Listen to what the EMP Commission Has to Say

Understanding the EMP Threat

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"The EMP commission estimates that a single well placed EMP attack could disable a staggering 70% of the nation's electric service instantaneously!" [3:58]

If you prefer reading, here’s the full report.

Key Takeaways from the EMP Commission

1. The Threat is Real: Historical incidents, such as the 1962 Starfish Prime nuclear test and natural geomagnetic storms, highlight the plausibility of EMP-like disruptions. These events serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in our modern infrastructure and the urgent need for proactive measures.
2. Mitigation is Possible: By hardening critical systems, ensuring backup power, and developing comprehensive recovery plans, we can significantly reduce the impact of an EMP event. Taking these steps now can prevent long-term disruptions and safeguard essential services.
3. Community Preparedness is Essential: Individual and collective actions are crucial. Building awareness, fostering communication, and promoting community-wide resilience are key to navigating the challenges of an EMP event.

Be a Leader in Preparedness

In the event of an EMP, access to functional technology can be vital for survival. Protecting critical tools and resources, such as maps, first aid guides, and generators, ensures you and your community are prepared to face potential disruptions. Be proactive by spreading awareness, educating others, and safeguarding essential devices.

Take Action Today

Preparedness isn’t just about safeguarding technology; it’s about creating a resilient community ready to face any challenge. Explore our selection of protective gear and start building your EMP resilience today.

