Image: NASAView
The potential for a devastating EMP resulting from a massive solar event, or a man made weapon, is well known and, increasingly, being taken seriously as a looming, perhaps inevitable, disaster.
Surprisingly, there are actually voices in Congress urging Washington to prepare for all contingencies and to upgrade the power grid and infrastructure to better deal with an event that could easily disable the entire system – perhaps even for an extended period of time.
At its worst, an EMP could result in the deaths of 90% of the population, whose lives – utterly dependent on handouts from the system and services from the fragile infrastructure – would be unsustainable without the electric grid.
One half of that equation deals with the potential for solar flares, or coronal mass ejections, and other extreme space weather events to cause interruptions in Earth’s magnetosphere, in turn creating electrical discharges that have the potential to disrupt satellites orbiting the planet, and trigger outages in the electrical grid and most of the electronic devices on earth’s surface.
However, the exact mechanisms of the magnetosphere are little known to science, and even the most powerful computers on the planet. The NY Times writes:
The equations describing magnetic reconnection can be written simply but not solved. Even the biggest, fastest computers cannot establish what is going on. Thus, scientists are looking to the $1.1 billion NASA mission to provide measurements to guide them.
With this in mind, NASA is scheduled to launch its Magnetospheric Multiscale mission this week, a 2-year probe that will send four octagonal spacecraft flying in pyramid formation into the magnetosphere to record 3D images and collect massive amounts of data on magnetic reconnection.
Why and precisely how relatively minute magnetic lines “pop” and reconnect under stress from solar flares, et al., is the object of study. The MMS mission plans to capture these events and hopefully to understand them. The Christian Science Monitor explains:
With one end attached to the positive side of a magnet, and the other end attached to the negative side, magnetic field lines are typically looped. Occasionally, a magnetic field line will snap, like a rubber band, before quickly reforming a loop. The snapping and reconnecting of magnetic field lines, also known as magnetic reconnection, releases great bursts of energy, sometimes accelerating nearby particles close to the speed of light.
“Exactly how magnetic energy is destroyed in a reconnection event is completely unknown,” Jim Burch, MMS principle investigator, said in a news briefing on March 10.
[…]
In some instances, magnetic reconnection near the magnetosphere can send particles hurtling toward Earth’s atmosphere, and generate one of the most stunning natural phenomena on Earth: the auroras. But magnetic reconnection can also create geomagnetic storms that send electric surges down to the surface and into power grids, potentially shorting out those grids and causing blackouts. These showers of intense particles can also pose a radiation hazard for astronauts in orbit.
As the New York Times explains:
In space, the realignment releases energy that accelerates and heats the cloud of charged particles, which scientists call plasma.
“It’s sort of like pounding down on a tube of toothpaste,” Dr. Dorelli said. “That thing just collapses very rapidly, and it squeezes the plasma out very rapidly.”
When a giant solar explosion arrives at Earth, the squeezed particles race around the planet to the tail of the magnetic bubble over the night side. That sets off more magnetic reconnections, shooting particles back at Earth that induce electrical currents in the ground. The currents can flow into electrical transmission lines, potentially overloading transformers and causing continentwide blackouts.
Perhaps understanding magnetosphere pops and reconnection will allow science to predict the timing and scale of effects, in turn making possible an accurate warning system to alert of potential outages and disasters that solar weather could bring. It may even allow for better defenses against its effects.
The deluge of data could help scientists better predict the timing and effects of solar storms.
“We’re trying the find those hot spots out in space,” Roy B. Torbert, deputy principal investigator for the mission, said at a news conference Wednesday at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. “We do not understand at all what causes the dissipation in plasmas.”
Any tangible results, however, are years away from being put into practice. Meanwhile, an EMP or massive solar event could come at any time.
As SHTF has reported numerous times before, a single event could make life unlivable for all but the most prepared. Are you one of them?
