Posted on 09/14/2014 7:15:44 AM PDT by blam
BILLIONAIRE HEDGE FUND MANAGER: Of All The Things That Are Likely, Nothing Is Scarier Than An Electromagnetic Pulse
Myles Udland
July 30, 2014
Plasmasphere - Wikimedia Commons
Hedge fund managers often like to opine on various topics that are largely unrelated to investing.
In his latest lengthy quarterly letter to clients, Paul Singer of Elliott Management spent some time discussing a phenomenon that caught our attention and the attention of many others.
It's the danger posed by an electromagnetic pulse.
Singer writes that an electromagnetic pulse is the "risk that stands way above the rest in terms of the scope of potential damage adjusted for the likelihood of occurrence."
According to Singer, threats that are more manageable than an electromagnetic pulse include nuclear war and asteroids.
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Part of the problem is stocking replacement parts. When electrical infrastructure is damaged, utilities replace components as needed. But utility companies can only stock so many components for a storm or other disaster, and place orders for replacement parts that may take months to obtain. If there is a wide-spread disaster like an EMP affecting many communities, it will possibly take years to manufacture the needed equipment. There's only so much money available to make and buy the equipment, that's the rub. People will be without electricity maybe for a year or more, depending on where utilities focus their rebuilding efforts.
Iran has been “practicing” launches of such a device in the Black Sea. A launch from that direction would send something up from “our” southern side. Curious to note, monitoring on our southern side is basically null and void these days thanks to Obama.
Another curious note. the NoRK’s have three satellites floating around not doing a damn thing, just whizzing about. Makes ya wonder what those sat’s are carrying.
While a single EMP cannot wipe us out, for large chunk(s) of the country it will be a long time before they re-join the 21st century.
How are you going to power the inverter? Do you have a generator? Do you have stored fuel on hand? A small inverter can only power so much (100w is one lightbulb). Forget powering a fridge.
A generator is noisy, but has the power to drive most equipment in your home. But again, how much fuel do you have on hand, and the noise will attract others seeking to take it from you. A good bet is to use an inverter plugged into your vehicle, if you vehicle still operates. (I own several vintage 1960s and 1970s cars, with spare voltage coils and such to keep them running, with full gas tanks.) You can run your car to power lights, and others won't notice as they would with a generator. Get a bank of batteries, install a voltage regulator, and keep them charged from the grid until needed, then recharge from solar panels or generator if main power is out.
With a dirtbike, he can travel away from the crowds and have 20 miles in the main tank, 20 miles with the spare gas can. walking home 10 miles is better than walking home 50.
But in any case, God can certainly take best care of your son. :)
The sun could zot out the whole country. Islamists couldn’t zot out the whole country. They could do local damage... maybe... if they developed capabilities WAY more advanced that what they have now.
Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to prevent them trying, but I’m not losing any sleep over it.
With a specifics calculated predetermined target? I'll be darned.
Yes. The target would be “earth”.
Ever since I started reading about EMPs the more confusing it gets. The survival guys think it will be the end of our world.
Scientist/engineering guys say it would be local at worst.
Other guys say that my car would stall, but would start up again.
Anyone know of a consensus?
I am a 50 year old dirt rider. I had to walk 20 miles out of the woods last week. No EMP needed to screw up! Tell your rider to keep at it.
I didn’t realize the sun could reason and use predetermined targets. Hmmmm
True - but the sun’s not intentionally out to get us... And it’s been over a hundred years since the last time - some telegraph lines knocked out... it wasn’t much. I’m a lot more worried about folks like ISIS...
There weren't a lot of ultra sensitive computer chips in the 50's and 60's... It was that time period, right? I've forgotten, when did Russians stop doing above ground test - do you know?
It wasn’t much... because there was nothing TO knock out. No satellites, no electrical substations. It was a vastly different world. I’m more worried about ISIS overall, but when it comes to an EMP pulse, I really can’t see them pulling off something like that off. At least not for quite awhile.
Hecky durn.
Good.
Now, be the person, who has that capability- in such, an event. Now, be the person, who does not... see any problems?
There's also a lot of hunters that live here, hence there's guns and ammo.
The thing they would most need I would guess would be food and medical supplies more than anything else. Very few of them garden either.
The EMP? Lightning. Don't buy all these fear tactics.
I believe 1959, 1960. In 1963 there was the comprehensive test ban treaty.
I remember in 1987 when I was working at Computerland I got a proposal for 'ruggedized' IBM PC's for the Navy Underwater Center in Newport that had heavy shielding.
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