Posted on 09/24/2018 5:09:22 PM PDT by upchuck
The United States is vulnerable to a devastating electromagnetic pulse event caused by a high-altitude nuclear blast or solar superstorm, according to a recently published book.
Peter Pry, a former CIA analyst and author of the book EMP Manhattan Project, is urging the government to rapidly harden the U.S. electric power system against EMP similar to the three-year crash program to build the first atomic bomb in 1942.
"Today the United States and the world faces another existential threatfrom an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) catastrophe that can be caused by nature or man, and topple the technological pillars of modern electronic civilization," said Pry, who served on a congressional EMP commission in the early 2000s.
The book contains fresh assessments of the EMP threat produced by a more recent congressional commission last year that concluded the United States would suffer millions of deaths from a major EMP incident.
EMP was discovered in the 1960s during above-ground nuclear tests. The tests showed a nuclear blast created a pulse capable of disrupting or destroying electronic devices over large areas, in some cases over 1,000 miles away.
The latest EMP commission found the United States is confronted with "a present and continuing existential threat from naturally occurring and manmade electromagnetic pulse assault and related attacks on military and critical national infrastructures."
An EMP event would produce an electric power outage over large areas of the country that could last for a year or longer.
Emergency systems, such as generators, also are vulnerable to damage from EMP.
EMP events would disable critical supply chains and plunge the entire country into living conditions similar to those of centuries ago prior the use of electric power.
"An extended blackout today could result in the death of a large fraction of the American people through the effects of societal collapse, disease, and starvation," the commission stated in its July 2017 report. "While national planning and preparation for such events could help mitigate the damage, few such actions are currently underway or even being contemplated."
William R. Graham, former head of the EMP commission, stated in a preface to the book that a nationwide electrical blackout of one year "could kill millions, perhaps prove fatal to most Americans, by starvation, disease, and societal collapse."
"EMP is a civilization killer," Graham said.
Read the rest at the link...
“State of Fear”. Government to the rescue.
Ping.
For a realistic picture I suggest FReepers read the book One Second After. After reading that, you'll think twice when going to the grocery store. With your car running, the store stocked to the brim, both of which will rapidly stop after an EMP.
American utilities are investor owned, municipal owned or co-op owned.
Lots of links. There should be a nation wide plan developed...
I hear doing it would be relatively cheap, like 2 billion for basic protection, and 10 billion for everything.
Why this hasn't been done puzzles me, and it should puzzle you too.
Last sentence says it all. Bureaucrats have their head up their butts. Not doing anything about this.
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The Deep State would use an EMP if they could do so when it is obviously falling apart on them. IMO. But they would have a tough time hijacking a delivery system from the military.
Oh, no! Them there solar panels fries birds ‘n bats. I ain’t lettin’ none o’ those males around this hyear neighborhood put up none o’ them thangs! ‘sides! I ain’t got none! Tell all the girls. We cain’t let it happen!
Hysteria, it’s not just for breakfast anymore.
The EMP culprit will be the DEEP STATE and I give you a SINGLE guess who they’ll blame it on.
Is this Ford making another claim?
Preparing for EMP also prepares for a solar storm emission event. Prudent for an electronic society.
Our military planes are EMP hardened. They have been for at least 30 years. I can only imagine what else is at this point.
Bttt.
5.56mm
Kavanaugh?
So, rather than invest in solar and wind maybe work on protecting what’s in place? Hmmmm. Surely nobody in d.c is considering that kind of investment. Fidiots!
We are in more danger of a “computer glitch” aka cyber attack taking down the EBT/SNAP system, after which inner-city armageddon would ensue.
This country was founded and there was no electric at the time. I’m pretty sure we can adapt pretty quickly. I wouldn’t want to be in a city of course.
At the end of the day it would actually be good for the country. Those defendant on Gov will starve or be killed off fairly quickly and those who can take care of themselves and have the mindset to do so will survive. As a bonus, Trump gets to be dictator for a few years to drain the swamp.
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