Life After An EMP Attack: No Power, No Food, No Transportation, No Banking And No Internet

http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/life-after-an-emp-attack-no-power-no-food-no-transportation-no-banking-and-no-internet ^

[chessplayer]

Most Americans do not know this, but a single EMP attack could potentially wipe out most of the electronics in the United States and instantly send this nation back to the 1800s. If a nuclear bomb was exploded high enough in the atmosphere over the middle part of the country, the electromagnetic pulse would fry electronic devices from coast to coast. The damage would be millions of times worse than 9/11. Just imagine a world where nobody has power, most cars will not start, the Internet has been fried, the financial system is offline indefinitely, nobody can make any phone calls and virtually all commerce across the entire country is brought to a complete stop. A nation that does not know how to live without technology would be almost entirely stripped of it at that point. Yes, this could really happen. An EMP attack is America's "Achilles heel", and everyone around the world knows it. It is only a matter of time before someone uses an EMP weapon against us, and at this point we are pretty much completely unprepared.

[drjimmy]

I wouldn’t be surprised if our own government did it.

You mean like it did on 9/11?

[MrB]

There’s a vid on Youtube of a way to make a metal office supply cabinet into a faraday cage -

caveat - the guy doesn’t ground it, which is necessary, and of course, no one really knows whether any sort of shielding will do any good.

[Tenacious 1]

Nice. You beat me to it. See my post at #18 above.

I said essentially the same thing with less passion.

[Kartographer]

Reminds me of my favorite Opus cartoon! Which I have hanging on the wall behind my computer at home.

http://www.thecomicstrips.com/store/add_strip.php?iid=9288

[JRandomFreeper]

EMP effect was discovered during 1960s nuclear bomb testing. One bomb burned out part of the Hawaii power grid, over 800 miles away. That bomb was not specifically designed to create EMP. There are bombs today that are designed to cause EMP.

/johnny

[chris37]

No, I don’t, but when one considers the government of this country, can one ever really be 100% sure?

[Tenacious 1]

How will this differ from using Windows Vista?

You deserve a nod for that. Pretty funny.

[LibLieSlayer]

Y2K the world ends.

LLS

[Tonytitan]

[Mr. Lucky]

Gosh, I hope the operating system on my M-1 Garand will still work and the computer chips on my Model 445 Minneapolis-Moline won’t be fried.

[Leaning Right]

How will this differ from using Windows Vista?

I was about to post the same thing, but my computer froze up.

[Craftmore]

While I agree there would be sever shortages,I think we underestimate the ability of farmers to bounce back.I grew up on farms surrounded by farmers.Every farmer I know has backup older equipmant that wouldnt be effected by an emp.Up to and including steam powered equipmant.We also forget the Amish communities.Inner cities would suffer the worst,But by the time they got done killing each other,The ones leaving with evil on thier minds best remember rural areas all hunt,and have fairly large aresenals of thier own.I would be more afraid of our governmant in that situation than I would any hordes of thugs.I think in the long run us Bitter Clingers would do just fine.

[Rinnwald]

All this EMP talk has convinced my wife we must buy a pre-electronic ignition car. Since she is stuck on getting a 1967-70 Cougar, I am okay with that. Might as well cruise the post-apocalyptic wasteland in style.

[Dead Corpse]

That is why I live near a river, acreage, have a manual backup pump for my well, a septic system, etc...

We are also very well prepared to fend off the zombie city-dwelling hoards who might try and take what we have.

[EEGator]

This article is total crap. It’s a good idea to keep supplies handy in case of any emergency. There is no need for sensationalistic nonsense.

[JRandomFreeper]

I worry more about solar flares, like the on in the 1850s that burned up telegraph lines, or the one in the 1960s that took out part of Canada's grid.

Our power distribution system is too fragile, and needs to be upgraded.

/johnny

[Gaffer]

Well, in a way you are correct. However, I still have the 7500 watt generator, the guns, the ammo, and a lot of other things that don’t deteriorate. The way things are going now, I’d say what’s coming will make fears of Y2K look like childish nightmares. You can laugh all you want, but we have a full fledged maniac in control of this country now, likely to be re-elected (for life).

[FerociousRabbit]

I don’t think it would affect me one bit. I certainly feel for those in cities and suburbs but my family and neighbors would be just fine. Simple country folk we are.

[ßuddaßudd]

Dont worry, our government will take care of us and make sure we’re all comfortable. /s

[aruanan]

I worry more about solar flares, like the on in the 1850s that burned up telegraph lines

The Carrington Event allowed telegraphy without applied electricity, but it didn't burn up the lines. Some telegraph paper caught fire and some operators got shocked.