Protect Your Critical Gear with GoDark EMP Protecting Faraday Bags

Podcast Outline

Read the Transcript

0:00: All right, so let's let's dive into something that, well, it sounds straight out of a sci-fi thriller, but it's actually, you know, a real concern, the EMP vulnerability of critical infrastructure.
0:11: We're talking about the possibility of a weapon.
0:14: Not of bombs and bullets, but of electromagnetic energy.
0:17: They could well disrupt the very systems we rely on for.
0:22: Pretty much,, everything.
0:24: It really is fascinating how this threat exists, right, at the intersection of technology and vulnerability.
0:29: We have all these reports from the EMP commission.
0:31: , this group that's dedicated to assessing, well, this very danger and their findings, well, they paint a vivid picture of how fragile our modern world really is.
0:40: Yeah, and we're not just talking about some obscure military targets.
0:43: These reports cover, well, everything from power grids and telecommunications to transportation and even our food supply.
0:50: It's like this chain reaction waiting to happen, and that's the crux of it, isn't it?
0:54: This isn't just some far-fetched attack scenario.
0:57: The vulnerabilities that are highlighted in these reports.
1:00: They apply to all sorts of potential disruptions, whether it's a natural disaster, a cyber attack, or even just, you know, a plain old equipment failure.
1:09: Understanding how interconnected these systems are.
1:12: Can help us prepare for, well, a wider range of challenges.
1:16: So it's like a master class in societal resilience then sign me up.
1:19: But before we get ahead of ourselves, let's break down what EMP actually is.
1:24: What exactly are we dealing with here?
1:26: So EMP stands for electromagnetic pulse, and it's essentially a sudden intense burst of electromagnetic energy.
1:32: It's like a mass of power surge on steroids really and there are actually 3 different types of EMP pulses that that we're concerned with.
1:41: OK, 3 types, lay it on me.
1:43: Which one should we be like most worried about?
1:46: Well, the first type known as E1 is the fastest and the most intense.
1:50: It hits almost instantaneously and can fry sensitive electronics in a flash.
1:54: Think of it as the shock wave that arrives first.
1:57: Then there's E2.
1:59: Which is slower and less intense, but still capable of causing serious damage.
2:03: It's like a, a delayed shock wave that can disrupt systems over a wider area.
2:07: Finally, there's E3, the slowest of the bunch, but the one with the longest reach.
2:12: E3 pulses can last for hours or even days, messing with power grids and long electrical conductors, causing widespread blackouts and and disruptions.
2:21: So why are these pulses like, such a big deal?
2:24: I mean, We experience power surges all the time.
2:26: What makes EMP different?
2:28: The key difference lies in the sheer scale and the interconnected nature of our modern infrastructure, our reliance on electronics for absolutely everything, the electric grid, communication networks, traffic control systems, you name it.
2:39: Has created this complex web of vulnerability.
2:43: An EMP pulse could disrupt these systems in a way that a typical power surge, well, it simply can't.
2:48: Right?
2:48: We're not just theorizing here.
2:49: Didn't we have a real world example of an EMP back in the 60s?
2:52: Something about a nuclear test?
2:54: Absolutely.
2:54: In 1962, the US conducted a high altitude nuclear test called Starfish Prime.
3:00: This detonation created a massive EMP that disrupted satellites and even caused street lights to go out in Hawaii, thousands of miles away.
3:09: It was, it was a stark demonstration of the very real consequences of EMP even back then.
3:16: OK, that's a bit unsettling.
3:18: So let's talk specifics.
3:19: If a large scale EMP were to hit, what would be the impact on, say, the electric grid?
3:25: That seems like the backbone of, well, everything else.
3:27: Yeah, the electric grid, it's incredibly vulnerable.
3:29: EMP for a couple of key reasons.
3:31: First, it's incredibly interconnected with power flowing across vast distances, making it susceptible to cascading failures.
3:38: If one part of the system goes down, the disruption can ripple outwards, causing widespread blackouts.
3:43: Second, the grid relies on a delicate balance of supply and demand, managed by sophisticated electronic control systems that are, well, highly susceptible to EMP.
3:52: So we're talking about more than just a few flickering lights.
3:55: What kind of scale are we looking at here?
3:57: So the EMP commission.
3:59: They estimate that a single well-placed EMP attack could disable a staggering 70% of the nation's electric service instantaneously.
4:09: And we're not talking about a quick outage.
4:11: These blackouts could last for weeks, months, or even longer.
4:15: Imagine, right?
4:16: 70% of the country plunged into darkness.
4:18: No refrigeration, no internet, potentially no clean water.
4:23: That's the scale of impact we're talking about, and it highlights why, well, why understanding personal preparedness is crucial.
4:29: Wow, OK.
4:30: Now, even if an EMP takes out like a bunch of power plants, wouldn't it be relatively straightforward to just restart them?
4:37: Well, that's where things get even trickier.
4:38: Many power plants, especially the larger ones, require external power to restart, a process known as a black start.
