What do future presidents need to know about existential dangers this country could face? Explorer investigates the science behind the dangers of a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse, or HEMP. Picture an instantaneous deathblow to the vital engines that power our society, delivered by a nuclear weapon designed not to kill humans but to attack electronics. What could happen if an electromagnetic pulse surged to earth, crippling every aspect of modern society’s infrastructure?
Explore what could happen when a high altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) occurs and cripples our electrical grid.
Saturday June 19th on National Geographic. Check your local listings.
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Serious planning should be initiated for large portable telecommunication platforms that could serve as triage communications for disaster recovery efforts.
Yes, they can be shielded from HEMP and these systems are simple enough to manufacture and deploy, but they are viewed as too expensive to commit to by the people who make (or should I say don’t make) decisions on these matters.
On a more personal level, YOU can personally plan for backup communications by building a faraday shielded container (cheap) for your emergency radio equipment and get yourself an amateur radio license and backup batteries.
Don’t wait for other people to plan for your safety or your family’s security.
We’ve known for years about magnetic shielding with a soft iron called Mu Metal, that is used in every oscilloscope for the CRT shielding, our IC’s could have been made with a very thin wrap of this Mu Metal. It is not too late to add magnetic protection for crucial cercuitry, but of course we will wait until disaster strikes, then complain. We have Surge Protectors of all kinds on our power lines, but have they ever been tested? Defense is a lot cheaper than failure to protect our infrastructure NOW. How will our flat screen Monitors survive? Probably total failure, but these are really hard to protect, due to that would block the viewing area. CRT’s would actually be more safe from failure. Equipment with those old Vacuum Tubes would still operate.
Frankly I dont think any of the public will get protection from from any official dept of the US. Tho I do think they should have protected our power grid with back transformers and whatever else we it needs. Dont take me wrong but sometimes when a system is to large to fix..You really do wait for it to break before coming into a new world with new technology. I strong believe if you want to be safe cover your own butt. Long term food storage or what I call the extended pantry. Some of my Electronics including a small power inverter, radios, laptop are all wrapped in plastic then placed inside a steel trash can that is not touching any conductive surface. Im placing my bets that if any sort of EMP or Solar flare hits my things I will have done what I could to protect them. Better than waiting for someone else to do it.