There are some strange happenings on the sun. What if a large earth-directed CME happens? Do you have a plan?
Back in the days of pre-Y2K, the electric grid going down was a main part of disaster preparations. But what if a CME would also scorch the Earth? Would you know what to do?
Let's use this blog to brainstorm how to survive something like that. First step, know what you would be up against. Here's a good overview from Stan Deyo:
http://standeyo.com/NEWS/10_Sci_Tech/100824.EMP.guide.html
"What you need to realize is that these solar storms are not only electrically and magnetically charged, but they bring radiation – across the spectrum, from microwave radiation to gamma rays."
http://www.empcommission.org/docs/A2473-EMP_Commission-7MB.pdf. This paper was done with the threat of an EMP caused by a high-altitude nuclear detonation. However, a coronal mass ejection (CME or solar flare) can have the same impact on the electric grid and electronic devices, as well as the human reaction to the event.
p.176 [regarding the effect an EMP could have on humans (minimal)]: "An important exception is people whose well-being depends on electronic life support equipment. They will be directly impacted by effects that disrupt or damage such devices. Research sponsored by the Commission suggests that some heart pacemakers may be among the devices susceptible to upset from high-altitude EMP.3,4"
"To assess human consequences, the contingency of concern is one in which electricity, telecommunications, and electronics are out of service over a significant area for an extended period of time. The human consequences of such a scenario include the social and psychological reactions to a sudden loss of stability in the modern infrastructure over a large area of the country. Loss of connectivity between the government and its populace would only exacerbate the consequences of such a scenario."
Some Lessons Learned [from local disasters] pp.180-181:
"Though the United States has not experienced a severe, widespread disruption to infrastructure comparable to an EMP attack, the cases reviewed provide some practical direction for predictions of behavior. For example, it can be expected that emotional reactions such as shock and paralysis that have followed past disasters could be magnified in a large-scale event such as an EMP attack. In particular, the paralysis of government assistance entities, such as law enforcement and emergency services, would aggravate this effect. In most instances, social disorder would be minimal, in significant part, due to the knowledge that authorities are in control of the situation. Without that assurance from an
outside source, it appears likely that people would turn to immediate neighbors or community members for information and support, if possible.
"Following disruptive disasters, information is among the most pressing needs for individuals. Not surprisingly, people’s first concerns are the whereabouts and safety of their family members and friends. Another urgent priority is an understanding of the situation — knowledge of what has happened, who and what is affected, and the cause of the
situation. A related yet distinct information need is for confirmation that the situation will be resolved, either from common sense and experience, in the case of a small-scale disaster, or from the involvement of local or federal authorities, in the case of a large-scale disaster. Psychologists note that dramatic events force people to reexamine their basic understanding about the world, and that survivors need to process an event before they can fully absorb it. This information processing begins the alternating phases of intrusion and avoidance that are primary indicators of post-traumatic stress.14
"The aftermath of natural disasters is often marked by instances or a period of considerable
pro-social behavior such as cooperation, social solidarity, and acts of selflessness. However, this encouraging observation might not be similarly magnified in projections for human behavior following an EMP attack. The key intangible, immeasurable difference is the knowledge that normal order would resume, based on significant indicators.
"It is important to note some of the differences between natural disasters and technological disasters, particularly those caused by human intent. Natural disasters “create a social context marked by an initial overwhelming consensus regarding priorities and the allocation of resources,”15 which explains the enormous outpouring of voluntary support
following the floods of 1993. In contrast to natural disasters, which “occur as purposeless, asocial events; civil disturbances can be viewed as instrumentally initiated to achieve certain social goals.”16 An EMP attack would certainly be perceived similarly, whether the adversary were a terrorist organization or a state.
"The selected case studies provide only an approximation of EMP effects. For example, the effects of the knowledge that widespread infrastructure disruption resulted from an intentional foreign attack are yet unknown. Much evidence points to people’s resilience in the immediate aftermath of disasters. However, during a lengthy recovery process, as
would be expected following an EMP attack with widespread, long-duration effects, the psychological effects of the attack should not be underestimated.
"It appears clear that the most crucial question in the task of avoiding social disorder is how to establish communication without electricity immediately following an EMP attack. Without communication alternatives, it would be impossible to alert people to the availability of emergency supplies or inform them concerning emergency response activities."
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=190721
"The concern is that any nuclear detonation that could be launched into the atmosphere anywhere from 25 to 250 miles above the United States could decimate the nation's electric grid, essentially transporting it instantly back to an era of mechanical machines and agriculture....
"Bartlett explained that the danger also comes from naturally occurring EMP signals from sources such as a solar storm.
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=149117
This article focuses on a high-altitude nuclear detonation caused EMP, but as mentioned above an earth-directed CME could also achieve the same result: death of the power grid. No matter what causes the EMP, "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...." Interesting, that's 90% of the population, the percentage that ZT says will succumb in the passage of Planet X. However, one earthbound CME could take us out before PX gets here! Thus, this is a serious reason to prepare for a CME PRIOR to the passage of PX. Don't be blindsided by this!
Second, research your options. John Miller began a discussion of shipping containers as a source of affordable underground shelters here: https://earthchanges.ning.com/forum/topics/safe-room-shelter-srs?groupUrl=survivalinformation&groupId=6126809%3AGroup%3A45&id=6126809%3ATopic%3A21542&page=2#comments. Would these shield people from solar scorching or radiation? If not, what could be done to ensure they could.
