Could You Survive an EMP?

Electricity is one of the greatest inventions in mankind’s history.

It allowed humans, after countless centuries, to finally gain some control over their environment.

We could now see better in the dark. Heat and cool our homes. Establish infrastructure for power, water, and gas utilities.

But there’s a downside to this achievement. We’ve become dependent on electricity. If it’s eliminated for a long period of time, nature will once again control humans.

9 Out of 10 Won’t Make It

There are many events that could knock out the electrical grid. Including extreme weather and equipment malfunctions.

But none is more frightening than an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). An EMP has the potential to render us powerless for weeks, months, or years.

Whether caused by coronal mass ejections (solar flares) or a terrorist attack, experts say a vast majority of us would not survive if the resulting blackout lasted a year or more.

Frank J. Gaffney Jr. is a former deputy assistant to the U.S. secretary of defense. He said, “Nine out of 10 of us wouldn’t make it if an attack on the grid resulted in the power going out and staying out for a year.”

Is Another Carrington Event Coming?

Former CIA Director R. James Woolsey Jr. agrees. He said, “A very low yield nuclear detonation from a very simple small missile… launched up 20 miles above the earth can be absolutely devastating to transformers and the rest of the electrical infrastructure.”

The most well-known “sun storm” in North American history occurred in 1859, becoming known as the Carrington Event.

A super solar flare shot directly toward the Earth. It resulted in a mammoth cloud of charged particles and detached magnetic loops. They crashed into Earth’s magnetic field. And caused skies to turn red, green, and purple.

The solar storm disrupted communications and shocked technicians. And it could happen again. As it nearly did in 2012. Space weather analyst John Kappenman says, we’re “playing a game of Russian roulette with the sun.”

Enemies Know Where to Strike First

Another very real scenario involves a deliberate EMP attack by one of America’s enemies.

The bad guys are not interested in turning off our lights for a few hours. They want to plunge us back into Little House on the Prairie days.

Do they have the know-how and resources to pull off such a horrific assault? Yes. A bomb capable of producing a powerful EMP could be developed using inexpensive supplies and basic engineering knowledge.

Former Texas state senator Bob Hall said this. “We actually know that the Russians, the Chinese, the Iranians have in their war plans the first strike plan to take out our electrical power system with an EMP attack.”

The Consequences Are Devastating

An EMP’s damage would be catastrophic. Life as we know it would be over. Immediate failures would be evident everywhere.

From essential infrastructure such as power, water, and gas utilities. Plus banking systems and ATMs. And transportation of food, water, and other goods.

Military defenses would also be affected. It would take years to repair the damage. The Department of Homeland Security admits it’s not prepared to deal with such an attack.

None of us is capable of stopping solar flares or terrorist attacks. But we could focus on what to do before, during, and after a blackout caused by an EMP.

What to Do Before an EMP Strike

• Assemble a supply of emergency food and water for your family. And secure a solar-powered generator.

• Build an emergency kit or bug-out bag. Consider having an additional emergency kit at your place of business.
• Make a family communications plan. Conduct a dry run every few months.
• Fill plastic containers with water and place them in the refrigerator and freezer. Leave an inch of space because water expands while freezing.

• Keep your vehicle’s gas tank full. Gas stations rely on electricity to power their pumps. And your car could be the only heating or air conditioning you’ll have for a while.

• Get a supply of cash. Some stores may not be able to process credit and debit card purchases. Cash machines may not work.

What to Do During a Blackout Caused by an EMP

• Use flashlights for emergency lighting. Using candles during a power outage is a fire risk.

• If you use a generator, keep lights on sparingly. You could become a target if your home is lighted at night.  

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed so food stays as cold as possible.

• Turn off or disconnect appliances and electronics when power goes out. They could be damaged if power returns with a surge.

• If it’s hot outside, go to your home’s lowest level. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Drink plenty of water. Keep curtains closed. 

• If it’s cold outside, wear clothing layers. Open curtains during the day.

 What to Do After a Blackout From an EMP

• Any food exposed to temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit for two-plus hours should be discarded. Same for food with an unusual odor, color, or texture.
• Even food that looks and smells OK may contain bacteria that causes food-borne illnesses. When in doubt, toss it out.
• Don’t turn all appliances on at once. Get heat or air conditioning on first. Wait 10-15 minutes before turning on other appliances.
• If water from faucets has not been running but now is working again, don’t drink it right away. Let it run. Learn if nearby water sources have been compromised.

The only way to protect yourself from a long-term blackout caused by an EMP is preparation. The time to do that is now.