One Second After

September 6, 2009 | Immadashell

[immadashell]

I have just finished reading William R. Forstchen's new novel One Second After. Briefly, it is about the instantaneous breakdown of American way of life as the result of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) which disables the nation's electrical grid as well as all sophisticated electrical components in cars (they stop), planes (they crash), telecomunications of every sort, etc. leaving the population in a world similar to that of the Eighteenth Century. Shortages of every variety create societal strains, chaos, death and destruction in a matter of weeks and months. Forstchen's book (with a forward written by Newt Gingrich), while fiction, creates a scenario which can happen to us today, since the technology already exists. The possibility of this devastation has been largely ignored by our politicians and media, and, to a lesser extent, by the military. Only a very small proportion of our citizens has ever heard about EMP. Even fewer have taken measures to deal with it. Experts on the subject have no doubt about whether we will have to eventually face such an attack. They only question when it will occur.

After reading this book, my first thought was we spend billions (potentially trillions) of dollars preparing for a hypothetical calamity we are powerless over like global warming and yet ignore preparing for this ultimate weapon of asymmetrical warfare.

I highly recommend this very frightening but readable new book. It is science fiction (#1 on Amazon) today but could be reality One Second After.

[Clinging Bitterly]

There's a good chance that the secondary side of your ignition coil would be melted down.

I don't think that would be so likely. The devices thought most vulnerable to EMP would be semiconductor junctions. And actually, if I were a semiconductor device and knew an EMP were coming, I couldn't be much more safe than if I were connected right in the middle of that coil winding, .

[sten]

So... I guess having the ability to MAKE the bullets would be very valuable.

[Lancey Howard]

Aahh.. I really enjoyed the TV show based on this book. It was called ‘Dark Angel’ and it starred the incredibly hot Jessica Alba. I was sorry it only lasted a couple of seasons (if that).

[101voodoo]

Slim Pickins

[immadashell]

This book was first published and released March 17, 2009. Dark Angels was a TV show back in 2000 about genetically altered children. I doubt there is any connection.

[NELSON111]

BTTTFL...

IMHO...a CME is what this country/world really needs to be concerned with. This scenario WOULD happen if the 1859 event were to happen today.

[Lancey Howard]

On June 1, 2009, months after Max's escape, terrorists detonate an electromagnetic pulse weapon in the atmosphere over the U.S., which destroys the vast majority of computer and communication systems, throwing the country into utter chaos.

The first season begins ten years later in 2019, as it follows the life of the now 19-year-old Max as she struggles to search for her Manticore brothers and sisters. In a United States which is now barely more than a Third World nation...

Maybe the book is based on the TV series?

[Doe Eyes]

ICBM complex at Koblas.

[Doe Eyes]

Faraday shields only work on the electrostatic portion of the EM wave

A solid metal box (no holes) blocks electromagnetic radiation.

[Lancey Howard]

I bet tinfoil works, too.

[PLMerite]

I’m kind of curious what the power companies are going to do with less than 30 minutes warning?

Not to mention almost every vehicle’s computer fried, every domestic and commercial gizmo fried, etc.

We probably could harden things, but it’d take some effort.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

After your post, I started researching IH 4x4s.

Can you give me any info about them?
What’s the difference between the model numbers (1100 and 1110, for instance)?

I like the Travelall. Did any of the models have a better or worse reputation than the others?

I’m seriously thinking this may be a good bug-out vehicle to have. I’m taking it that the early ones (early 70’s) are the ones that will still run if there is an EMP. Will the later ones too?

Any good websites for info?

Thanks for the tip and additional info!

[_Jim]

I’m kind of curious what the power companies are going to do with less than 30 minutes warning?

Pull switches and unload some boilers begin to start peakers (peaker plants) for starters ..

They already have plans that are put in effect when geomagnetic storms begin to rage due to a very similar effect (when induced currents begin to flow in the high voltage transmission lines on so-called 'tie lines' between large generation and load-centers that comprise "the grid".)

The Event

The plan (Training material for system operator) pdf format

Not to mention almost every vehicle’s computer fried, every domestic and commercial gizmo fried, etc.

NOW you're buying into the hype. Do you WANT to panic and fret about something QUITE remote and OVERBLOWN (testing of consumer/commercial equipment doesn't reveal NEAR the susceptability some would have you believe)?

[sionnsar]

I’ll be like the guy riding the A-bomb out out the bomb bay (can’t remember his name)

Slim Pickens. And you'd find it a whole bunch rougher than that. The wind would slam you away from the bomb instantly, even if it didn't kill you at the same time.

[sionnsar]

Seems like it would be a lot easier to wake up and find the electricity out than to turn on the TV every morning and find what new damage the failure in chief is doing.

The first happens here often enough in winter. The second never happens here (see my tagline).

[sionnsar]

Quick question: Is the damage done after an EMP permanent or temporary? That is is the car’s computer and circuity and alternator fried completely, or is it stunned and then resets and can be used again. What about computer circuitry?

Permanent.

[_Jim]

Follow-up reference to the Hawaiian Streetlight failures (since this is referred to so many times by proponents of EMP protective measures) such as in this report:

1)
High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) ...
Threat Assessments
Updated July 21, 2008

Excerpt:

The effects of HEMP became fully known to the United States in 1962 during a high-altitude nuclear test (code named “Starfish Prime”) over the Pacific Ocean, when radio stations and electronic equipment were disrupted 800 miles away throughout parts of Hawaii.

and this entry on Wicked-pedia entry:

2)
Starfish Prime :

About 1445 kilometers (897 statute miles) away in Hawaii, the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) created by the explosion was felt as three hundred street lights failed,

Here is a paper presenting an analysis of the Street lights that 'failed' that day. Turns out, they were series-strings of lights in an unusual topology not seen in much use today (near as I can determine):

Did High-Altitude EMP Cause the Hawaiian Streetlight Incident?
Sandia National Laboratories.
June 1989
by Charles N. Vittitoe

[_Jim]

Permanent.

False.

Have you never heard the term 'temporary upsets' before?

[_Jim]

From a major manufacturer of semiconductor product:

TI produces ESD devices with solutions that protect the majority of external connections to the outside world.

ESD Solutions

and

Download TI’s System-Level ESD Protection Guide

TI’s System-Level ESD Protection Guide provides an overview of several types of our latest ESD protection devices for high-speed data rates and for diode array chips for ease of design. Application and end equipment devices are also listed. Download a copy today!

THIS is what provides COTS gear the capability to withstand EMP -and- everyday static-discharge (you know, walking across the carpet in winter when the air is dry and you draw sparks to doorknobs) ...

[guitarplayer1953]

If emp is not a problem why is the military and government hardening their systems? If they are not effective why did the military contemplate using one over Iraq? Finally why are you dismissing all the know studies of the effects of a emp being set off?