A study of the whys/wherefores is something that could only be done following the event.We do this already, it's called ESD testing and EMI susceptibility testing.
I get the impression I'm talking to a civilian on your end?
Even consumer stuff today gets ESD testing performed on it ... I've had equipment take direct strikes by lighting even; on a GE "MASTR PRO" repeater the arc marks were obvious, and included an 'entry' into the 'squelch' circuit ... I lost a single TO-5 cased transistor there ... EMP is NO WHERE near as intense. Read the EPRI paper ...
Very true. Items get EMI testing just to handle cell phone signals, wi-fi and other background radiation.