[DBrow]

OK, so we all agree it’s dumb to not have protection against EMP, natural or hostile.

So what should Congress do? What does Congress have the authority to do?

What physical things can be done to protect the USA from a big radio pulse?

[metmom]

We can’t depend on the feds. Congress can, and will, do nothing.

It’s going to be up to the grassroots to watch out for themselves.

It’ll be up to us to protect ourselves from the consequences of one.

Make sure you have equipment and food and medical supplies that are not vulnerable to an EMP.

And make sure you have a plan for dealing with feral looters. I have no doubt that they will band together under a strong leader as the scenario in One Second After describes. They will have to be dealt with ruthlessly as described in the book to protect society.

That’s probably the part of the book that alarmed me the most. The rest is pretty easy to figure out as far as survival. Planning for that contingency, is another matter.

[The Comedian]

What physical things can be done to protect the USA from a big radio pulse?

Strangely enough, this happens to be an area I know something about, having consulted to electricity concerns on risk management.

1. Congress could fund a "cold storage" facility for spares of the very large transformers that will go in the first EMP wave and cannot be manufactured and delivered in something like under 18-24 months. (And btw, these are made in China now, so consider the implications).

2. Create a 100% tax deduction for the purchase of small gas, propane, wind, water, and solar generators. Basically create a tax break for decentralizing the grid.

3. Harden the existing infrastructure. This is technical, but could be done across all of the American grid for about $4 billion.

But none of this matters because the evil, murdering liars in DC consider us much easier pickin's if we're cold, hungry, and in the dark.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.