U.S. Needs To Prepare For An EMP Attack or CME Event
- Thread starter Knight Templar
- Start date
A major CME happened in 1859. Here is the entry in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2008/06may_carringtonflare/
There was an event in 1989 when a geomagnetic storm knocked out power in Quebec.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1989_geomagnetic_storm
The report I saw estimated that it could take 10 years to restore the United States to full functionality after a CME. The death toll could be as high as 100 million.
Here is a summary of what could happen:
http://heavenawaits.wordpress.com/solar-flares-cme-carrington-effect/
One of the things that frustrates me is that our transformers are built in China. If our nation is hit by a CME, we are dependent on China for restoring our nation.
http://www.newhampshirelakesandmoun...nd-of-line-for-made-in-China-transformer.html
I am not worried about an EMP strike from China. The Chinese are investing in our country by buying American properties and building industrial parks for their people in our states, and they are building our infrastructure (ex. the eastern stretch of the Bay Bridge, the glass panes on the Freedom Tower in New York) - so why would they destroy their property and kill their people?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2008/06may_carringtonflare/
There was an event in 1989 when a geomagnetic storm knocked out power in Quebec.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1989_geomagnetic_storm
The report I saw estimated that it could take 10 years to restore the United States to full functionality after a CME. The death toll could be as high as 100 million.
Here is a summary of what could happen:
http://heavenawaits.wordpress.com/solar-flares-cme-carrington-effect/
One of the things that frustrates me is that our transformers are built in China. If our nation is hit by a CME, we are dependent on China for restoring our nation.
http://www.newhampshirelakesandmoun...nd-of-line-for-made-in-China-transformer.html
I am not worried about an EMP strike from China. The Chinese are investing in our country by buying American properties and building industrial parks for their people in our states, and they are building our infrastructure (ex. the eastern stretch of the Bay Bridge, the glass panes on the Freedom Tower in New York) - so why would they destroy their property and kill their people?
I really wouldn't worry. It took 17 hours to hit, which under normal circustances would take 3-4 days I think a complete blackout of the affected areas could be achieved in that amount of time. We'd come out largely unscathed, baring any civil unrest
Last edited:
Oh, I'm sure if a major country wanted to kill a bunch of Americans they'd be able to kill a hell of a lot more than half a million.
Brian577,
The issue is not the time it takes for the storm to hit us. It's that our society is dependent on electricity. When the storm hits us, it will destroy the transformers. The society that survives the storm will be like nothing seen in the movies. There won't be running water from the faucets, for our water system is dependent on electricity. There won't be gas available for vehicles, for pumps run on electricity. There will be a shortage of money, for most of our money is virtual, and people wont' be able to access banks or atms. I could go on.
Another issue is that our infrastructure is in a terrible shape. So, if there is a CME, it will the nail in the coffin for our infrastructure. There was a bill some years ago that would have funded an initiative to protect our electrical grid, but the bill was defeated in committee.
Here is a great article on the subject:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/deep/the-looming-threat-of-a-solar-superstorm-6643435
Whenever I encounter a situation like this - where the government knows about the situation and doesn't take action until the crisis impacts them - I am reminded of the sewage crisis in London which peaked in the summer of 1858 when the smell of human fecal waste literally flooded the House of Commons and the Dust Bowl crisis in the American Midwest which peaked in April 1935 when Washington, DC was engulfed in a dust storm.
http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/bigstink.html
http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/water_02.html
It will take a CME of massive proportions and one that hits Washington DC directly before our elected representatives take action. I just hope this event doesn't result in massive loss of life.
The issue is not the time it takes for the storm to hit us. It's that our society is dependent on electricity. When the storm hits us, it will destroy the transformers. The society that survives the storm will be like nothing seen in the movies. There won't be running water from the faucets, for our water system is dependent on electricity. There won't be gas available for vehicles, for pumps run on electricity. There will be a shortage of money, for most of our money is virtual, and people wont' be able to access banks or atms. I could go on.
Another issue is that our infrastructure is in a terrible shape. So, if there is a CME, it will the nail in the coffin for our infrastructure. There was a bill some years ago that would have funded an initiative to protect our electrical grid, but the bill was defeated in committee.
Here is a great article on the subject:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/deep/the-looming-threat-of-a-solar-superstorm-6643435
Whenever I encounter a situation like this - where the government knows about the situation and doesn't take action until the crisis impacts them - I am reminded of the sewage crisis in London which peaked in the summer of 1858 when the smell of human fecal waste literally flooded the House of Commons and the Dust Bowl crisis in the American Midwest which peaked in April 1935 when Washington, DC was engulfed in a dust storm.
http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/bigstink.html
http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/water_02.html
It will take a CME of massive proportions and one that hits Washington DC directly before our elected representatives take action. I just hope this event doesn't result in massive loss of life.