4:44: So if the grid is down, even undamaged plants might be stuck offline, which will further delays the restoration of electricity.
4:51: And the longer the grid is down, the harder it becomes to get things back online.
4:55: I'm guessing this isn't just a theoretical problem though, right?
4:58: Have there been any real world events that gets a glimpse into what this kind of widespread outage might actually look like?
5:05: Absolutely.
5:06: Back in 1989, a geomagnetic storm, which, well, it produces similar effects to EMP, it caused a massive blackout in Quebec.
5:14: Over 6 million people lost power for more than 9 hours.
5:18: And the economic and social disruption was significant.
5:21: The Quebec blackout shows that even seemingly small disruptions can have, well, major consequences.
5:27: It's a wake up call to think about how you'd cope if the power went out for, you know, an extended period.
5:31: Do you have alternative cooking methods, a way to stay warm?
5:34: These are the questions we need to be asking ourselves.
5:36: OK, so the electric grid is clearly a major point of vulnerability.
5:39: What about telecommunications?
5:41: In a crisis?
5:42: Wouldn't that be our lifeline to get information and coordinate a response?
5:46: How does EMP factor into that?
5:48: So while modern telecommunications have become more resilient thanks to things like fiber optic cables and diverse routing, they still rely on electronics at critical nodes, local exchanges, cell towers.
6:00: These are all susceptible to EMP.
6:02: So what are the potential cascading effects we might see beyond just the initial outage?
6:08: We're talking about a situation where in the midst of a crisis, The very systems we rely on to communicate are down.
6:15: Exactly.
6:16: Imagine trying to coordinate emergency services, evacuate people, or even just get information about what's happening.
6:23: When the phones are dead, the internet is down, and cell service is spotty at best.
6:29: It doesn't take much imagination to see how quickly things could, well, spiral out of control.
6:34: And it's not just about the networks themselves, is it?
6:36: Wouldn't the sheer volume of people trying to use whatever communication systems are still functioning cause massive congestion and delays?
6:44: Absolutely.
6:44: Think about what happens when there's a major event.
6:47: Everyone's trying to call or text at the same time.
6:49: The networks get overloaded.
6:51: Now magnify that by a factor of 10 or even 100.
6:54: In the wake of a widespread EMP event, it would be a recipe for, well, communication breakdown at the worst possible time.
7:01: OK, so the picture you're painting isn't exactly rosy.
7:04: We've got potential power outages, communication breakdowns.
7:07: What happens to transportation in this scenario?
7:10: I imagine things come to a screeching halt pretty quickly.
7:13: You're not wrong.
7:14: Even something as basic as traffic lights relies on electronics, and if they go down, well, we're looking at widespread traffic jams and accidents.
7:23: And it's not just traffic lights.
7:25: A significant percentage of modern vehicles rely on sophisticated electronic systems, which could be vulnerable to EMP.
7:33: Cars themselves could be affected, so we're not just talking about traffic lights going out.
7:36: People could be stranded in their cars.
7:38: The EMP Commission's testing showed that that many automobiles could experience engine stalls at higher EMP field strengths.
7:46: Imagine cars suddenly dying on highways.
7:48: Leading to, well, even more hazardous road conditions.
7:51: And it's not just individual vehicles.
7:53: Think about the systems that control rail transportation, maritime shipping, air traffic control.
7:57: They all rely on electronics that could be disrupted or damaged by EMP.
8:02: So we're talking about potential gridlock in the systems that move everything from food to fuel to medical supplies.
8:08: Right?
8:09: And we've seen glimpses of this in the past.
8:10: Remember Hurricane Floyd in 1999.
8:13: The blackout in Baltimore caused sewage plants to fail, spilling millions of gallons of waste into the harbor.
8:20: It was a stark illustration of how a disruption in one infrastructure can trigger cascading problems elsewhere.
8:28: OK, this is getting pretty grim.
8:29: We've covered power outages, communication breakdowns, and transportation gridlock.
8:34: But let's talk about something even more fundamental food.
8:38: How could an EMP attack impact something as basic as Getting food on the table.
8:43: Well, the modern food supply chain, despite its incredible efficiency, is built on a foundation of technology that is incredibly vulnerable to disruption.
8:52: From automated processing plans to intricate just in time delivery systems.
8:56: Every step of the process, from farm to table, relies on electronics that could be affected by EMP.
9:01: So it's not just about farms being able to grow food, it's about everything that happens after the food leaves the farm.
9:06: Exactly.
9:07: Think about supermarkets, they typically hold only a few days' worth of food, relying on constant deliveries to keep shelves stocked.
9:13: Disrupt that stream and things could get dicey very quickly.
9:17: Think beyond stocking your pantry.
9:19: Could you grow some of your own food?
9:21: What are the local resources you could tap into if supply chains were disrupted?
