Electromagnetic fields are everywhere. They surround electronics, they occur in nature and surround the planet. And sometimes, those fields get interrupted with an electromagnetic pulse (EMP).
Most of these pulses are natural and harmless. But when the pulse is strong, it can quickly take the world back to a pre-technological age.
For most, the thought of going without modern conveniences is terrifying. Though it would take some adjustment, it’s possible to survive and thrive in a post EMP world. You just need to know where to start.
Here are a few home EMP protection tips that will help you prepare for and survive in relative comfort and safety.
Stock Up on Food and Water
Electromagnetic pulses take out almost all electronics. This means the computers at your local grocery store won’t work and the city’s water system will shut down.
If you can’t buy food or water, you’ll quickly need to look for ways to find it on your own.
So, get prepared. Stock up on canned goods, dried fruits and vegetables, and other shelf-stable items. Buy bottled water and keep enough on hand to help your family through the transition.
Remember, the average person needs at least one gallon of water each day. To fully protect yourself from an EMP, have enough food and water on hand for at least a month.
Think About the Barter System
There’s no way to tell how long an EMP will leave us without functioning electronics. The outage could last just a few days or extend for weeks at a time.
This means our economy will work differently and banks may not be able to give you access to money reliably. Worse, you won’t be able to work to earn more money until the grid gets fixed.
Start thinking about what you can barter with. Items like coffee, tea, alcohol, toilet paper, and other luxury goods become great trade tools.
Use these as needed to keep your family well-supplied.
Establish a Plan with Family
EMPs will shut down the world’s communication system almost completely. The internet won’t work, phone lines will go down, and getting a hold of loved ones becomes a challenge.
Take the time to plan ahead. Establish a meeting place for your family, especially if the pulse happens in the middle of the day.
Create an action plan complete with a list of responsibilities for each person. Run through that action plan to make sure everyone understand what to do.
Invest in a Generator or Solar Panels
As we said before, electromagnetic pulses wreak havoc on your electronics. Anything plugged into the grid at the time of the pulse won’t work afterward.
But some battery-operated items and small electronics may still work if you have a way to power them.
A portable generator or solar panels let you charge items with rechargeable batteries, power small lights, and may even help you cook food without using fire or fuel. The key to these systems is making sure they’re not plugged in at the time of the pulse.
If they are, the sensitive components could go the way of your other home appliances. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to protect the electronics in your home. Here’s some helpful information to get you started.
Have Manual Appliances as a Standby
Look around your kitchen. How many appliances run off of nothing but electricity? How many of your gas appliances require an electric starter?
If you’re like most people, the answer is “all of them.” And those appliances won’t work after an EMP wave.
Do you need appliances to survive? Not really, but they do make life a lot easier.
Consider investing in an alternative cooking and refrigeration method. Camp stoves, propane-powered grills, and gas refrigerators all work off-grid. This means they’ll keep running as long as you have fuel to power them.
Installing them now will also save you on your electric bill!
Figure Out Your Lighting Situation
Light is important no matter what’s happening in the world at large. But after a pulse, your electric lights will be useless. You’ll need to find a way to light your home completely off the grid.
Stock up on high-quality beeswax candles for indoor use. They last longer and burn cleaner than paraffin wax candles, giving you more bang for your buck.
To light large rooms or provide lighting outdoors, use oil lanterns. These produce a lot of light, use fuel slowly, and are completely shielded from the wind and elements. Candles might blow out, but your oil lamps will keep burning strong for hours even in inclement weather.
Prepare Your Tool Kit
No electronics means you’ll need to rely on hand tools to make both major and minor repairs around the house.
If you don’t already have a tool kit, start putting one together. It doesn’t need to have every tool known to man. Just make sure it has these basic tools:
- A claw hammer
- Multi-bit screwdriver set
- Needle-nose pliers
- Hand saw
- Adjustable wrenches
This should be enough to get you through most home repairs. If it’s not, don’t hesitate to ask your neighbors for help.
Home EMP Protection is Important
Though we don’t know that an electromagnetic pulse will ever take down the electrical grid, it’s always best to prepare ahead of time. These home EMP protection tips will help you keep your belongings and your family safe until things settle down and recover.
Interested in learning more tips to help you keep your loved ones safe and improve your lifestyle? Check out our latest posts.
