EMERGENCY RISK REDUCTION

Recently, the first winter blast along the Canadian west coast resulted in a power outage for about an hour. Some folk pulled out flashlights and candles; intersections were on 4-way stop procedures; and, heaven forbid, internet connections were cut due to a lack of electricity to routers and local servers. This small inconvenience reminded me of one of the most sinister, convenient, and destructive ways to cripple the western world – an Electro-Magnetic Pulse.

An EMP is an intense burst of electromagnetic (EM) energy caused by an abrupt, rapid acceleration of charged particles. A familiar example is a lightning strike, when the  energy somehow jumps into electricity lines and results in a current ‘surge’ that damages transformers and anything else along the power line. The adage to unplug electrical equipment during a thunderstorm is not unwise, since the rise in current (i.e. electrons) can cause serious damage to plugged-in equipment, especially sensitive hardware such as computers and peripherals. Small suppressors, often called surge protectors, or modem jacks offer very limited protection against EMPs, even a lightning bolt during a thundershower. The best method for protection of electronics and electrical equipment when not in use is to unplug them.

In disaster circles, an EMP is a threat associated with a nuclear explosion. The detonation of a nuclear bomb generates a powerful EMP, and at a high altitude, it would impact a large geographic area. Besides the nuclear radiation impact, the EMP effects alone would be profound — damaging electrical currents in wireless antennas, telephone lines, and utility wires.  I’m old enough to recall the US-USSR nuclear stalemate, referred to as “mutual assured destruction”.  It clearly was a MAD time.  Today, numerous countries have nuclear capability, including delivery systems. One rouge country (or political faction) would not even need to explode a nuclear bomb — which would have immediate political ramifications.  An EMP bomb would suffice.

Depending upon its size and height above the earth, one electro-magnetic explosion could send cities or an entire region of North America back to the 19^th Century. Communications, electronics, and electrical infrastructure would be hugely disrupted or destroyed.  The twisted beauty of an EMP is that, after exploding the bomb, the perpetrator could simply step back and watch any developed country implode. “Crippled” would be putting it mildly.  

I don’t think we quite grasp how fragile are the ‘systems’ that allow our lifestyles to exist. Reading this blog could not happen. Driving wouldn’t be possible. Forget smart phones. Any phone. Have an electric stove or refrig? Forget it. Starbucks? Sorry, closed.  Money from an ATM? Not possible. Heck, even entering many stores (i.e. electronic doors) couldn’t happen. Desperation would set in. Anarchy would reign after only a few day — certainly within weeks.  Life as we know it would change, probably forever.

A small glimpse of an EMP’s impact is the short power outage that we just had. Take the time to consider what you would do if power was out for two days, rather than two hours. Heaven forbid, two weeks.    Have as a solid ‘backup’ of basics. Glance at other sections of this site, or other websites, for tips. Try to ‘harden” (i.e. ground) your electronics, communications, and electrical equipment. Do some forward thinking.  If you live in the city, consider a plan for leaving. The less desperate people around, probably the safer you and your family will be. With some preparation, you will be years, even decades (excuse the pun), ahead of your neighbors who thought you were weird to prepare for something so far-fetched.

Thanks for reading.