Posted: 5/14/2014 3:14:39 AM EDT
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Prepping for an EMP event has been slightly lower that my preps for other more likelihoods. I may have to step up those preps. I don't necessarily envision an EMP attack from a foriegn government increasing, but a Carrington Event or the May 1921 storm like events are only a matter of time. What avenues of preparation additionally should I take. I am already in the advanced stages of preping for economic and social turmoil related to an ever worsening economy, but what do I need to know about prepping specifically for an EMP type event? Spurred on by the following non-reported-by-the-media report from the Congressional EMP Commission. http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/050914-700375-electric-grid-vulnerable-to-emp-attack.htm?p=full |
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Down here on the earth's surface, solar storms lack the high-frequency/fast rise-time E1 and E2 components of nuclear EMP, so they don't directly affect personal electronics.
Due to the length of electrical conductors necessary to be affected by E3 fields, one of their biggest impacts would be on the power grid, and perhaps gas pipelines. According to some news reports, electric utilities are gradually acquiring the ability to detect the near-DC currents produced by E3 fields in long transmission lines, disconnecting the lines for the duration of the solar event. So, you might see temporary power blackouts, but little or no permanent damage to the electric grid. HF radio propagation would go all cattywampus. Satellites would also be affected - which would also affect GPS, air and nautical navigation, some comms, etc. |
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This. I've become convinced that the solution to many modern problems is to take a cue from our grandparents and to endeavor to live the way they did. Quoted:
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That is easy. A 19th century self sustainable farm. Nothing less will do. This. I've become convinced that the solution to many modern problems is to take a cue from our grandparents and to endeavor to live the way they did. I am working on that by expanding my beef cattle operation into something that would provide a sustainable income in the future. As of now, it slightly breaks even. It would have done better this year had I not had to sell early due to my deployment. Arable land is another one of my future endeavors as I don't have enough to garden more than salad quantities. |
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Down here on the earth's surface, solar storms lack the high-frequency/fast rise-time E1 and E2 components of nuclear EMP, so they don't directly affect personal electronics. Due to the length of electrical conductors necessary to be affected by E3 fields, one of their biggest impacts would be on the power grid, and perhaps gas pipelines. According to some news reports, electric utilities are gradually acquiring the ability to detect the near-DC currents produced by E3 fields in long transmission lines, disconnecting the lines for the duration of the solar event. So, you might see temporary power blackouts, but little or no permanent damage to the electric grid. HF radio propagation would go all cattywampus. Satellites would also be affected - which would also affect GPS, air and nautical navigation, some comms, etc. What about Ham antennae? Would lightning protection on the antenna feed be sufficient to protect the radio? |
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Quoted: I am working on that by expanding my beef cattle operation into something that would provide a sustainable income in the future. As of now, it slightly breaks even. It would have done better this year had I not had to sell early due to my deployment. Arable land is another one of my future endeavors as I don't have enough to garden more than salad quantities. Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: That is easy. A 19th century self sustainable farm. Nothing less will do. This. I've become convinced that the solution to many modern problems is to take a cue from our grandparents and to endeavor to live the way they did. I am working on that by expanding my beef cattle operation into something that would provide a sustainable income in the future. As of now, it slightly breaks even. It would have done better this year had I not had to sell early due to my deployment. Arable land is another one of my future endeavors as I don't have enough to garden more than salad quantities. You just need to take a good, long hard look at HOW you run your cattle operation. The largest feed lots around here would wreak of death in a week w/o modern technology. Even a current family farm would not survive more than a month or so in current form. Not trying to rain on your parade or anything (and THANK YOU for your service), but in these times we typically don't see how extremely dependent even farming is on technology and the grid. If nothing, what do you need from civilization to run your farm. Oh, and generators don't count as EMP/SHTF plan for more than the fuel you have stored for it RIGHT NOW.