Frank Gaffney, the president of the Center for Security Policy, is even more pessimistic. He believes that a single EMP blast could potentially end up killingalmost the entire population of the United States…
“Within a year of that attack, nine out of 10 Americans would be dead, because we can’t support a population of the present size in urban centers and the like without electricity”
As a society, we are simply not equipped to function without electricity. Dr. William Graham was the chairman of the government commission that I mentioned above, and he says that a giant EMP blast could knock the United States back into “the late 1800s” in just a single moment…
Life after an EMP attack “would probably be something that you might imagine life to be like around the late 1800s but with several times the population we had in those days, and without the ability of the country to support and sustain all those people,” Graham says. “They wouldn’t have power. Food supplies would be greatly taken out by the lack of transportation, telecommunication, power for refrigeration and so on.”
This very real possibility makes prepping for disaster all the more important.
That means food, weapons, back-ups, planning and lots of prayers.
For electronics, it also means some due diligence that could mean the survival of at least some of your equipment. While nearly everything you can think of from the modern electrical world can and will fail, Faraday cages and similar enclosures are believed to be protective enough to survive an EMP.
This means individuals can create stores of back-up electronic equipment that may well be workable and vital on the other side of aftermath.
The Survival Mom outlines some of the storage devices you want to plan for and implement. Keep in mind that none of this has been tested in a real world scenario before, so don’t put all your eggs in one basket:
And what should these be stored in? Well, again, most every expert has differing opinions. We have a few Tech Protect Bags and a metal trash can. Here are some other options:
- Tech Protect Bags – The owners of this company recommend nesting Faraday containers.
- A metal garbage can
- Ammo cans
- An old microwave (mixed reviews on this one)
- Heavy duty aluminum foil wrapped around individual items, wrapped in plastic, and then again with aluminum foil.
- A tool box
- Gun safe
- A cardboard box or other container that has been “Faraday-ized”
- Holiday popcorn tins
If/when an EMP or CME occurs, there is no going back for a “re-do”. Whatever works, works. Whatever doesn’t, doesn’t, and there will likely be no way to make repairs. Because of that, I highly recommend taking these precautions.
Again, no one can say for sure if any of this is foolproof. More importantly, unless you have invested heavily in power generation – and have protected, backup solar panels and/or other equipment – you plan for powering your saved devices could also fail.
Author Daisy Luther advises prepping to go low tech after an EMP or similar event:
Instead of trying to live the exact same life you are living right now, only fueled by an individual generator, look for low-tech solutions instead. When things change dramatically, accept the change and adapt to it, instead of trying to maintain the illusion that everything is the same.
Whether you can get power from an outlet in the wall or not, the necessities of day-to-day life will remain the same:
- Water
- Shelter and Warmth
- Food
- Sanitation and Hygiene
- Light
The ultimate preparedness goal should be to provide those necessities without any help from the power grid, generators, or fossil fuel. (LEARN MORE about planning for a long-term disaster)
They Know:
http://www.firstresponder.gov/SitePages/ResponderNews/VideoGalleryDisplay.aspx?Video=17
They Waited:
http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059993969
The End:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91JZCbGLCvk
There won’t be much left after such an event.
What we will see is from a front row seat of
man’s inhumanity to man.
So NASA will spend 1 billion to study it, when we know that for only 2 billion we can PREVENT IT FROM KILLING US!?!?
Makes sense to me. (facepalm)
take out the space.
http:// acdemocracy.org/emp-congress-the-shield-act-exclusive/
Yeah, why would we want to UNDERSTAND how the universe works when we can just wrap everything in tinfoil? I mean, really, since when has understanding science helped anyone?
Already have seen some of it.
“Billion Dollar NASA Mission To Study Blackout Risks to Power Grid”
I’ll give 2 to 1 that this “mission” will have nothing to do with preserving the American people’s power grid. They’ll study improvements for THEIR power grid, and look for ways to destroy the power grid of countries they don’t like, but none of this study will benefit US, the citizenry.
Bet on it. As usual, they are not doing what they say they are, with OUR money.
Sixpack
YUP, you are correct, that is not what they are dong, they have already done numerous studies on the grid, whatever they are doing is being disguised. maybe something to do with cern?
I wonder if any other country is preparing for blackout scenario
six
I’ve always thought nasa is likely just a back door money laundering operation for military and defense funding. Like maybe the whole space race was just a cover for cold war defense and weapons spending. I mean just Look at all the cool space rockets (intercontinental ballistic missiles) we got out of it. Maybe this is just money to use to create weapons or a way to defend the electronic weapons that Russia has been widely rumored to have and tested (used) on us.
