by James A. Bacon
One of the most frightening end-of-the-world scenarios that bedevils my apocalyptic mind — scarier even than Boomergeddon — is the threat of an electromagnetic pulse over the United States. Whether caused by the detonation of a rogue nuclear weapon above the atmosphere or a blast of solar radiation, an EMP could wipe out the electric grid across the continental United States. Without electricity, modern civilization would collapse. Within no time at all, most of us would be reduced to subsisting on eight-year-old jars of artichoke hearts in the back of the pantry and, when they ran out, trapped chipmunks, squirrels and other suburban fauna.
People far more knowledgeable than I are worried about this. U.S. preparations for an EMP are woefully inadequate, says the Heritage Institute in a new backgrounder, “Before the Lights Go Out.” The military has hardened may of its facilities, but civilians have not. There are some initiatives afoot at the Congressional level, says Heritage, but state and local governments remain poorly prepared.
What’s happening in Virginia? Regulation of the electric power industry is a state responsibility. Is anyone even looking at this issue? (It would be asking too much to actually expect anyone to be doing something about it. I’ll be happy if someone is merely looking.)
Follow up question: Which is easier to harden against EMPs — an electric power grid in which power and distribution facilities are concentrated in a relatively few corporate hands? Or a distributed grid characterized by many small, local power providers? I’d like to know.
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