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For your cattle operation: How dependent are you on modern things? Fuel, electric pump for the well, modern tractors that use lots of parts that you WON'T get. Fuel for said tractors. Ideally for fuel, you would want wood gas run engines. Do you buy your hay or bale your own? You just need to take a good, long hard look at HOW you run your cattle operation. The largest feed lots around here would wreak of death in a week w/o modern technology. Even a current family farm would not survive more than a month or so in current form. Not trying to rain on your parade or anything (and THANK YOU for your service), but in these times we typically don't see how extremely dependent even farming is on technology and the grid. If nothing, what do you need from civilization to run your farm. Oh, and generators don't count as EMP/SHTF plan for more than the fuel you have stored for it RIGHT NOW. Well at the acreage where I had cows has an artesian spring, hay is where my weak spot is. I don't have any land to grow it, so I buy. In a barter or cash strapped society, no problem, barter beef. Where everything stops, different picture. 19th century farming practices is something I've been studying, just haven't had time to in any depth. |
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Quoted: Well at the acreage where I had cows has an artesian spring, hay is where my weak spot is. I don't have any land to grow it, so I buy. In a barter or cash strapped society, no problem, barter beef. Where everything stops, different picture. 19th century farming practices is something I've been studying, just haven't had time to in any depth. Quoted: Quoted: For your cattle operation: How dependent are you on modern things? Fuel, electric pump for the well, modern tractors that use lots of parts that you WON'T get. Fuel for said tractors. Ideally for fuel, you would want wood gas run engines. Do you buy your hay or bale your own? You just need to take a good, long hard look at HOW you run your cattle operation. The largest feed lots around here would wreak of death in a week w/o modern technology. Even a current family farm would not survive more than a month or so in current form. Not trying to rain on your parade or anything (and THANK YOU for your service), but in these times we typically don't see how extremely dependent even farming is on technology and the grid. If nothing, what do you need from civilization to run your farm. Oh, and generators don't count as EMP/SHTF plan for more than the fuel you have stored for it RIGHT NOW. Well at the acreage where I had cows has an artesian spring, hay is where my weak spot is. I don't have any land to grow it, so I buy. In a barter or cash strapped society, no problem, barter beef. Where everything stops, different picture. 19th century farming practices is something I've been studying, just haven't had time to in any depth. However, don't get TOO hung up on it. Make hay while the sun is shining. (Sorry for the bad pun, considering your situation)
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What about Ham antennae? Would lightning protection on the antenna feed be sufficient to protect the radio? Quoted:
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Down here on the earth's surface, solar storms lack the high-frequency/fast rise-time E1 and E2 components of nuclear EMP, so they don't directly affect personal electronics. Due to the length of electrical conductors necessary to be affected by E3 fields, one of their biggest impacts would be on the power grid, and perhaps gas pipelines. According to some news reports, electric utilities are gradually acquiring the ability to detect the near-DC currents produced by E3 fields in long transmission lines, disconnecting the lines for the duration of the solar event. So, you might see temporary power blackouts, but little or no permanent damage to the electric grid. HF radio propagation would go all cattywampus. Satellites would also be affected - which would also affect GPS, air and nautical navigation, some comms, etc. What about Ham antennae? Would lightning protection on the antenna feed be sufficient to protect the radio? the only thing that hits my radar is a HF length dipole (et al) I keep my radios unhooked unless I'm using them anyway - not sure if lightning protection would ground it well enough or not |
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What about Ham antennae? Would lightning protection on the antenna feed be sufficient to protect the radio? Solar flares only produce slow-rising near-DC voltages in extremely long conductors (i.e., many miles long). Even if your ham antenna was long enough to pick up much E3 from a solar flare, your radio would be unlikely to be damaged by having some very, very low-frequency voltage present on on the antenna - and since many antennas look like a direct short to ground at DC, any current produced by E3 would be safely shunted to ground anyway. Lightning protection is designed to shunt off fast-rising high voltages, and probably wouldn't even notice the presence of any voltage on the antenna produced by a solar flare. |
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I've a slightly more specific question about EMP. What will it do to the electronic locks on a lot of gun safes? Should I change to an old school spin dial? Your gun safe lock is unlikely to be damaged by any sort of EMP. Basically, there are 3 different kinds of "EMP", each with different characteristics, and each produced by a different means: 1. The kind of EMP produced by solar flares only affects electrical conductors that are many miles long. The wiring inside your gun safe lock is only a few inches long, and thus isn't affected. 2. The kind of EMP produced by detonating a nuclear weapon (NEMP) only affects electrical conductors that are at least dozens of feet long. Again, the wiring inside your gun safe lock is too short to be affected. 3. The kind of EMP produced by directed-energy weapons (missiles, bombs, etc.) is very short-range, and doesn't pass through metal enclosures very well. So, unless your gun safe is located next door to a high-value military target and is made entirely out of plastic, cardboard or paper mache, the lock in it isn't likely to be killed by this kind of EMP, either. 