Richard, I wouldn’t doubt it for a second. My guess is, whatever NASA, DARPA, etc is doing, it is for DoD purposes and NOT for any civilian benefit.
Watch the other hand, guys…again.
Outwest:
Bet there wont be any atheists when one of these nuclear power plants melt down.
Maybe they, too, will learn how to pray:
CYRUS BROWNS’ PRAYER
The proper way for man to pray, said Deacon Samuel Keyes, and with the proper attitude, it is down upon his knees.
No, I should say the way to pray, said Reverend Dr. Wise, is standing straight with outstretched arms, and rapt and upturned eyes.
Oh, no, no said Elder Snow, such posture is way too proud. A man should pray with eyes fast closed, and head contritely bowed.
It seems to me his hands should be austerely clasped in front, with both thumbs pointing toward the ground, said Reverend Dr. Brundt.
Well, las’ year I fell in Hodgkins’ well–head first said Cyrus Brown.
With both my heels a stickin’ up, my head a pointin’ down and I made a prayer right then an’ there. Best prayer I ever said, the prayin’est prayer I ever prayed….
A’standin’ on my head…..
I like that, Granny.
My feeling on prayer has never been on physical stance,
but instead on mental posture. Love ya, Granny.
“Bet there wont be any atheists when one of these nuclear power plants melt down.”
Maybe they, too, will learn how to pray”
Don’t bet on that, Granny. I also won’t be waiting on Santa Clause to come get me.
Even though NUKE plant-backup generators are supposedly “Hardened” against EMP (Carrington events), those back up generators are NOT set up to run continously for 2-5 years all by themselves.
ALL the “spent fuel pools”, reactors, etc, will ALL melt down as soon as the deisel tanks are empty.
Incoming GRID power is what nutjob nuke plants use to run all the pumps all day, all year, every year. Take away the grid, and EVERY nuke plant on earth will be dancing the FUKUSHITTA.
I totally agree.
Tiny little problem to your observation. There are generators inside the hardened area with sufficient fuel to shut down the reactor. There is an additional 1,000,000 gallons of fuel ON SITE to continue the operation should they desire to. I have a friend who is a PhD in nuclear eng. who worked on site at Salem in N.J. The only scenario that would cause problem is if radiation from NUKES prohibit access to the additional fuel.
This video is very deceiving. It’s from a scenario of what would happen if humans disappeared. We’re talking about an EMP here and nuclear power plant emergency generators are EMP hardened and designed specifically to provide enough power to allow for a controlled shutdown. Within minutes of an EMP going off, the staff would start the emergency shutdown procedures – even if it’s all manual.
Yea and Fukushima was said to be impervious to a tsunami……
Not a lot of faith in these people and their computer modeled scenarios
Physical attack is different than EMP. These facilities aren’t hardened for physical attacks. Two completely different situations.
They knew the fukashima reactor had structural problems for years, yet the power company poured dirt on it hoping it would stay buried. They refuse to acknowledge that it is still leaking into the ocean today. Right now.
The Japanese govt doesn’t want to spend the money to fix it, neither does the company.
Dear Arkaden, Please tell us,, how many years can those “hardened” generators keep running when the grid will be gone for years and there will be NO MORE deliveries of any deisel fuel, coal, gas or oil?
Please tell us, even with manual shut downs,, how many spent fuel pools still require active cooling?
How FEW spent fuel areas are designed to be cooled via “Ambient, passive cooling”? (answer= NONE are passively-ambient cooled.)
The FUKUGEDDON fuel pools contain more radiation than 150 Chernobyls. When they go up,, it will DWARF the radiation amounts that WERE contained in the reactor cores.
Either you didn’t know about this,, or didn’t think about it,, OR you are a nutjob-nuclear Cheer leader.
You’ll change your tune when your kid’s flesh is falling off their bones.
Good point. I agree, if the grid goes down were all fukushima bound…
A billion to study it? It would only take 2 billion to secure the power grid.
Those storage facilities would not explode. There is nothing there to build up any pressure. The rods would just melt and burn. Radiation and particles would still be released obviously, but not in some big explosion like depicted in this video. How far it spreads would be determined by the weather and wind.
Perhaps the “culling of the herds” is needed.