9:25: Knowing your community and building those connections could be vital.
9:29: We've seen this before, haven't we?
9:31: Didn't Hurricane Katrina expose the fragility of our food supply chain?
9:35: In a pretty dramatic way, absolutely.
9:38: The blackout and transportation disruptions in the wake of Katrina led to widespread food shortages and price gouging, illustrating the very real societal impact of a crippled food supply chain.
9:49: People were desperate and things got out of hand quickly.
9:51: OK, this has been a lot to take in.
9:53: It's clear that a large scale EMP event could have some pretty devastating consequences.
9:59: But before we descend further into doomsday scenarios, let's shift gears in part two and explore what, if anything, we can do to protect ourselves and make our systems more resilient.
10:08: There has to be some hope, right?
10:09: There is.
10:10: The EMP commission, in addition to laying out the risks, also offers some concrete recommendations for mitigating those risks and building a more resilient society.
10:19: We'll dive into those solutions in part two.
10:21: Join us them.
10:22: Welcome back.
10:23: In part one, we, we dove headfirst into the deep end of the EMP pool, right, exploring the potential consequences of a large scale electromagnetic pulse event.
10:33: It was a bit of a reality check, to say the least, but now let's shift gears and explore what we can actually do to, well, prepare for this kind of disruption.
10:41: Yeah, it's easy to get caught up in those what if scenarios, but what's truly fascinating is how much we can actually do to mitigate those risks and build a more society, the EMP Commission, despite painting a stark picture of the potential consequences, also provides, well, a roadmap for strengthening our infrastructure and preparing for the unthinkable.
11:01: OK, I'm ready for a dose of optimism.
11:03: What are some of the key strategies they highlight?
11:06: One of the most important strategies is something we've touched on already, hardening.
11:10: This means making our critical systems more resistant to the damaging effects of EMPs, essentially giving our infrastructure, well, a suit of armor against that electromagnetic energy.
11:21: OK, suit of armor.
11:22: I like the analogy, but what does that look like in practice?
11:24: How do we actually harden these complex systems?
11:27: So it involves a multi-layered approach.
11:29: One key aspect is protecting sensitive electronics, which are often the weakest link in the chain.
11:34: This could involve incorporating electromagnetic shielding into the design of equipment using surge protectors and ensuring proper grounding techniques.
11:44: It's about creating barriers and pathways to redirect that excess energy away from delicate components.
11:50: So kind of like a lightning rod, but for EMPs, debooting that surge to the ground where it can't cause harm.
11:56: Exactly.
11:56: But it's not just about protecting.
11:57: , individual pieces of equipment, hardening also involves looking at, well, entire systems.
12:03: We need to identify critical nodes and pathways.
12:06: The points where a single failure could bring down a whole system and then implement redundant systems to minimize those vulnerabilities, redundancy that makes a lot of sense.
12:16: It's like having a backup generator for your house.
12:18: If the power goes out, you've got a way to keep the essential things running.
12:21: But how do we scale that up to something as complex as The electric grid or a telecommunications network.
12:27: Well, so for the electric grid, redundancy could mean having distributed generation sources like microgrids and renewable energy systems that can operate independently if the main grid goes down for telecom.
12:40: Communications, it could mean having diverse routing pathways and backup communication systems like satellite phones or even old fashioned ham radios.
12:49: It's fascinating to think that something as low tech as a ham radio could become essential in a, well, high-tech crisis.
12:56: It really highlights the importance of not putting all our eggs in one technological basket.
13:01: Absolutely.
13:01: And that principle of diversity applies to more than just technology.
13:04: It's also about diversifying.
13:06: , our energy sources, our food supply chains, and even our knowledge base, the more options we have, the less vulnerable we become to any single point of failure.
13:16: So we're talking about spreading the risk, decentralizing, and having multiple options available if one system goes down.
13:22: Exactly.
13:23: But even with the best hardening strategies, there's always a chance that some systems will be disrupted.
13:28: That's where the second major strategy comes in, ensuring backup power, right, backup power.
13:33: Tell me more about why this is so crucial.
13:35: Especially in a prolonged EMP scenario.
13:38: Think about the essential services we rely on most in an emergency.
13:42: Hospitals, emergency services, communication networks.
13:44: They need to be able to function even when the grid is down, potentially for an extended period.
13:50: Backup power is what keeps those essential functions running when everything else goes dark.
13:56: So we're talking about hospitals having enough fuel to run their generators for days, maybe even weeks, and emergency responders having access to communication systems.