For Additional Reading: Wikipedia entry on EMP Wikipedia entry on Solar ("Geomagnetic") Storms Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack Federation of American Scientists: Nuclear Weapon EMP Effects Glasstone's Blog Jerry Emanuelson's Discussion of Soviet Test 184 ARRL Part 1 of 4-Part Article: Intro to EMP ARRL Part 2 of 4-Part Article: EMP Protection Devices ARRL Part 3 of 4-Part Article: EMP Implications for Communications ARRL Part 4 of 4-Part Article: EMP Protection for Communications |
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Your gun safe lock is unlikely to be damaged by any sort of EMP. Basically, there are 3 different kinds of "EMP", each with different characteristics, and each produced by a different means: 1. The kind of EMP produced by solar flares only affects electrical conductors that are many miles long. The wiring inside your gun safe lock is only a few inches long, and thus isn't affected. 2. The kind of EMP produced by detonating a nuclear weapon (NEMP) only affects electrical conductors that are at least dozens of feet long. Again, the wiring inside your gun safe lock is too short to be affected. 3. The kind of EMP produced by directed-energy weapons (missiles, bombs, etc.) is very short-range, and doesn't pass through metal enclosures very well. So, unless your gun safe is located next door to a high-value military target and is made entirely out of plastic, cardboard or paper mache, the lock in it isn't likely to be killed by this kind of EMP, either.
For Additional Reading: Wikipedia entry on EMP Wikipedia entry on Solar ("Geomagnetic") Storms Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack Federation of American Scientists: Nuclear Weapon EMP Effects Glasstone's Blog Jerry Emanuelson's Discussion of Soviet Test 184 ARRL Part 1 of 4-Part Article: Intro to EMP ARRL Part 2 of 4-Part Article: EMP Protection Devices ARRL Part 3 of 4-Part Article: EMP Implications for Communications ARRL Part 4 of 4-Part Article: EMP Protection for Communications Quoted:
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I've a slightly more specific question about EMP. What will it do to the electronic locks on a lot of gun safes? Should I change to an old school spin dial? Your gun safe lock is unlikely to be damaged by any sort of EMP. Basically, there are 3 different kinds of "EMP", each with different characteristics, and each produced by a different means: 1. The kind of EMP produced by solar flares only affects electrical conductors that are many miles long. The wiring inside your gun safe lock is only a few inches long, and thus isn't affected. 2. The kind of EMP produced by detonating a nuclear weapon (NEMP) only affects electrical conductors that are at least dozens of feet long. Again, the wiring inside your gun safe lock is too short to be affected. 3. The kind of EMP produced by directed-energy weapons (missiles, bombs, etc.) is very short-range, and doesn't pass through metal enclosures very well. So, unless your gun safe is located next door to a high-value military target and is made entirely out of plastic, cardboard or paper mache, the lock in it isn't likely to be killed by this kind of EMP, either.
For Additional Reading: Wikipedia entry on EMP Wikipedia entry on Solar ("Geomagnetic") Storms Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack Federation of American Scientists: Nuclear Weapon EMP Effects Glasstone's Blog Jerry Emanuelson's Discussion of Soviet Test 184 ARRL Part 1 of 4-Part Article: Intro to EMP ARRL Part 2 of 4-Part Article: EMP Protection Devices ARRL Part 3 of 4-Part Article: EMP Implications for Communications ARRL Part 4 of 4-Part Article: EMP Protection for Communications Good info & links! But shame on you for ruining SHTF & TEOTWAWKI EMP fantasies.
I keep my base radios unplugged, and spare HTs battery less just incase. 
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My EMP preps include bicycles. Because even if my car still works I doubt I will be able to find/afford gas for it.
My main worry in any long term SHTF is water and food. I have rain barrels to collect water, not only for consumption and hygiene, but for the garden as well. And a trailer for the bikes I can use to haul water from the nearest lake in case of drought. I have an old well head on the property I want to get a handpump for, but I have no idea how to install one. I don't currently keep any livestock, but if there is any warning whatsoever what is coming I have a feed store in driving distance where I can buy/trade for some chickens and pigs. My biggest asset though is my wife. She greww up a farm girl in a third world country and is as tough and smart about survival as they come. Between her knowlege of how to survive and my security and medical skills we should do all right. |
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Quoted: My EMP preps include bicycles. Because even if my car still works I doubt I will be able to find/afford gas for it. My main worry in any long term SHTF is water and food. I have rain barrels to collect water, not only for consumption and hygiene, but for the garden as well. And a trailer for the bikes I can use to haul water from the nearest lake in case of drought. I have an old well head on the property I want to get a handpump for, but I have no idea how to install one. I don't currently keep any livestock, but if there is any warning whatsoever what is coming I have a feed store in driving distance where I can buy/trade for some chickens and pigs. My biggest asset though is my wife. She greww up a farm girl in a third world country and is as tough and smart about survival as they come. Between her knowlege of how to survive and my security and medical skills we should do all right. Sounds like your wife is one valuable asset there!
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The Cubans are in that category, too! 
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Just have to make this joke here, I know it's not GD, but... Well, one big concern after an EMP would be North Korea, all of their vehicles and electronics are so old they aren't as affected as a modern military. The Cubans are in that category, too!
As are most of my neighbors
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