The Electromagnetic Threat

FrontPage Magazine ^ | November 10, 2009 | Jamie Glazov

[unkus]

Damn, this doesn’t look good. I’d like to hear a second opinion.

[EGPWS]

The Electromagnetic Threat

Created by liberal democrat's.

Let them get all weeweed about the truth of electromagnetics!

[goodnesswins]

“Let us say the freighter ship launches a nuclear-armed Shahab-3 missile off the coast of the U.S. and the missile explodes 300 miles over Chicago. The nuclear detonation in space creates an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). Gamma rays from the explosion, through the ‘Compton Effect,’ generate three classes of disruptive electromagnetic pulses, which permanently destroy consumer electronics, the electronics in some automobiles and, most importantly, the hundreds of large transformers that distribute power throughout the U.S. All of our lights, refrigerators, water-pumping stations, TVs and radios stop running. We have no communication and no ability to provide food and water to 300 million Americans”....

Sooooooo.....I guess the SHTF....be prepared, everyone...

[Nowhere Man]

I think in some ways, the EMP threat is overrated. Most cars, even those with computers, will still run, or at least, you will have to restart them after the EMP occurs since car bodies act like Faraday cages. Your transistor radio should still work if it isn’t connected to the AC mains and the antenna is collapsed and folded. However, herein lays the rub, it will damage the power distribution system so unless you have a generator or batteries, you’re screwed.

[netmilsmom]

We have been storing our crank radio in our microwave in the camper.

Another FReeper said that old microwaves are the perfect Faraday cages. And hang a chain from your car axle and it will be fine.

[goodnesswins]

THAT’s good to know...our crank radio is in our trailer....but, NOT in the M/W....

[xkaydet65]

First time I heard about this was the 80s ABC mini series Amerika. |The Russians had crippled the US, but according to the book that followed the TV series it took four thermo nuclear devices of very high yield to accomplish the blackout.

I doubt Iran would have high yield thermonukes in the near future and a launch from sea to a point over Chicago would seem to be open to ABMs. So while the danger exists, I don't think it an immediate cause for worry.

[Former Proud Canadian]

BUMP

[_Jim]

Right.

Fear it.

Not.

Previously discussed:

www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2333665/posts?page=170

[maine-iac7]

ahhm - the fact that Iran is actively working towards the means to unleash this - has been known, well, I don't know how long.

I remember reading about it a couple years ago. It amazes me the vital threats we should all know about are kept off the radar.

An EMP would be a perfect first strike weapon - knocking the ‘enemies’ systems ‘dead.’ They could then move in with more conventional weapons without meeting heavy resistance.

I doubt Iran is alone in working on this weapon - I'm sure we are too as well as other countries...some, quite probably in cahoots with Iran.

As for us ‘regular’ citizens? Well, for myself, I am grateful I don't live in or near a large metropolis. They have never been the place to be living in war but in war where the enemy can shut down everything that moves...it wouldn't take long before chaos reigned.

Myself, although without power, I can still heat my house and cook food, and have means of light - I couldn't get water from my well - and my hand pump needs replacing.

I can grow a small garden - but that only furnishes limited food for a few months. I keep a minimum of a months food on hand, mainly for the convenience of not having to make trips to town...but also as a precaution. (During the Ice Storm of 1998, I was without power for 19 days. My supplies came in handy.)

Over the past 60 years, even most rural folk have become almost totally dependent on that thin wire to the road.

A very unwise way to live.

[_Jim]

Overblown - that's the prognostication here regarding EMP effects on the power system:

Effect of the FAST NUCLEAR ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE on the Electric Power Grid Nationwide: A Different View (pdf)
Mario Rabinowitz
Electric Power Research Institute

Abstract

This paper primarily considers the potential effects of a single high-altitude nuclear burst on the U.S. power grid.

A comparison is made between EMP and natural phenomena such as lightning. This paper concludes that EMP is no more harmful to the power grid than its counterparts in nature.

An upper limit of the electric field of the very fast, high-amplitude EMP is derived from first principles.

The resulting values are significantly lower than the commonly presented values.

Additional calculations show that the ionization produced by a nuclear burst severely attenuates the EMP.

[Rocky]

Which way should I line up my old batteries so that they will be recharged when the EMP hits?

[volunbeer]

This is a very real threat.

Imagine an America with no electricity for many months or years. No clean drinking water, no refrigerators, no grocery store, no drug store, no viable financial system, no communication, massive loss of records, etc etc etc. The death toll only rises when you consider the civil unrest as large cities go feral.

It is a nightmare scenario but one that people should discuss and be prepared for. Many theorize that this was why the Iranians did the launch of a missile from an oil tanker in the gulf a few years ago.

We are very vulnerable to EMP. Contrary to what another poster said above it would likely render all modern vehicles dead until the computerized electronic systems could be replaced. Even assuming your vehicle ran, the gas pumps won’t work without electricity and distribution would be disrupted even if they could run the pumps.

I believe we would see millions of casualties here in the U.S. The dollar would be destroyed overnight and banks would not function. Emergency services would be almost non-existent and the quality of health care greatly diminished. Manufacturing and most of our agricultural production would be wiped out. No sewage treatment plants and no clean water.

Our forefathers knew how to live without our modern amenities. The majority of Americans have no clue today. I bet half our country would not even know to boil water before they drank it. It would be a good time to live in the country and have plenty of ammunition and clean water.

[volunbeer]

I don’t believe the Iranians have the current technology to carry out an attack of this nature but I definitely believe the Russians or Chinese could.

How likely is this? It is probably not real likely to happen but I am responsible for 3 very young children and my wife. It does not cost that much to store food, water, water filters, ammo, and other items that would be worth their weight in gold if the unthinkable happened. It is not bad to have a plan either for a family that is spread apart.

I do not think our electrical grid is even remotely prepared for something like this. Lest we forget, there have been disruptions before simply from solar activity.

I think there are many more viable disasters to be concerned about but I certainly don’t think it hurts to understand the POTENTIAL of an EMP attack or event.

Even a crappy EMP attack on the East Coast would wreck our economy and be the worst civil emergency imaginable.

[onedoug]

So while the danger exists, I don't think it an immediate cause for worry.

Echoes of history.

[AZ .44 MAG]

If you’re really worried about EMP damage see my profile page for a safe place to keep things.

[_Jim]

I do not think our electrical grid is even remotely prepared for something like this. Lest we forget, there have been disruptions before simply from solar activity.

And this is based on???

A LOT was learned on those events back in the 80's (was it?)

There is now in place advance warning and measures are to be put in place, like breaking LONG tie lines be between parts of different systems, THAT'S why there was damage last time, system transmission operators left 'lines' up and transformer cores saw slow moving DC between the current carryng conductors and ground and the cores saturated and when that happens the applied AC seen no counter EMF and large currents flow the and the transformers get damaged ...

BUT, like I just wrote, they are primed to key on the events that precede a solar event of this kind ... even moreso with a launch of nuclear weapons - time to island otherwise interconnected systems and avoid the problem.

[_Jim]

Imagine an America with no electricity for many months or years.

Not a realistic asscessent; See the EPRI report above.

(Unless you want to panic, or it fits your business model.)

[Rennes Templar]

I have six months food and water and firewood, and two months fuel for generator. And that’s just to get through Montana winters! ;>)

Also keep my 90 Isuzu Trooper tuned up. No electronics.