So if you haven’t been paying attention over the past few days, EMP is getting some blogspehere attention again. As I have mentioned in previous posts, in the suburbs I see it as being a viable disruption for the group that would like to make it happen. With that in mind, here are a few of those blog posts over the past few days:
- Security Whip’s, What’s the Big Deal About EMPs
- The Survivalist Blog, EMP Understanding and Practical Countermeasures
- Survival Blog, EMP Attack and Solar Storms
I think that the blogsphere is a bit incestuous, as everyone has a different take on a topic and typically writes about it just after someone else writes about it. In this case, it is a topic I watch closely.
Recently when in LA, during the last solar flare we had, my GPS was a mess for a whole day, giving me issues with directions. I assumed it was due to the solar flare activity messing with the satellites. It seems to happen almost every time there is a solar flare or storm. Yes, I keep track in my head. Jack sometimes = geek.
That said, after reading these three posts, all interesting in their own right, I set out to find a few plans to build EMPs so that I could possibly run some tests. Run tests? Yup, run tests. I want to build Faraday Cages and test them out on small electronic objects. I want to further understand the process of EMP to help protect myself and my electronics from it. Some of the plans I found are below, and allow you to build direction and unidirectional EMP devices. Some of the components are going to be more expensive than the others, but I think this might make for a good winter project for me.
Please excuse some of the ads on the pages, as they are a little risqué:
- http://www.linkbase.org/emp-weapon/
- http://www.amazing1.com/emp.htm
- http://www.plans-kits.com/kits.html (there are EMP directional rifle plans here that would make for a good defensive weapon with a range of 300 yards. 300 yards?!?! Really)?
- http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/20–1.aspx
Here is a chronicle of an EMP Experimient (Parts 1 — 3)
- http://72.52.208.92/~gbpprorg/mil/emp/index.html
- http://72.52.208.92/~gbpprorg/mil/emp1/index.html
- http://72.52.208.92/~gbpprorg/mil/emp2/index.html
As for Faraday Cages, they say your Microwave is a Faraday Cage because it keeps the electromagnetic microwaves from being released beyond the unit itself. There is also some speculation on this, but there is only one way to find out…
At this moment in time I don’t believe an EMP attack is likely. The only adversarial nations that could pull it off are China and Russia. China needs us for trade (we are more valuable as an indentured servant than as a conquered people) and Russia needs trade with us and China. World politics being what it is this can all change quickly. But I don’t think likely any time soon.
England, France, maybe Israel could perform an EMP attack but they have no reason to even given the rocky relations we have with them these days.
And an EMP large enough to do some real damage, muchless knock out a city or a region, I think is beyond the capacity of a terrorist group.
Scenario. A tanker comes into Port at Newark, NJ docs full of containers. One container contains a ground to air missile with nuclear warhead not yet armed. The container is unloaded, and loaded onto a truck where the driver drives it to central or western NJ where it is very rural. The truck stops in a field, the missile is taken out of the container, raised, armed, and launched. EMP, radiation, and fallout ensue. Far fetched, maybe… But if I can think of it… So can they. Logistics and Ops excluded from this post, of course…
Yes. The EMP from a nuke — intended as an EMP attack or not — would be substantial.
I was thinking more of merely an EMP attack only usually a high power/low yield device or similar.
BTW — in your scenario they wouldn’t even need to bring it to a field. Just detonate it dock side in NY harbor. Same effect. Even worse fallout as it would be a ground burst (more dust generate).
Good point!
I’m not expert on this topic, I just heard about EMP’s a few weeks ago. I’ve been researching on the internet about them though and they scare me. I have come across a few really great blogs. This one is short and sweet and very informative. Thank you. I wanted to let you know about another really great blog I came across. It’s a radio blog on the internet that has new guests on it every week on Wednesdays. I think that you should check it out. This week the guest is actually going to be a returning one. Her name is Clare Lopez. I’m looking forward to the show. You may have heard of her before since you seem to have some knowledge on EMP’s, but anyways- I’ll give you the link so you can take a listen. It should be very interesting! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/empact-radio/2011/06/15/pvp53-clare-lopez-on-empact-radio
Thanks again for the great post!
Thanks for the kudos, and thanks for the information about the blog talk radio show. I will check it out…
No problem:), Did you end up checking it out??
I have not, yet, Amanda… Been traveling for work, and it takes up a lot of my time when on the road… This weekend, I am sure.
How bad will it be? Well, If you don’t prep for it and it happens I suppose you will be dead in a few weeks.
http://beforeitsnews.com/survival/2012/12/out-with-a-bang-how-bad-could-an-emp-attack-be-2454182.html
Lux
Interesting stuff !