Not needed, but they will do it regardless. My guess this fall. Millions will freeze/starve. Come quickly Lord Jesus.
Nothing like offing the PHDs in physics, chemistry and medicine to get back to that good mule and plow of the good old days.
Pol Pot would agree.
INSANITY.
Kevin2..I completely agree
My life has been so miserable the last few years, who cares if we have a massive black out…
At least the play will end.
I’m right there with you, my life has been so screwed by this economy, I no longer care either. Bring it on!
culling isnt the governments job…and i dam sure hope the good lord teaches them in a personal lesson why that is
As long as your healthy. Have a warm dry place to sleep. Have a belly full of food. And have good sex on a regular basis. Everything else is a big luxury. Prepare for those 4 things and worry about everything else when & if it happens.
Of course old Guy would say something like that… live like an animal and don’t think.
I know where you are coming from brother. Some things need to be prioritized in this fashion. A good wife is hard to come by. I’d prefer some food in the pantry and a few other essentials to follow the first priority’s. But, I’d likely trade them for the first four if necessary.
On faux news at 4pm eastern they are supposedly going to interview a rep who is going to share his research on ISIS terror cells in US.
Complete waste of 7 minutes. Guy is a prepped. Was talking about a safe room and canned food. But he also stocks meds. He knows and does more than he admits, but nothing new about on the ground threats.
There is
A LOT of stuff that even the “experts” know little about
And that could have grave consequences with even the slightest changes.
There might be bright spot to all of this. If we have it just maybe there won’t be a nuclear war. I think I had rather see a Major EMP than a Nuclear war. At least I would have a chance.
The problem is that you and I know that some day they will use it.
Sgt.
When Tesla was determining the resonant frequencies of the earth to potentially transmit unlimited electric power, he also recognized frequencies that acted as a damping field to nullify electric power.
With the advent of the wireless and Tesla’s unique investigations into broadcasting electricity, a dozen or more inventors thereafter announced their own means for transmitting electrical energy without wires.
One British inventor, H. Grindell-Matthews, actually demonstrated his “mystery ray” apparatus in 1924 to a Popular Science Monthly writer in London (See: Pop. Sci. Monthly, Aug. 1924, P. 33). When his beam was directed toward the magneto system of a gasoline engine, it stopped the system. Afterwards, it ignited gun powder, lit an electric lamp bulb from a distance and killed a mouse in seconds!
Grindell-Matthews said the secret was involved with the “carrier beam” he used to conduct a high-voltage, low-frequency electrical current. During 1936, Guglielmo Marconi experimented with extremely low frequency (ELF) waves and displayed their exceptional ability to penetrate metallic shielding. These waves could affect electrical devices, overload circuits and cause machines like generators, electric motors and automobiles to stall. Diesel engines, which do not rely on electrical ignition, were not affected.
Mysteriously, Marconi’s research on the subject was never found after the war.
Possibly if Tesla wasn’t ruined by JP Morgan and tptb we might not have a grid problem today.
“Mysteriously, Marconi’s research on the subject was never found after the war.”
Sure it was, it just slid down the DoD secrecy hole. Bits and pieces have surfaced, here and there in other uses.
MOSTLY MILITARY.
Oh, I’m sure the tech is all out there in the hands of the so called “world rulers” otherwise known as the elites.
Not unlike numerous alternative energy inventions that have been squashed due to the fact it wouldn’t produce the needed revenue to maintain tptb live style of dictatorship and control of the ingenuous slaves.
if the predictions of the arctic methane emergency group hold true
you can “prep” all you want
it’s pretty much irrelevant
http://www.ameg.me/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMZbvrs51cg
Climate Genocide
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/03/…mate-genocide/
“Furthermore, only recently, scientists from Rutgers University changed the course of scientific thought. Previously, scientists thought that 55 million years ago global temperatures took 10,000 years to increase by 5C. Now, a seminal sediment study by Rutgers University scientists has proven it only took 13 years for global temperatures to increase by 5C (Morgan Schaller and James Wright, New Finding Shows Climate Change Can Happen in a Geological Instant, Research News at Rutgers, October 6, 2013.)”
your talking about MASSIVE climate change and an extinction level event within a decade or so
Alarm, sound the alarm, we are gonna die from methane gas now…. or maybe, just maybe, (highly unlikely) get one degree warmer. Or was that a tenth of one degree in the next long term…… yup, it’s all lies. Hey there’s a huge water shortage as well. And like all good crises, the government will make restrictive allowances and charge you higher along the way, as well as fines……. yup, it’s a racket. It’s slavery.
