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DHS Combats Potential Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack
dhs.gov ^ | 9/3/2020 | dhs.gov

Posted on 09/04/2020 8:53:05 PM PDT by bitt

Releases: Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Program Status Report

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to prepare against ever evolving threats against the American homeland, most recently highlighting efforts to combat an Electromagnetic Pulse attack which could disrupt the electrical grid and potentially damage electronics. Today, the department is releasing the Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Program Status Report as part of an update on efforts underway in support of Executive Order (E.O.) 13865 on Coordinating National Resilience to Electromagnetic Pulses. E.O. 13865 establishes resilience and security standards for U.S. critical infrastructure as a national priority.

EMP weapons have the potential to disrupt unprotected critical infrastructure within the US and could impact millions over large parts of the country. Since the President’s signing of the E.O. in March 2019, DHS, through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), in coordination with the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has taken key actions to address known EMP-related vulnerabilities to critical infrastructure. The EMP Program Status Report highlights efforts taken across the public and private sector to foster increased resilience to EMP events. Through data analysis, vulnerability and risk assessments, testing and pilot programs, and government and industry engagement, the department is identifying critical infrastructure and associated functions that are at greatest risk from an EMP, and developing and implementing best practices to reduce the risk.

“EMP attacks are part of the emerging threats against our nation and demand a response,” said Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli. “That is why DHS is taking these contingencies very seriously, working diligently to mitigate our risks and equipping our state and local partners with the resources they need to do the same. We’ve made significant progress and look forward to the work ahead.”

“As the Nation’s risk advisor, one of CISA’s priorities is understanding and mitigating threats associated with EMPs,” said CISA Director Chris Krebs. “Over the past year, we have worked with interagency and industry partners to identify the footprint and effects of EMP threats across our National Critical Functions, and are developing sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective approaches to improving the Nation’s resilience to EMPs.”

In 2018, DHS released the Strategy for Protecting and Preparing the Homeland against Threats from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and Geomagnetic Disturbance (GMD), which was the Department’s first articulation of a holistic, long-term, partnership-based approach to protecting critical infrastructure and preparing to respond and recover from potentially catastrophic electromagnetic incidents.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: dhs; empattack

1 posted on 09/04/2020 8:53:05 PM PDT by bitt
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To: Whenifhow; null and void; aragorn; EnigmaticAnomaly; kalee; Kale; azishot; AZ .44 MAG; Baynative; ..

p


2 posted on 09/04/2020 8:53:19 PM PDT by bitt (Those who learn from the past are condemned to watch everybody else repeat it)
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To: bitt

At least they’re doing something about this. It was neglected for far too long.


3 posted on 09/04/2020 9:06:07 PM PDT by laplata (The Left/Progressives have diseased minds.)
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To: Bigg Red

Mark


4 posted on 09/04/2020 9:10:29 PM PDT by Bigg Red (WWG1WGA)
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To: SunkenCiv

ping


5 posted on 09/04/2020 9:11:34 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: bitt
But I thought DHS said white supremacy was the greatest threat we faced🙄.
6 posted on 09/04/2020 10:19:08 PM PDT by willk (A bias news media is not a free press.)
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To: laplata

At least they’re doing something about this.

```
even if it is only on paper


7 posted on 09/05/2020 3:43:03 AM PDT by PIF (`)
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To: bitt

It’s a serious threat and I’m glad someone besides Jeanine Pirro is talking about it. I think PDJT should “bomb the shit” (his words) out of China ASAP. All of China.


8 posted on 09/05/2020 4:17:13 AM PDT by MayflowerMadam (If 100% of us contracted this Covid Virus only 99.997% would be left to tell our story.)
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To: bitt

Don’t kid yourselves. They haven’t done jack chit to harden the grid. Military grid yeh. The rest of us will be sitting next to a fireplace with a candle. If you do not have some form of alternative energy and the grid goes down more likely by cyber hackers than EMP your life will be short and miserable.


9 posted on 09/05/2020 7:30:29 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: PIF

It’s a very serious and potentially devastating threat and should have been dealt with long ago.


10 posted on 09/05/2020 7:46:30 AM PDT by laplata (The Left/Progressives have diseased minds.)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

You’re exactly right.


11 posted on 09/05/2020 7:47:28 AM PDT by laplata (The Left/Progressives have diseased minds.)
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To: MayflowerMadam

It’s a bad situation. Any Dem president will only assist China in expediting our demise.


12 posted on 09/05/2020 7:49:47 AM PDT by laplata (The Left/Progressives have diseased minds.)
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To: laplata

More than agreed


13 posted on 09/05/2020 8:17:34 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
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To: bitt; ransomnote; little jeremiah
There is much to be done on this issue. Not all of it is the govt's responsibility. Private citizens are not being made aware of their vulnerabilities.

#1   : Homeowners will likely lose their television, radio, computer {internet}, automobile {computer controls}, 2-way radios... etc.

#2   : The electric grid; the challenge is mammoth - and any progress has not been widely broadcast. One of the biggest problems are the large transformers that control power on the vast grid system(s). Ten years or so ago we had almost no backup transformers - and the ones we had were manufactured overseas. Hopefully that is one vulnerability that POTUS and the USGvt have addressed.

#3   : Transportation; the same vulnerability that will disable your automobile will disable trucks that deliver the vast majority of the items we consume - from food and medicines to critical public needs... hardware and building supplies... hospital and surgical supplies... etc. Fuel pumping may well be disabled also.

#4   : Military; while the military has been 'hardening' as many systems that they can - from global monitoring equipment and troop base functions to fighter jets and fleet ships. The fate of GPS satellites is unclear; while they are not supposedly subject to EMP's they are vulnerable to 'killer satellites'. Without GPS guidance many of our 'guided missiles' as well as determining asset location and troops movements could be thrown back to WWII standards or even earlier. The same holds true of 'spy' satellites. The military may have dealt with these threats; we can only hope so - they are unlikely to brief us.

.

I have a relatively small Navy aluminum storage equipment case in which I store batteries {which must be recycled periodically}, radios, including short wave receivers, CB's, other small electronic equipment. There is not room for a normal sized TV and computer tower. A tablet or 'smart phone' would fit but my WiFi would be disabled as well as our cable modem; cell towers would have to be 'hardened' in order to keep operating.

At least a minimal solar system is required in order to charge battery operated units like cell phones and tablets, even lanterns and fans right up to refrigerators and the like.

I know of a few techs that have built EMP 'rooms' with computer and huge memory storage protected; that could include ham radio and television but will TV stations be on the air? Any wire or cable connections to outside sources makes sequestered equipment vulnerable.

The classic home EMP-proof container is the metal garbage can. Line it completely with cardboard or thick paper and after closing seal it with metallic tape or similar.

Individual homeowner responsibility is a large part of preparing for an EMP threat.

14 posted on 09/05/2020 10:30:27 AM PDT by Bob Ireland (The Democrap Party is the enemy of freedom.They use all the seductions and deceits of the Bolshevics)
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