The threat of an electromagnetic pulse or EMP attack is real. Just ask North Korea’s Supreme Leader. The East Asian nation has garnered criticisms and the ire of people all over the world after it apparently refuses to cease its nuclear program despite promises to do otherwise. There have been reports that Kim Jong-un and his regime continue to build nuclear weapons even as many have lauded them for working with South Korea to end its decades-long war with each other.
With all these speculations of North Korea working on its nuclear arsenal behind everybody’s back, many are questioning if the United States is ready for a nuclear war or even an EMP attack. How about you? Are you ready for such terrorist attack and possible repercussions such as an economic collapse, societal breakdown, or the failure of the power grid?
The latter is the most immediate potential of an EMP attack. This scenario will eventually lead to the collapse of the economy since most institutions will cease to function without electricity. Communications, internet servers, air traffic control systems, television networks, hospitals, and banking systems. All these will fall down one after the other. When this happens, a breakdown of society is imminent.
Protect Electrical Appliances From EMP Attack
There’s little you can do for your electrical appliances and devices during an EMP attack unless you have a Faraday Cage. Michael Faraday discovered that electromagnetic fields cannot pass through this particular cage.
Fortunately, you can make your own Faraday Cage. Simply wrap a box with aluminum foil. Make sure your devices are entirely wrapped. If there are gaps, the EMP can still do some damage.
You may also want to buy lots of galvanized trash cans. Place your valuable electrical devices inside these trashcans and make sure the lid is closed completely. You can also wrap the can with aluminum foil to be more effective against the effects of an EMP attack.
Non-Electrical Appliances
Another way to prepare for such horrific scenario is to have appliances that don’t require electricity to work.
Light
No power basically means no light, especially in the evening. You can always get a fire burning to light up the place and keep you warm. This takes a lot of time and effort, however. Plus, it could be difficult to sleep with all the smoke. You should invest on wind-up flashlights, rechargeable lights, and solar-powered lanterns. Light sticks, candles and oil lamps will also do the job.
Kitchen Items
Use a solar oven for cooking and boiling water instead of an electric or microwave oven. You can also use a gas stove. The solar stove is better in the long run since the sun will not be going anywhere anytime soon. Natural gas and other fuels, meanwhile, will not last that long.
Tools
It’s fun to collect power tools, especially if you do woodworking and carpentry for a living. However, these tools may be useless after an EMP attack. Invest on some hand tools so you can still do some repairs on your home.
Communication
Communication is important when SHTF. It’s particularly terrifying if you can’t contact your family once an EMP attack occurs. Again, preparation is the key. One way to beat this dilemma is to have a plan. Set a meet-up point where everybody will go in case of an emergency and everybody’d in different places. Also, keep your phones, laptops (in case Internet is still available), radios and other communication devices in your Faraday Cage.
When you’re cut off from your family or from the rest of the world, you can rely on some outdated means of communication to stay updated.
In the early days, messages, mails and packages were sent by animals. After an EMP attack, this method may find their way back to your daily lives. It would be a lot easier and faster, however, if you use these four ways to communicate when the power is down.
Two-Way Radio and CB Radio
Two-way radios or walkie-talkies are portable so they make a great communication tool when you’re out and about. A Citizen’s Band or CB radio, meanwhile, is bulkier and often found inside a vehicle or in homes. It has better range than a walkie-talkie, especially if it has an external antenna.
Amateur or Ham Radio
A HAM radio is the communication device of choice for reaching out to people in faraway places. A regular HAM radio has a reach of around ten miles but it can go further when used with a repeater.
Phone Booths
Before an EMP attack ever happens, locate the phone booths near your vicinity. Chances are, these classic modes of communication will still work as long as the telecommunications network is fine. Keep some change on you in case you come across a phone booth while you’re out on a supply run or something.
Crank Radio
Ronsnow Solar Emergency NOAA Weather Radio Dynamo Hand Crank RadioWhen the power grid goes down, there might not be any radio station broadcasting the latest news or playing the newest hit songs. In case they do survive, you can use your crank radio to listen for government announces and such.
EMP Attack Survival Kit
Whether you shelter in place or bug out, you need to keep an EMP attack survival kit handy. Your shelter must have ample food and water while your emergency kit must also have some supplies that will last a few days in case you have to bug out.
You may not be able to use your conduction oven and refrigerator after an EMP attack. Once power is out, consume whatever food that spoils easy. Your prepper pantry should be filled with different kinds of food that have a long shelf life and are easy to prepare.
You also need the right survival gear. Fill your bug out bag with the basics such as flashlight, headlamp, paracord, multi-tool, knife, tent, sleeping bag, extra clothes, waterproof matches, flint, water container, portable stove, and a small pot and pan for cooking.
You should also have a whistle, signal mirror, first aid kit, poncho, tarp, duct tape, hatchet, weapon, compass, and such.
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