” quoting Darwin. So how to eliminate 280,000 people create an EMP!
First, the elites need us to perform their labor. Also, if one can get the basics on how our forefathers in the 1850’s got along, you will too! It won’t be the Waldorf but you will be alive and have at least a chance to make some lemonade. When thing slowly return to a more recognizable state, you will be in a position to prosper. The scouts have it right, Be Prepared.
Yes, we definitely need more information. After reading “One Second After” (I highly recommend!! Written as a novel and you can’t stop reading) which was written by retired x-military men who were involved with the gov’t. knowledge of this and wanted to wake everyone up to the possibility, I am definitely now more aware on many levels. Not only that it can happen, but that we know nothing about how to prepare!
Earl Meyer,
You asked… “I understand an electrical device must be ON in order to be affected by EMP. True or False”
Answer is False.
The electrical charge of an EMP burst builds up on any lengthy run of cable and then “goes to ground” as quickly as possible. A cable as short as 3 ft can build up a charge of nearly 50,000 volts… but longer runs, like the wiring in your house, or the on the electrical poles on your street, can build up HUGE charges. Anything plugged into THOSE wires will get hit. Imagine a lightning strike on every foot of wire. If something is plugged in, it will get fried.
There are ways to protect against EMP. Mainly by storing items in a Faraday cage. I have read where people suggest using fuses, fused power strips, or circuit breakers. Unfortunately, studies in the 1960s showed that most fuses are too slow to stop the EMP hit, as are circuit breakers. There are some special fuses which are fast enough, and they aren’t expensive. I think they are called Metal Oxide Varistors (MOV) which work, but I don’t have the studies handy to prove it.
THE problem as I see it is do we have adequate hardened defense mechanism’s to protect from any type of attack designed to minimise our vital power for both military & civilian defense installations, so as to respond to any future aggression like (Pearl Harbor) & to retaliate & defend ourselves! (like the Israeli’s Iron Dome does with Muslim Rocket attacks ? Raymond P. Narushof
I say let it happen, i am ready for it. i think it would do this country good to get thrown back into the 18th century it would force people to slow down and live together rather than as strangers
Yes, we need them, but the way this country has been doing things, even if we had them and I don’t think we do, our current government probably wouldn’t let us use them.
Hey Frank,
I’ve been given to understand that an electrical device has to be activated in order to be affected by an emp. ie, A radio needs to be turned on in order to have the circuts fried. Or a cars ignition has to be on before an emp will actually bother it. To the best of your knowledge, is this true and what do you base your comments on.
Earl M.