NASA reminds folks in a video posted to YouTube today that CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections) large enough to take down the power grid happen from time to time. In fact one narrowly missed Earth just a couple years ago.
While not directly dangerous to people, CMEs big enough to take down the grid could create dangerous situations. Our civilization relies heavily on the power grid, so if the power were to go out many services and systems would become inoperable causing panic and widespread calamity.
CMEs and EMP (electromagnetic plus) weapons have similar, but different effects on electronics. While both can damage the power grid, CMEs are less dangerous to electronics that are not connected to the grid. EMP weapons can affect electronics even if they are unplugged from the grid.
So if the grid goes down and transformers catch fire but your cellular phone and car still work, you might guess a CME just hit your neck of the woods. If everything electronic goes dark, you can guess an EMP weapon was just detonated high above your head.
To prepare for either event it might be wise to build a simple faraday box and store essential electronics like a mini off-grid power system with solar panels, battery chargers, and radios for communication.
A faraday box can be as simple as a cardboard box lined completely with multiple insulated layers of aluminum foil. The electromagnetic pulse hits the aluminum foil and travels around the box. The more separately insulated layers you use the more likely the pulse will stay outside the box.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that after an EMP attack or CME event your personal safely will fall on you – since others may choose to take advantage of the situation.
While NASA’s video doesn’t dare to travel down that dark alley, they do point at it’s existence. Those of us awake to the fact that our civilization is dependent on a few key weak links (just in time delivery, lines of credit, our aging power grid, and civil order) realize that any major disruption would put our own safety in our own hands. In times like that a hole in the ground might seem like an inviting refuge to weather the storm.