They lie.. they lie,, they lie…. to infinity. and beyond.
🙂
And over in Ferguson…what you wanna bet the bullet they pull out of police officer is a green tip. Somethin’ ain’t addin’ up on this one.
That would not surprise me. I don’t know anyone that could do that distance with a pistol.
Maybe you don’t, but there’s thousands of handgun target shooters across the country who can hit a teacup from 100 yards. This guy apparently loosed off four rounds into a group several feet across. The poor cops happened to be in it.
Wish I could find the link now. There was an incident a couple of years ago where a bad guy had a cop pinned down, and a citizen who had a clear shot hit the bad guy 3 out of five from well over 100, using a 4″ 357 carry pistol.
More likely it’ll spark a renewed effort for the grabbers to go on another rampage with the meme “Those evil black guns are the problem”.
Be well.
Cat
Yah lets discuss the merits of banning big bad scary “armor piercing” ammunition, after somebody gets shot in the face…And doesn’t even friggin die!! But we all know, most everybody would go right along with it. If it does turn out to be the case (which personally I don’t think it will be) it should serve to pull back the curtain for everyone, but Lord knows that will never happen. Most people don’t want to see the wizard.
PO’d.You most likely right
So NASA is spending a billion to study the issue? And Congress is only NOW saying something needs to be done to protect the grid? The feds have known about this since the 60s when they conducted that nuclear test in the South Pacific which produced an EMP that fried electronics in Hawaii. That horse left the barn way back then and they just now want to close the door? Way too late for that. Watch the EMP or solar flare come while that study is taking place. This is only one reason why I prep.
I’m unsure as to why the maker of the video says the can does not have to be grounded. In my thinking, if you want to drain the EMP charge off safely away from the contents of the can, ground it.
I have a five-gallon metal can containing: a hand-held CB, a 2-meter hand-held ham tranceiver, a hand-crank AM/FM radio, a hand-held emergency scanner, a radiation detector, a pair of walkie-talkies and a spare digital watch. I take everything out now and then to test and check.
They say you do not ground… do not ground. Research it before you do it. Go to multiple resources. Some do say yes, some disagree heartily. You should wrap them in aluminum foil, cheap insurance. Insulate item with plastic bags, aluminum, plastic aluminum, plastic………… guess you decide how many layers of insurance you can afford, or can’t afford.
Over at aol.com, “Putin Mystery Sets Off Rumors In Moscow”. Putin hasn’t been seen in public for a week. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
A billion dollars to negate voracious rampant capitalism’s destruction to the earth. That is just an immense money hole to be pilfered by insiders. They have the technology to stop it now, but they will not.
and the “official” 9-11 story continues to unravel
The 9/11 Commissioners Were Conspiracy Theorists
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-03-12/911-commissioners-were-conspiracy-theorists
“The Senior Counsel to the 9/11 Commission (John Farmer) – who led the 9/11 staff’s inquiry – said “At some level of the government, at some point in time…there was an agreement not to tell the truth about what happened“. He also said “I was shocked at how different the truth was from the way it was described …. The tapes told a radically different story from what had been told to us and the public for two years…. This is not spin. This is not true.”
Po’d patriot I agree with you on the green tip coming out of that cop it makes perfect sense good looking out your two steps ahead of the potential false flag. I took a ride today into town to pay my water bill and all the stores are closed permanently must have happened recently there are no for lease signs up yet there is no $ around here anymore. In the past few years the local businesses have been closing up even well established ones. Pawn shops gun shops liquor stores pubs smoke shops seem to have moved in. These businesses are the type that come when a community is in distress. I have to say I haven’t seen so many closed factories boarded up and strip malls closed and the downtown village shops closed in my life. The predatory business have moved in. The pan handlers used to be in the city but I see them now in town it’s definetly gotten out of control. I want to take a trip but wonder if the shit will hit while I’m away. You know it’s bad when you see homeless people everywhere on bicycles. Yesterday the news said target is closing a lot of stores and laying off a lot of workers. The news doesn’t elaborate about the loss of jobs as much as the wild swings in the Dow. I’m glad I covered my bases. It will make the difference. I’m still working so that’s good.
