Posted on 08/20/2012 6:13:28 AM PDT by raptor22
National Security: A new TV series demonstrates graphically how vulnerable our society is to an attack using weapons our enemies, including rogue state Iran, could use tomorrow — and the importance of missile defense.
Set in a future "where every single piece of technology — computers, planes, cars, phones, even lights — has mysteriously blacked out forever," according to the promos, the drama series is fiction, but the threat it depicts, the end of technological society and life as we know it, is a frighteningly real possibility.
We've warned of the threat many times, but the damage an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), a high-intensity burst of electromagnetic energy caused by an explosion of charged particles, such as by a high-altitude nuclear detonation, is a subject that makes eyes glaze over.
Let's hope this series will show the apocalyptic nature of this threat in terms average people can understand.
Eric Kripke, one of the show's executive producers, said, "We did our homework and came up with something that's actually plausible." Indeed, the script could have been taken directly from a report from the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse, which was established by Congress to assess the dangers of an EMP attack.
The report warned that it "has the capability to produce significant damage to critical infrastructures and thus to the very fabric of U.S. society, as well as to the ability of the United States and Western nations to project influence and military power."
As the Heritage Foundation reports, an EMP attack "would fundamentally change the world. Airplanes would fall from the sky; most cars would be inoperable; electrical devices would fail. Water, sewer and electrical networks would fail simultaneously. Systems of banking, energy, transportation, food production and delivery, water, emergency services and even cyberspace..."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.investors.com ...
“NYC has had a number of blackouts, including a major one within the past decade. It’s still standing.”
That’s because they got the power back on rather quickly. In a legitimate EMP scenario, where generated power and high-tech vehicles (cars, trains, buses) don’t work, water pumps failed, food didn’t move, etc., they’d be eating each other within a week.
Thank you for that link. “Connections” imho, was one of, if not THE best, television series ever.
BTW, I was caught in the subway under the East River in the ‘65 blackout. :)
The current government, in collusion with the EPA, FDA, the tree huggers, and the NIMBY and BANANA crowd are already trying to hurtle us back into the 18th century. The only difference is that their methods take a bit longer. EMP and rad hardening equipment is not too difficult (ask the military), it just takes some planning and a technical understanding. Effective shielding could be devised to protect sensitve electronics, similar to lightning and EMI protection, albeit more robust.
IMHO it should be required viewing in every school.
It’s JJ Abrams, it’s gonna be a lot weirder than EMP. Which is good because people ridiculously over blow the threat of EMP.
I remember touring the Vatican and seeing tombs of popes decorated with gruesome skeletons and it turns out these were generally done during the times of the black plague. A lot of art of that period was very influenced by and heavily featured death as a constant presence. The art of the day reflects the times.
So what is big now? Looking at bookstores, TV, and movies it appears that there is a major trend towards dystopian futures, zombie apocalypses, cities in ruin, etc. Basically not an optimistic vision of the future. Consider as examples "The Walking Dead", "The Hunger Games", and this upcoming prime time network show. Four years into Obama and the mood of the people is not hopeful. Contrast that with the big films made in, say, Reagan's second term. Top Gun, Rambo, Rocky IV (the one with the rotten Russian boxer), Back to the Future, Coccoon, Crocodile Dundee, The Untouchables, Rain Man, Big, Batman, Look Who's Talking, etc. Generally upbeat movies with happy endings that held the USA in high esteem.
Interestingly, the undertone of most of these current dark films is that the world is going to hell and the government is either impotent to do anything about it or caused it. So at least that part is realistic :-)
Nah. Can’t do that. Kids might actually learn something useful.
There was already a TV series about it, Dark Angel, that’s how Jessica Alba’s breast became famous. Wasn’t a very good show, partly because the premise was so silly.
A GP15-1 locomotive wouldn’t even notice an EMP event. There’s still a lot of older DC locomotives out there pulling freight, for the very fact that they’re almost impossible to kill, barring a derailment of course.
Yeah, after working in industrial controls and on AC locomotives, EMP effects would seem more like a nuisance than anything else.
I may be wrong but believe the series takes place 15-20 years after the EMP attack and the population through wars/skirmishes is down to small tribes so I would presume much of the ammo was used up/no longer any good over the years.
Right. However, they haven't had one where there's no trucks with food coming into the city possibly ever again. Could the city withstand a power outage of several weeks and no food coming in? My guess is probably not. It would take quite some time to get the country's transportation system even back to 10% of what it was before an EMP attack.
That’s why I own a ‘79 Yamaha XS650...pre-electronic. Plus, any susceptible parts...condensers, coil, regulator, rectifier, headlamp, etc...are spare-parted up and protected in “Faraday cage” type boxes.
HOWEVER, reality is...a ride like that would only be good for a few days anyway. After that, once the zombies have figured out what is going on, somebody will went to take it away from me if I’m out tooling around on it. So...I’ll use it to find and “collect” family members (once the balloon goes up)...and then park it.
I would think a firearm would be the primary weapon of choice in such a situation. Since it is NBC I have no intention of watching it to find out.
It WILL happen.
Think about this... the Bible said the end times wars would be fought with swords and horses.... we think in the 21st century the idea is silly... but what if this modern world was gone in 3 seconds....??
It wouldn’t be that hard if you could run down to Home Depot for some supplies - and it wouldn’t be hard if you only had to restore power for a few days. Creating electricity is low tech after all... But how would you do it for long term - without the superstructure of a modern society supporting you? One of the biggest concerns with ‘just in time’ is there might not be access to food after three days - riots will quickly happen. Police cars wouldn’t run. Phones won’t work. Cities could burn in short order. Refugees would flood into the country side with nothing to eat. You and your neighbors would have power... Humm, tell me more. What can you do to put the power back on for the 260 million of the rest of us?
100% agree about Connections being a great series.
Bingo.
“Every gasoline station will be inoperative”
Only to those lightweights who don’t have a clue as to how to get it out, which can be a good thing for us that do!
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