On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order to protect against a electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that “has the potential to disrupt, degrade, and damage technology and critical infrastructure systems.”
The order added that man-made or naturally-occurring EMPs “can affect large geographic areas, disrupting elements critical to the Nation’s security and economic prosperity, and could adversely affect global commerce and stability. The Federal Government must foster sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective approaches to improving the Nation’s resilience to the effects of EMPs.”
TJ Gray, a Vietnam veteran and self-sufficienist, recently told us that EMPs are perhaps what worries him most in terms of a catastrophe that society would not be able to handle.
Interesting article. Not sure of the point of it, but still entertaining.
As with most things Trump says, he talks the talk –
But VERY short of details about how he will manage it.
I look forward to learning more, but I won’t hold my breath…
“self-sufficienist”? Ok.
Article link?
What about it?
Maybe I am just technically challenged, but I don’t see a link to the entire article.
As I see it, when I click on the quoted text it links to the article.
Interesting article indeed, the most telling part is near the end, when Mr. Gray discloses that he is thinking about selling the place. I’m suspecting there is a little remorse going on.
I understand that EMP, man made or natural, is a serious threat, but his reaction back in the eighties seems to be a little overboard. The bunker looks cool, but unless the windows have wire mesh in them there’s a good possibility that the electronics inside would still get fried.
As for me, yes I’ve taken EMP’s into account in my planning and that’s why I have a large metal trashcan converted into a Faraday cage in the basement. Inside are the various things that I think I’ll need including spare computer modules for my 2018 Forester.
Given the existential consequences of an actual EMP threat, I wouldn’t waste time perfecting faraday cages. Better to equip oneself for a sustainable, pre-electronic life.
No reason you can’t sustain electromechanical and vacuum tube electronics through an EMP, and many years beyond. Relay logic can implement a pretty sophisticated control system with no ICs.
So you are willing to face the “Brave New World” without ham radios, walkie talkies, laptops on which survival information is stored (and, yes, hard copy is better), and scads of electric and electronic devices that make modern life easier?
If, worst case scenario, 90% of people will be dead in one year, having these things available will give you a much better chance of being one of the survivors. It will be getting through that first year that will be the most difficult obstacle.
I have those things for WORL, but I’m not counting on them working in the event of mass coronal ejection.
To each his own, of course. My fall back positions are bicycles, candles & oil lamps, wood heat, board games, small livestock, and a big-ass garden.
I have some short wave radios and other gear in Faraday cages. The protective devices are easy to make, and if something of that nature does occur, I’d like to be able to at least try to find out what’s going on.
There was a movie some years ago called “Remnants” based on the concept of a massive EMP event. It was funded by the viewers, and started out being posted in installments on the internet. But it had to take money from a major studio to “finish” the feature length film, and the studio turned it into a very poor film.
Part of the challenge of course, is once you put those things infaraday cages, they’re essentially ‘dead’ to you, as you’re unlikely to know when/where an EMP event will occur.
You will know when a EMP or natural sun storm occurs
“Not sure of the point of it”
whenever I see an article like that, and wonder the same thing, I think “Why this, why now?”
The answer is usually ‘battlespace preparation.’ Someone wants people to think about it and maybe take action. Or someone wants to ‘normalize’ the subject of the article.
There is a bit of ‘jumping on the bandwagon’ in media, so if someone sees an article, they might do one of their own to stay ‘relevant’ which multiplies the value and reach of the original article.
WRT EMP and electronics, the US military and DOD has spent a lot of time and energy on the subject and the relevant guides are online. It’s survivable. LOTS of gear will come thru. It makes sense to put some gear in the ‘deep sleep’ faraday cage if you can afford it. You can always pull it out if needed.
you can play ‘what if’ about the number of strikes, and when to take it out, and ‘who you gonna talk to anyway’ all day. Like a lot of preps, having it is better than not.
4 baofangs, a mobile as base station, two kindles loaded with references, a charge controller would all fit in a 50cal ammo can, even more goodies would fit in the small Knaak box, and be sturdy and secure. A bit of weather stripping, some copper ‘finger’ strips, and some aluminum HVAC tape seals it up.
nick
n