When you vote for an incumbent you are perpetuating our government as it is now. Nothing will change.
Three short sentences, you may find interesting.
These three short sentences tell you a lot about the direction of our current government and cultural environment:
1. We are advised NOT to judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a very few lunatics. Funny how that works. And here’s another one worth considering.
2. Seems we constantly hear about how Social Security is going to run out of money. How come we never hear about welfare or food stamps running out of money? What’s interesting is the first group worked for their money, but the second didn’t. Think about it. Last but not least:
3. Why are we cutting benefits for our veterans, no pay raises for our military and cutting our army to a level lower than before WWII, but we are not stopping payments to illegal aliens such as monthly payments for each child, money for housing, Food Stamps, free education including college, and also the right to vote?
Am I the only one missing something?
Copperhead you are my hero, you are so on the money. I didn’t think anyone thought quite like myself!! Great observation!!!
NASA always decides what they will find before they look. The money provider says “This is what you will find!!” And the scientists do, find exactly that, every time. Amazing! What about things they have no way of measuring, and refuse to believe can exist. O, then, we will invent dark matter to account for all the weird effects we haven’t stuffed into our neat little hypothsis.
With our scientific knowledge, we have little reason to create this mission. What little they will learn does not justify the cost, given our reality. Prioritize our tax dollars. As a slave we should have some say in the manner they waste our money. Seems only fair to me.
There have been an awful lot of solar flares in the past few days.
Oh my god will we actually have to revert to the primitive tools that we started with. I guess 90 % will die because you have no clue how to use them. But then again you are the same 90 % who believe this crap. So what if it happens !! Survival hasn’t be eradicated from the remain 10 %.
We already know what will need replacing if a EMP event happens. Large transformers. We don’t need a stupid “NASA study”. You can buy a lot of transformers for $1.1 billion.
Yes you can, but that wouldn’t put mega-bucks in the hands of those companies who bought the politicians, and they do expect a return on their investments.
This has nothing to do with studing the situation, this is about keeping people with college degrees employed.
It’s just like when they talk about infastructure improvemnets, the first words out of their mouths is the number of jobs it will create.
Rocket scientists have mortgages also.
I wouldn’t mind if 90% of government disappeared!
Viruses also put our way of life at risk. The summer rush of illegals (could carry many viruses) over the southern border puts us all at risk.
While news of Ebola is rarely seen any more, the virus is still spreading.
American healthcare worker who contracted Ebola in Africa arrives in NIH hospital in Maryland (3/12/15)
“The World Health Organization estimated Thursday that the virus has killed more than 10,000 people, mostly in the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The current outbreak is the largest ever for the disease. While deaths have slowed dramatically in recent months, the virus appears stubbornly entrenched in parts of Guinea and Sierra Leone.”
Fox News
UK health worker with Ebola flown back, 4 others being assessed (3/12/15)
“A British military healthcare worker who tested positive for Ebola in Sierra Leone is being flown back to Britain and four others are being assessed, officials in London said on Thursday.”
Fox News
On another note – was in the local Wally World, looking for some more of those evil “green tip” rounds. Came across a device called “Ember 2800” Looked at it a bit, pulled out the glasses so I could read the fine print – turns out it is a portable battery pack with a built-in solar cell.
Brunton “Ember 2800”, Hybrid power bank and solar charger. Came with a 3 in 1 cable to connect to the iPhone 5/6 series or Samsung clone phones, as well as iPhone 4 series connectors. With a suitable connector can be used to charge or power other devices as well. Cost was less than $40.00. About as big as 2 Zippo lighters laid sideways.
Back of the box it came in was the wording: “Buy it. Try it. Bust it. No questions asked.”
So, I bought one.
Cat
That Billion dollars could have been spent wiser making the grid EMP proof. Electric companies already know the threat and know how to fix it.
…To study or, to inflict? For one thing, the destruction of the Internet would be music to the ears of those who want to silence and go after all their dissidents who will then be incommunicado with each other and with everyone else.