Source?
Knight Templar
Commodore
I read it in an article in American Legion magazine.
I did some research. American Legion is a official publication of the American Legion, a veterans' organization.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Legion#Official_publications
Knight Templar, are you a veteran?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Legion#Official_publications
Knight Templar, are you a veteran?
And if there's no electricity running through those transformers? Again, a complete blackout until the storm has passed. Shutdown the power plants, relay on shielded equipment as best you can. It would be tough and yes it would be bad during the Winter or Summer months and there probably would some civil unrest. But the bulk (if not all) of the infrastructure would come out undamaged.
Brian577,
I think we are arguing over degrees. I am speaking about the absolute worst case scenario, and I am thinking you are talking about the best case scenario.
In the worst case scenario, there wouldn't be a power blackout. There would power blackouts, water shortages (pumps failing), money shortages, food and medical shortages (loss of refrigeration), etc.
If we lose one transformer, according to one article, it could take 18 to 24 months before our nation receives a transformer. This is because transformers are made overseas in China.
Here is another article about CME:
http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-ne...on-water-utilities-financial-systems_03062012
As for shielded equipment, our government has bills that would provide funds for a contractor to shield our electrical grid. However, these bills are tied in committee or in the drafting phase. I heard that the cost for shielding our electrical grid could be as low as $500 million. It's probably a lot more now.
Our infrastructure is damaged now. I saw a show on the History Channel about our country's infrastructure. It's truly terrifying to see just how bad our infrastructure is. A large scale CME would finish our infrastructure.
I think we are arguing over degrees. I am speaking about the absolute worst case scenario, and I am thinking you are talking about the best case scenario.
In the worst case scenario, there wouldn't be a power blackout. There would power blackouts, water shortages (pumps failing), money shortages, food and medical shortages (loss of refrigeration), etc.
If we lose one transformer, according to one article, it could take 18 to 24 months before our nation receives a transformer. This is because transformers are made overseas in China.
Here is another article about CME:
http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-ne...on-water-utilities-financial-systems_03062012
As for shielded equipment, our government has bills that would provide funds for a contractor to shield our electrical grid. However, these bills are tied in committee or in the drafting phase. I heard that the cost for shielding our electrical grid could be as low as $500 million. It's probably a lot more now.
Our infrastructure is damaged now. I saw a show on the History Channel about our country's infrastructure. It's truly terrifying to see just how bad our infrastructure is. A large scale CME would finish our infrastructure.
In other words, your suggesting a WCS akin to a measles outbreak in a country where containment and vaccinations are readily available. It could happen, but there are solutions to mitigate the impact. And no I am not going to take the word of site that looks like its only goal is to scare people. It's clearly run by doomsday nuts.
Try this article, not only is it written by a real news source but it pretty much says the same thing your article did but it's not written to scare people and it's a lot more informative
http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-04-23/news/31384526_1_solar-storm-power-grid-nerc
I like your ideas and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
Knight Templar
Commodore
Just get a copy of American Legion magazine from last year.
Various other publications have addressed the dangers as well. Including Popular Mechanics all the way back in August of 2001 IIRC.
So, what you're saying is that if the terrorists get a hold of all of them, 40 feet of duct tape, and a functioning space program...we're sorta toast?
Yup, we just need them to steal the biggest bomb in the world, build an entire rocket program necessary to fire it, figure out how to increase it's EMP capacity at least 5 fold to really matter and have a stable enough regime in place for the number of years to make it happen.
Even for KT's little dreamland that's gotta be unrealistic.
Dedicated EMP weapons are far more effective but the damage can be greatly limited with a little diligence and stock piling. Nevermind how frikkin' hard it would be for a competant terrorist organisation to get even one, and then manage to fire it.
I think this one ranks a little above a zombie outbreak on the bullshit scale.
Even for KT's little dreamland that's gotta be unrealistic.
Dedicated EMP weapons are far more effective but the damage can be greatly limited with a little diligence and stock piling. Nevermind how frikkin' hard it would be for a competant terrorist organisation to get even one, and then manage to fire it.
I think this one ranks a little above a zombie outbreak on the bullshit scale.
Popular Mechanics has been telling the world that the Moller Skycar was going to give every family a flying car every year since the 70s. Meanwhile, the thing hovers 15 feet in the air on a tether, barely, and Moller has been successfully sued by the SEC for fraud. It's not exactly the most reliable source. They play up the coolness factor or fear of things to sell magazines just like anyone else.
You should be more concerned about the gay bomb.
