EMP Survival Guide: What Actually Survives?

The Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) is the boogeyman of the prepping world. Hollywood depicts it as a magic wave that turns planes into gliders and makes digital watches stop. The reality is more nuanced, but equally dangerous.

Whether from a high-altitude nuclear detonation (HEMP) or a massive solar flare (CME), the result is an overload of electrical grids and microchips.

The Three Components of an EMP (E1, E2, E3)

To understand what survives, you must understand the pulse.

1. E1 (The Fast Pulse): A nanosecond burst of high voltage.
   • Effect: Punches through insulators and fries microchips (ICs).
   • Target: Computers, car ECUs, phones, smart appliances.
   • Defense: Faraday cages.
2. E2 (The Lightning Pulse): Similar to lightning but without the cloud.
   • Effect: Most modern infrastructure has lightning protection that might handle this, but E1 often destroys the protection first.
3. E3 (The Slow Heave): A long-duration surge of current induced in long conductors.
   • Target: Power lines and transformers.
   • Effect: Melts the massive transformers at substations. This is what takes down the grid for months or years.

What Will Likely Die?

Anything plugged into the grid is toast due to the surge coming through the wall. But what about unplugged items?

• The Grid: 100% Dead. Transformers take 18 months to build.
• Modern Cars: Likely disabled. Modern cars (post-1990) rely on complex ECUs. Even if the engine runs, the sensors might fail.
• Smartphones/Laptops: Highly susceptible due to microscopic transistors.
• Inverters: Solar inverters tied to the grid will fry.

What Will Likely Survive?

• Solar Panels: Surprisingly resilient. The panels themselves are just silicon and glass. The diodes might pop, but the panel generates power. The weak link is the Charge Controller and Inverter. (Keep spares in a Faraday bag).
• Simple Motors: Drills, pumps, and fans with brushed motors are robust.
• Batteries: Chemical batteries (Lead Acid, Lithium) are unaffected. They don't have antennas to receive the pulse.
• Vintage Electronics: Tube radios and pre-electronic ignition cars (points/condenser) are too "dumb" to care about E1.
• Flashlights: LED drivers might be at risk, but simple incandescent bulbs are immune.

How to Protect Your Gear

You don't need to line your house with copper. You need a Faraday Cage.

• Concept: A conductive container that shields the contents from radio waves.
• The Trash Can Method: A galvanized steel trash can with a tight-fitting lid. Line the inside with cardboard so your gear doesn't touch the metal. Tape the lid seams with conductive aluminum tape.
• What to Put Inside:
  • Spare Solar Charge Controller.
  • Ham Radio (Baofeng).
  • AM/FM Radio.
  • Flash drives with important docs.
  • A spare ECU for your bug-out vehicle (if you are hardcore).

Conclusion

Don't obsess over an EMP to the point of paralysis. Focus on the aftermath: Grid Down. If you are prepared for a long-term power outage (food, water, security, off-grid heating), you are 90% prepared for an EMP. The Faraday cage just saves your luxury of communication and power generation.