02/03/2023 / By Olivia Cook | NewsTarget

Electromagnetic pulses (EMPs), such as solar (also known as coronal mass ejections, or CMEs), nuclear (as a result of a high-altitude explosion) or non-nuclear (caused by weapons that generate a strong electromagnetic field without using a nuclear explosion), can have similarly significant effects.

Prepper or not, it is important that you examine what may happen during the period immediately following an EMP event and understand its dangers so you can have a plan in place on how to protect yourself and your family from the aftermath. (h/t to PreppersWill.com).

Power outages

An EMP event would destroy the electronics and digital circuitry in the areas of impact – denying electric power to homes, businesses and the military. Business, financial, health and transportation systems are all dependent on electricity, as pointed out by Dr. William Graham, chair of the EMP Commission.

Entire cities would be without electricity for weeks or even months. This means no lights, no heaters, fans or air conditioners, no freezers or refrigerators for food and no televisions, radios and other electronic devices. (Related: 10 things that will still work after an electromagnetic pulse attack.)

The more time passes without electricity, the more stores (corner shops, convenience stores, food marts, mom-and-pop stores, supermarkets and pharmacies) will close their doors for business.

Communication failures

Many personal electronic devices would be rendered inoperable, including laptops or personal computers, mobile phones and radios. This would mean no access to information, inability to communicate with others and no way to provide assistance to those in need or coordinate a response.

Transportation disruptions

Air, sea, road and rail transportation that enable mobility would be affected. This would mean no way to go home to your family, no way to evacuate affected areas, no way to travel for medical assistance and no way to transport food and supplies.

While a vehicle’s metal shielding can provide some protection, those that are EMP-proof would be rendered inoperable by an EMP. Consider what could happen when fast-moving emergency response vehicles, such as ambulances, firetrucks, police cars and similar on-road vehicles suddenly lost power while driving along busy highways. Even just a few inoperable vehicles would cause a massive traffic pile-up along packed expressways.

Traffic lights would cease to function and won’t come back on. What about bridges and toll roads? Cities would not be able to manage the flow of traffic and likewise cripple roads. Moreover, fuel extraction and distribution lines would be disrupted and no gas could be pumped.

Unprotected or improperly protected airports and traffic control systems could paralyze thousands of aircraft in the sky. There would be no navigation instruments or fly-by wires to guide pilots. Flights could be grounded altogether, including rail and sea transportation that account for over 20 percent of commodity transport in North America.

Food and water shortages

The majority of the water supply systems use power for pumping and water processing. Hours after the grid goes down, water supply systems would fail and result in water shortages.

The American food chain is reliant on transportation, and a worldwide EMP could cripple fragile networks that make it possible.

Refrigeration systems could fail and cause billions of dollars of produce to spoil. Retailers would have a hard time keeping food and water on the shelves and pharmacies would not be able to re-stock prescriptions.

Financial collapse

Shops and banks need electricity to process transactions. Banks would close and automated teller machines would stop working so access to your money will immediately cease. Stores that would still be open would be cash-only and you would need cash to live by for a while.

Worse than the effects on your bank account would be the ways a long-term power outage would impact the transfer of money on a wider scale. Just an hour of downtime can cost businesses thousands to millions of dollars.

Societal collapse

Just about every aspect of our lives depends on electricity to operate and an EMP event could take them all out at once and keep them out for weeks or months.

With no power, communications or transportation, including food and water shortages and financial collapse, expect widespread panic, looting, home invasions, violence in the streets and other forms of chaos, lawlessness and savagery. Deaths would be inevitable.

Even if you live in the city, it will be at least 24 hours before things fall apart. These are just a few most concerning scenarios a massive EMP could put you in. Keep in mind that it’s always prudent to be prepared for the worst.

Check out EMP.news for more stories about EMP.