14 June 2010

Electronic Armageddon on National Geographic Tuesday Night


Check out "Electronic Armageddon" Tuesday 15 June at 10 PM on National Geographic Channel. The 4 minute teaser above provides a brief introduction.
What do future presidents need to know about existential dangers this country could face? Explorer investigates the science behind the dangers of a high-altitude electromagnetic pulse, or HEMP. Picture an instantaneous deathblow to the vital engines that power our society, delivered by a nuclear weapon designed not to kill humans but to attack electronics. What could happen if an electromagnetic pulse surged to earth, crippling every aspect of modern society's infrastructure? _NG
It is fairly certain that if President Obama was unprepared for an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, he is unlikely to be up to the challenge of an Electronic Armageddon. But then, maybe we'll be lucky, and it won't happen.

EMPACT America -- information clearing house on EMP attack

Nuclear weapon EMP effects from FAS

"One Second After" site -- web headquarters for William Forstchen's exciting novel graphically describing the effect of a surprise EMP attack against the US, from the perspective of one semi-rural community.

Links to a number of reports from the US EMP Commission

As Iran and North Korea hone their nuclear explosive and warhead delivery skills, the risk for an untraceable surprise EMP attack against Europe or the US is not subsiding at all. And with Hugo Chavez expressing a wish to join the nuclear club, the problem potential oozes ever closer to North America.

Up to 90% of the US population could be dead within 1 year of an effective EMP attack that destroyed large scale equipment underlying the US electrical grid, without massive outside aid. That is how much modern societies depend upon electricity for their survival. But how realistic would massive outside aid be, if the world was suddenly plunged into global war at the same time?

15June2010 More: The US Congress is working on bills to protect the US energy grid from an array of attacks -- including hacker attacks, and solar storm hazards. But there is no sign that their efforts are anywhere proportionate to the threat.

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4 Comments:

Blogger gtg723y said...

The only real way to defend your self against such a situation is to get off the grid and keep back up systems in a Faraday cage, all of which requires a significant up front investment on the part of individuals.

Tuesday, 15 June, 2010  
Blogger al fin said...

True. The person who provides such a service reliably and efficiently to survival-minded people might be able to reap a little cash on the side, while perfecting some of his own survival methods.

Tuesday, 15 June, 2010  
Blogger Ugh said...

I met with a corporate exec a few weeks ago who has extensive contacts (and contracts) with the DOD and the Feds and he said they are scared to death of this and are taking it very seriously. They are also extremely freaked out by cyber warfare. The little Wall Street fiasco of a few weeks ago where the DOW fell over 1000 points in less than an hour was not a "fat finger" it was a cyber attack - they happen all the time but this one got through the security net and did some damage.

I am starting to ponder actually doing some survival prep. I used to have faith in government authorities to keep society in order - not any more.

Tuesday, 15 June, 2010  
Blogger gtg723y said...

I too am starting to do some survival prep but my husband is not wanting to go along, mostly because he is not paying as close attention to what is going on as I am. He made me a tinfoil hat for my birthday because I wanted to buy some wind turbines and solar panels. But he did point out that he and I can do a lot with car alternators and batteries to get our well up and running. Perhaps I should build a small Faraday cage for our laptop and scanner. Currently all I have been able to do is stockpile water using hurricane season as my excuse and start a very small garden just to get myself started.

Wednesday, 16 June, 2010  

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“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act” _George Orwell

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