14:05: That don't rely on the traditional power grid precisely.
14:08: And it's not just about these larger institutions.
14:11: Individuals and communities can also take steps to ensure they have backup power options available.
14:16: This could mean investing in a generator for your home.
14:19: Having a supply of batteries for essential devices or even exploring off-grid power solutions like solar panels.
14:26: It's a reminder that preparedness isn't just about stockpiling food and water.
14:30: It's about thinking through all the potential disruptions and having backup plans for, well, those backup plans.
14:36: Now, the third strategy the EMP Commission emphasizes is perhaps the most important of all.
14:40: Establishing comprehensive recovery plans.
14:43: It's not enough to simply survive the initial disruption.
14:46: We need a roadmap for getting back on our feet, rebuilding and restoring essential services.
14:51: Again, picturing a giant flow chart with all the steps laid out, who does what, when and how.
14:56: Is it really that straightforward?
14:57: It's more complex than a flow chart, but you've got the right idea.
15:01: Recovery plans involve everything from training emergency responders and government officials to stockpiling essential supplies to developing clear communication protocols for coordinating response efforts.
15:13: It's about making sure everyone's on the same page, knowing their roles and having the resources they need to act effectively.
15:20: It sounds like a massive undertaking, but what makes it even more challenging, it seems, is that EMP isn't like a hurricane or an earthquake, where the affected area is relatively contained.
15:30: We're talking about the potential for disruption on a national, even global scale.
15:35: You've hit on a crucial point.
15:36: The scale of a potential EMP event is something that sets it apart from many other disasters we planned for.
15:42: The interconnected nature of our infrastructure means that the ripple effects could be felt far beyond the initial point of impact.
15:49: This makes coordination and communication, well, even more critical.
15:52: And we haven't even talked about the human element yet.
15:55: How do people typically react in these kinds of large scale crisis situations?
15:59: That seems like a whole other layer of complexity.
16:01: Absolutely, the human element is critical, and it's something the EMP Commission explores in depth to understand potential responses.
16:09: They looked at a range of historical events, from blackouts to natural disasters to terrorist attacks.
16:17: What they found, is that human behavior in these situations can be both, well, predictable and unpredictable.
16:24: So there are some patterns, but there are also wild cards.
16:27: What are some of the common threads that emerge from these past events?
16:30: One of the most immediate and predictable reactions is a surge in demand for information.
16:35: People want to know what happened, how bad it is, and what they should do.
16:39: Information in a crisis is power.
16:41: It helps us feel a sense of control and make informed decisions.
16:44: But what happens when the very systems we rely on for information are down or overloaded?
16:49: As we discussed earlier, a widespread EMP attack could cripple those information channels, potentially leading to, well, even more chaos and confusion.
16:57: Exactly.
16:58: When access to reliable information is limited, rumors and misinformation can spread like wildfire, amplifying fear and anxiety.
17:06: This can lead to panic buying, hoarding, and even social unrest.
17:11: We saw this play out in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, where the breakdown in communication contributed to widespread chaos and looting.
17:18: It's a reminder that preparedness isn't just about having physical supplies.
17:22: It's also about having a plan for staying informed, filtering through misinformation, and making sound decisions even when reliable information is scarce.
17:31: And that brings us to another crucial aspect of the human element.
17:34: The psychological and emotional toll of these kinds of disruptions.
17:37: Even if we have physical resources, the stress, fear, and uncertainty of a prolonged crisis can wear people down.
17:44: So we're not just talking about surviving the initial event.
17:47: We're talking about the long term psychological resilience needed to cope with the aftermath, the rebuilding.
17:52: Process and the potential for, well, lasting changes to our way of life.
17:57: Exactly.
17:57: And this psychological preparedness is something we can build both individually and as communities.
18:02: It's about fostering a sense of connectedness, supporting each other and developing coping mechanisms for dealing with with stress and uncertainty.
18:13: This has been a fascinating, albeit slightly unnerving, exploration of the human element in a crisis.
18:19: We covered a lot of ground in this part.
18:21: From hardening our infrastructure to ensuring backup power to planning for recovery and the psychological impacts of a large scale EMP event, where do we go from here?
18:29: What's the next step in this,, deep dive?
18:32: Well, we've laid out the potential consequences of an EMP event and explored some of the strategies for mitigating those risks.
18:39: 3 will shift gears and delve into some real world examples of EMP-like events and the lessons we can learn from them.
