Why An EMP Event Could Spell Trouble For Some People

So what is it about an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) event that would spell trouble for so many people? Well, if it's big enough, it has the potential to knock out not only our electricity across the country but across whole continents or even the world. Some raise the important question that if humans survived for thousands of years without electricity, why would so many people struggle or even perish without it?

Are you preparedPhoto byRichelleg

No Power, No Water

How do you get your water? If you're on a well, your water pump uses electricity. If you have city water, the water department uses electricity to get water to you. Most cities have towers or massive holding tanks, so you may not lose water right away, but with everyone using water, it won't take long to run low or deplete completely. When an EMP takes place, it doesn't just cut the power; it literally cooks electronics.

No Power, No Food

The food supply for almost everyone living in an urban area comes exclusively from markets and grocery stores. Even people in rural areas depend heavily, if not entirely, on purchasing food from outside sources.

On the other hand, the supermarkets will be looted almost immediately if the electricity goes out for an extended period of time. Electricity powers every aspect of our food supply chain, including transportation, refrigeration, and even food cultivation. A startling number of people could starve in a matter of months.

Empty store shelvesPhoto byRichelleg

No Power, No Medicine

Electricity is absolutely necessary for modern medicine. Without all of the equipment they depend on, hospitals that remained open would become far less effective. Pharmaceutical companies would not be able to continue manufacturing the vast range of prescription medications that are sustaining the lives of so many people. Medicines that needed refrigeration would expire.

To exacerbate the situation, there would be much less availability to fresh water and edible food, which will lead to incredibly terrible sanitation issues. In the absence of adequate sanitation, the spread of diseases would be exponential.

No Power, No AC Or Heat

Climate control is literally the thing that keeps some parts of the United States habitable, such as Michigan in the winter and Florida in the summer. These locations wouldn't have been home to as many people if it weren't for the indoor climate control.

Hot summers, cold wintersPhoto byRichelleg

Surviving during the hottest and coldest times of the year will become a serious issue if domestic heating and cooling systems are useless. This means those who did survive without food or water will have to move if they can't survive the heat and cold, if they are able to.

No Power, No Law

If the electricity goes out, our society will almost certainly descend into anarchy within days. There could be looting of markets, pharmacies, big box stores, farms.. the list is endless. People who were once law-abiding individuals would turn to crime as a result of needing things they can no longer get, like food, water, and medicine. The number of criminals that law enforcement would have to deal with would very quickly outgrow resources.

Furthermore, cooperation and effective communication are essential for law enforcement to function effectively; both are much harder to do in a world without electricity.

Riot policePhoto byRichelleg

Those who are able to elude sickness, famine, dehydration, and weather-related things will all of a sudden always need to be on the lookout for potential threats to their lives.

How To Prep

It should be obvious to you by now that living without power longer than your typical storm power outage will be quite difficult. An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is the most concerning threat facing the U.S. if we ever had to deal with a nation capable of delivering one. This doesn't mean we're all powerless, literally speaking.

First, make sure you have access to non-perishable food and non-electric water sources, and then gather as many medical supplies as you can. If you're on city water, start storing water in your home. If you're on a well, buy a hand pump that would allow you to pump water from your well without power.

How to start preppingPhoto byRichelleg

If you live somewhere where maintaining climate control is essential for survival, you should either prepare a bug-out bag and be ready to flee quickly or find a backup plan for heating and cooling your home. If you are able to protect yourself and your family, stock up on extra of whatever that protection is and what it needs. If you cannot protect yourself and your family, get good at running and hiding. Have a plan, and go over this plan frequently with your family.

Consider getting a ham radio or a satellite phone. Get a hand crank radio, and store any of these valuable electronics in a faraday cage, bag, or box.

Attributions:

Los Alamos National Laboratory. (n.d.). EMP: Could it happen to me? | National Security Science magazine | Los Alamos National Laboratory. https://discover.lanl.gov/publications/national-security-science/2024-spring/emp-could-it-happen-to-me/

Harris, T. (2023, April 24). How Electromagnetic Pulse Works. HowStuffWorks. https://science.howstuffworks.com/e-bomb4.htm