I agreeto Idea Include Solar Storm and EMP risks in all-hazards planning
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Include Solar Storm and EMP risks in all-hazards planning

Include the hazards "Solar Storm" and "Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)" in all-hazards planning and mitigation at all levels of government.

Solar storms and EMP's have the ability to knock the United States back 200 years in time by severely disabling electrical and electronic systems. The current population of the U.S. cannot be sustained and estimates that casualties may be up to 90%.

Critical infrastructure that relies on electricity and electronics need to be hardened.

The risk of Solar Storms or EMPs must be taken seriously before any real mitigation efforts will be put on the table.

Several government reports indicate a serious risk to the U.S. from these threats.

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Submitted by Brad McInnes 2 years ago

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Comments (4)

  1. Brad McInnes

    Relevant links:

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32662504/ns/technology_and_science-space/

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse

    http://www.empcommission.org/

    2 years ago
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  2. Brad McInnes

    http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20100826/981/tsc-massive-solar-storm-to-hit-earth-in_1.html

    ANI

    Thu, Aug 26 12:50 PM

    Melbourne, Aug 26 (ANI): Astronomers are predicting that a massive solar storm, much bigger in potential than the one that caused spectacular light shows on Earth earlier this month, is to strike our planet in 2012 with a force of 100 million hydrogen bombs.

    Several US media outlets have reported that NASA was warning the massive flare this month was just a precursor to a massive solar storm building that had the potential to wipe out the entire planet's power grid.

    Despite its rebuttal, NASA's been watching out for this storm since 2006 and reports from the US this week claim the storms could hit on that most Hollywood of disaster dates - 2012.

    Similar storms back in 1859 and 1921 caused worldwide chaos, wiping out telegraph wires on a massive scale. The 2012 storm has the potential to be even more disruptive.

    "The general consensus among general astronomers (and certainly solar astronomers) is that this coming Solar maximum (2012 but possibly later into 2013) will be the most violent in 100 years," News.com.au quoted astronomy lecturer and columnist Dave Reneke as saying.

    "A bold statement and one taken seriously by those it will affect most, namely airline companies, communications companies and anyone working with modern GPS systems.

    "They can even trip circuit breakers and knock out orbiting satellites, as has already been done this year," added Reneke.

    No one really knows what effect the 2012-2013 Solar Max will have on today's digital-reliant society.

    Dr Richard Fisher, director of NASA's Heliophysics division, told Reneke the super storm would hit like "a bolt of lightning", causing catastrophic consequences for the world's health, emergency services and national security unless precautions are taken.

    NASA said that a recent report by the National Academy of Sciences found that if a similar storm occurred today, it could cause "1 to 2 trillion dollars in damages to society's high-tech infrastructure and require four to 10 years for complete recovery".

    The reason for the concern comes as the sun enters a phase known as Solar Cycle 24.

    Most experts agree, although those who put the date of Solar Max in 2012 are getting the most press.

    They claim satellites will be aged by 50 years, rendering GPS even more useless than ever, and the blast will have the equivalent energy of 100 million hydrogen bombs.

    "We know it is coming but we don't know how bad it is going to be," Fisher told Reneke.

    "Systems will just not work. The flares change the magnetic field on the Earth and it's rapid, just like a lightning bolt. That's the solar effect," he added.

    The findings are published in the most recent issue of Australasian Science. (ANI)

    2 years ago
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  3. Thomas Woods

    The members of EMPact America are glad to see that we're not the first to post this idea here. Please visit our web site (empactamerica.org) or our facebook page for more info (facebook.com/pages/EMPACT-America-Inc/96719445381)

    2 years ago
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  4. Brad McInnes

    Great web site (EMPact America) -- keep up the good work! I've signed up!

    2 years ago
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