18:45: Join us then as we explore, well, history's cautionary tales and uncover the surprising insights they offer.
18:51: Welcome back to our,, deep dive into the world of EMPs.
18:55: In the previous parts, we explored the potential consequences of a large scale EMP event and and discussed some strategies for mitigating, you know, the risks.
19:05: Now, let's shift gears and take a look at some real world examples of EMP like events, and the lessons we can learn from them.
19:11: Sometimes,, history's cautionary tales can offer surprising insights.
19:15: And help us prepare for the future.
19:17: That's a great point.
19:18: We can learn a lot from past events, even those that might not seem, you know, directly related to EMP at first glance.
19:24: By examining how systems have failed in the past and how people have responded to those failures, we can glean valuable insights into potential vulnerabilities and strategies for building resilience.
19:36: OK, so let's open up the history books.
19:37: What kind of events are we talking about here?
19:39: Give us an example of an EMP-like disruption that really highlights.
19:43: , you know, the interconnectedness of our infrastructure.
19:46: Anyway, let's go back to 1999 and look at what happened with the,, with the San Diego County Water Authority and San Diego Gas and Electric Companies.
19:54: Both companies experienced a sudden and an alarming loss of control over, well, critical systems.
20:01: They couldn't operate valves remotely, and their scaus systems, the automated control systems we've discussed before, were essentially blinded.
20:09: Wait, so their systems weren't physically damaged, but they were like rendered useless.
20:13: What caused that?
20:15: The culprit was electromagnetic interference originating from a ship's radar system located 25 miles off the coast.
20:22: This interference disrupted the communication links between the control centers and the and the equipment in the field.
20:28: Technicians had to scramble to remote locations to manually operate valves, a desperate effort to prevent what the Water Authority later described as a potential catastrophic failure.
20:38: Wow, a catastrophic failure.
20:39: That sounds pretty dire.
20:41: What would the consequences have been if they hadn't been able to, you know, regain control?
20:45: Well, we're talking about systems that handle vast amounts of water and gas.
20:49: A disruption could lead to uncontrolled spills, pipeline ruptures, explosions, you know, a cascade of failures with potentially devastating consequences for the city and its residents.
21:01: It's a stark reminder that EMP isn't just about intentional attacks.
21:05: We need to be aware of the potential for disruption from all sorts of sources, including unintentional electromagnetic interference from You know, everyday technologies.
21:14: That's right.
21:15: And this incident highlights the importance of redundancy and backup systems.
21:19: If those companies had had alternative ways to control their systems, perhaps using hardwired connections or backup communication channels, they, well, they could have avoided this near disaster.
21:29: So it's a lesson in not putting all our eggs in one technological basket.
21:32: What other historical events offer insights into the potential challenges we might face in an EMP scenario?
21:38: All right, let's hop across the pond.
21:40: To the UK in 1994, the Pembroke refinery experienced an event that that demonstrates how even a brief power disruption can have, you know, cascading effects.
21:51: A severe thunderstorm rolled through and lightning strikes caused a power loss of just 0.4 seconds, a blink of an eye, really.
21:58: But the impact was anything but minor.
22:01: OK, so what happened?
22:02: Did the lightning strike cause physical damage to the refinery equipment?
22:05: No, it wasn't direct damage from the lighting.
22:07: It was the the sudden power loss that triggered a chain reaction.
22:11: Numerous pumps and coolers tripped repeatedly, causing pressure safety valves to lift, leading to, well, major disruptions in the refining process.
22:20: Essentially the entire system went haywire because of a momentary power blip.
22:24: So even a fraction of a second of power loss can throw a wrench into these complex systems.
22:28: It's amazing how sensitive they are to even the slightest.
22:31: A disruption.
22:32: It took 4.5 months to get the Pembroke refinery back online, and the estimated losses were around $70 million.
22:40: And remember this disruption was caused by a natural event, a thunderstorm, which is something we can experience, well, anywhere in the world.
22:48: It underscores the point that our critical infrastructure, even the seemingly robust parts, is more fragile than we might realize.
22:54: It's also a reminder that EMP preparedness isn't just about preparing for some.
22:58: A hypothetical attack.
23:00: It's about building resilience against a whole spectrum of potential disruptions, whether they're natural or manmade.
23:07: Now let's shift our focus to a specific technology that plays a critical role in nearly every sector of our infrastructure.
23:14: Scata systems we've mentioned them before, but they're worth a closer look.
23:17: Scaus systems are essentially the brains behind the operation of everything from power grids to pipelines to water treatment plants.
23:24: So they're like the unseen nervous system that controls the flow of energy and resources.
