I am not sure that is the issue.
The issue is transistors and chips that would be internally melted or shorted.
That means whatever generates the signal to be transmitted over the fiber optic line would be non functional because the chip that processes the math would not work: hence: not even the BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH!
In fact, your car would die, too, there are many chips in your car's computer, too.
No radios. No television unless it is tube technology, but the transmitters would be fried locally.
Cable TV might work from a long distance, but not from the local stations.
Your satellite receiver would be fried because the box has chips in it.
Time to go analog!
That or build a lead shield around your house!
Bingo!
EMP would have serious implications. Could do a lot of economic damage, at the least. Hmmmmmmmmm, isn't that what Al Qaida aims to do?
Except when they are in my electronic gear.
You are right, but I was thinking that when a missile would be launched, we could shut down any machines that use electronics and then the EMP would not have any effect.
Burrying the fibre optic cables and power lines would prevent a lot of problems like we had when the power went out a year ago.
Actually this is a nightmarish scenario, not an inconvenience scenario.
No water pressure. No sanitation.
No food deliveries.
Food supply spoils in situ.
Starvation is widespread.
Any civil disturbance or crime is unstoppable by the un-armed/; un-organized/ un-trained.
No medicine.
No law enforcement of the ability to call them or dispatch them.
No information exchange.
No medicine.
NOTHING civilian works except mechanical tools.
Lord of the Flies sets in.
Safest place to be in the civilized world would be a local military installation.
It was reported that Bill Gates encased his house in stainless steel and turned it into a virtual Gaussian Sphere.
Actually its not lead for above ground buildings its something else...