“the grid” is only damaged - generators and such - if they are on, not when they are off and their lines are dead.
If they are not “live” the EMP affect has no “electromagnetic” activity to disrupt in a damaging way. It’s the same as “do you need a surge protector if your circuit is off/dead”? No. Any “electromagnetic pulse” will not get passed/into the off/dead circuit.
I think our NatSec planners understand the EMP attack potential and when and if necessary have some options planned.
I don't think so
even with everything switched off...miles of high tension wire will have huge induced voltages due to the induced action of the electromagnetic pulse....resulting in flash over at switches and resultant destruction of equipment.
What you write is only true of 2 of the three pulses from a high altitude Nuclear explosion.
E1 is the much cited Carrington-event style pulse. It is slow-rise voltages induced into long antenna like wires on poles.
E2 is more like a lightning strike
E3 however is the problem. It is very short rise, short wavelength, high energy that induces voltage in small circuits even if powered off. Devices can be shielded from this, but the controlling computers and ICs of the grid are not.
I may have the number backwards, but read about this here: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32544.pdf
Any wiring connected to electronic components acts as an antenna, regardless if disconnected from a grid.