23:27: Throughout our society.
23:29: A perfect analogy.
23:31: And while scaus systems have brought incredible efficiency and control to our infrastructure, their reliance on electronics and communication networks makes them highly vulnerable to EMP.
23:42: It's another example of that double-edged sword we've been talking about.
23:45: Technology brings benefits, but also creates new vulnerabilities.
23:50: OK, so how have SAA systems been affected by, you know, EMP like events in the past?
23:56: Give us an example.
23:57: Let's go back to the late 1980s to a natural gas pipelinescata system near Den Helder, Netherlands.
24:03: In this case, it wasn't an EMP or a lightning strike that caused the,, the problem.
24:08: It was something that might seem surprisingly harmless.
24:11: Radar, radar.
24:12: How could radar a pipeline control system.
24:14: It turned out that energy from a nearby radar system was coupling into the wires of the of the scata system, causing a relay to malfunction.
24:22: This malfunction caused a large gas flow control valve to open and close rapidly at the radar scan frequency.
24:28: These rapid changes in pressure created waves that traveled down the pipeline, eventually leading to a massive explosion.
24:35: Wow, that's incredible.
24:36: A seemingly innocuous technology like radar, causing a a pipeline explosion.
24:42: It really highlights the unpredictable nature of these electromagnetic interactions and how a seemingly minor disruption can escalate into something, well, catastrophic.
24:52: This incident and others like it prompted the EMP commission to conduct extensive testing on a variety of status systems to understand their vulnerabilities to EMP.
25:01: Their findings were, to put it mildly, concerning.
25:05: OK, spill the beans.
25:06: What do those tests reveal?
25:08: The tests showed that scaus systems are highly susceptible to EMP, with a wide range of potential malfunctions occurring, from minor glitches to complete system failures.
25:17: Some systems experience temporary electronic upsets that could potentially be fixed with a, you know, reboot or a reset.
25:23: But others suffered permanent damage requiring replacement of hardware.
25:28: So it's not as simple as flipping a switch and everything's back to normal.
25:31: We're talking about the potential for extensive repairs and replacements, which could take a long time, especially if the supply chains for these specialized components are also disrupted.
25:40: And here's the thing that makes it even trickier.
25:43: The response of even a single scata system to EMP can be, well, unpredictable.
25:49: Some components might be fine while others malfunction or get completely fried.
25:52: It's like trying to solve a puzzle where the pieces are constantly changing.
25:57: This makes it incredibly difficult to assess the extent of the damage and prioritize repairs in the aftermath of an event.
26:04: So we've got this complex web of infrastructure controlled by scaus systems that are highly susceptible to EMP.
26:10: And even if we harden those systems and have backup power in place, there's still the challenge of figuring out what's broken and and how to fix it after an event.
26:19: It seems like a A monumental task.
26:21: It is a challenge.
26:22: There's no doubt about that, but it's not insurmountable.
26:25: We've learned a lot from past events and we're continuing to learn more all the time.
26:29: The key takeaway is that we need to be proactive.
26:31: We need to understand the risks, plan for a range of scenarios, and take steps to make our systems as well, resilient as possible.
26:38: OK, so we've explored some real world examples.
26:41: Of how EMP like events have disrupted critical infrastructure.
26:45: We've seen how even brief power disruptions or unintentional electromagnetic interference can have cascading effects.
26:53: We've talked about the vulnerabilities of SAA systems, which play a crucial role in controlling everything from our power grids to our water supply.
27:02: It's a sobering picture, but it's also a reminder that knowledge is power.
27:07: I completely agree.
27:08: The more we understand about the threats we face, the better equipped we are to mitigate those threats and build a more resilient society.
27:17: These historical events, while concerning, offer valuable lessons that can help us prepare for a future where where EMP is a growing concern.
27:25: This has been an incredibly insightful deep dive.
27:27: We've covered a lot of ground from the science of EMP to the potential consequences of a large scale event.
27:32: To the lessons we can learn from, you know, history.
27:34: It's clear that this is a complex issue with no easy answers, but I think the most important message is that we're not powerless.
27:40: We can take action to protect ourselves and our communities.
27:43: I couldn't agree more.
27:44: Resilience is not something that happens by chance.
27:46: It's something we build step by step through awareness, planning, and action, and it's something we do together as individuals, communities, and as a, well, society.
27:58: That's a powerful message to end on.
28:00: Thanks for sharing your expertise with us.
28:02: And to our listeners, remember, knowledge is power.
28:05: The more we understand about the world around us, the better prepared we are to navigate whatever challenges come our way.