Prepper Recon

EMP- Threat Assessment

EMP is an electromagnetic pulse. It is a strong burst of energy that emanates when a nuclear weapon is detonated. When such a weapon is detonated at a high altitude, the EMP is spread out over the line of sight. If a strong enough warhead were detonated over Kansas at an altitude of 450km, the effects would span the entire continental US. All critical infrastructure such as electrical grids would be disabled. All cars with computers would be disabled. All credit card machines, computers, cell phones and radios would be disabled. There would be little to no radiological effects from the blast, but the effects of the EMP would be devastating to society.

Most grocery stores will be closed as they have no means to collect cash without the use of their registers. Some small convenient stores may be accepting cash, but unless you had cash before the event you would not be able to access your funds from the bank. By the second day, it would become obvious that something is seriously wrong and people would be looting stores.

Some preppers have anticipated such an event and built Faraday cages to protect their electronics. A Faraday cage is simply a metal box that absorbs the electronic pulse from the EMP. As long as the electronic devices are not touching the sides of the cage, they shouldn’t be harmed by the EMP. Electronics could be insulated within the cage with Styrofoam or thick cardboard. Putting a shortwave radio in a gun safe or metal ammo box insulated my non metallic material should protect it from the blast. A shortwave radio would allow you to hear reports from other parts of the globe and possibly even Ham operators who had their equipment shielded from the EMP. The video tells us what a real threat this is. It is only prudent to be marginally prepared for such an event.

Revolution on NBC begins September 17th at 9 pm. The story is about an EMP that has taken down the grids and the survivors struggle to rebuild society. It is very entertaining and will provide opportunities to discuss the threat of EMP with your family and friends. We have a link to the First Episode of Revolution right here on Prepper Recon.com just in case you can’t wait to watch it.

Happy prepping!