An EMP would not just take down the power grid. It would destroy the transformers essential to the grid’s operation. Probably at least a year to begin a fix, years to get things back to normal. Although “normal” would never be normal as we think of it.
a hackSAW could do what hackers can do to the power grid, because it is a redundant distributed network with multiple points of control that make a cyber attack more difficult, just as it does for the internet. EMP however could instantly wipe out multiple control systems, making it difficult for the grid to self-heal. For example, hackers could target a specific power generating plant with something like Stuxnet but they could not target them all. In contrast, EMP could destroy the communications between dozens of power generating plants making it impossible for them to load-balance and thus causing damage to occur at all of them.
[ Why worry about EMP when computer hackers could bring down the nation’s power grid? ]
Just the power grid goign down would not be so bad as cars and trucks would still work and people could get the hell out of dodge in time to avoid the welfare zombies...
and EMP and we who live in the cities would be stuck having to deal with the hordes of roving savages...
Aren’t the power plants closed circuit?
“Why worry about EMP when computer hackers could bring down the nation’s power grid?”
Yes so true. EMP is the least of our worries. Everyday Iranian and Chinese hackers attack our power grid with cyber attacks. Its just a matter of time until the grid is so weakened IMO by the continued power plant closings that we will see probably the NE grid go down. That’s me and Mr GG2 and most of our family. So an alternative source of power is a really good idea.
Um, because they're both hazards and we have a lot of people dedicated to cyber-security?
There’s a difference between hackers that could bring down the power grid (which would be very bad indeed) and an EMP which could (we still don’t know for sure, but preppers are wise to prepare for a worst-case-scenario) fry all micro-circuitry (meaning nothing with any type of computer such as your vehicle or delivery trucks or many of the systems that deliver utilities (thanks “Smart Grid”) would work.
As preppers, we should prepare for both. “One Second After” is a good wake-up call for the EMP scenario.