Promising news. One of the largest criticism's has been that governments havn't been taking EMP seriously enough. The wheels turn slowly but it looks like they are now moving to address that issue.

This kind of training is absolutely imperative, but lets see what kind of $$$ is invested into infrastructure not only to make the electrical grid more resilient...but also to upgrade and improve the patchwork of a spider's web that it has become!

I do not believe that our electrical grid will ever be safe until after an event has happened. It is sad, but people do not tend to plan for such things. this includes our government. The utility's just don't have or just don't want to invest the money needed to reduce the risk and harm of such an event. The main expense would be transformers, the large one's at many many transfer stations, they are mainly made over sea's, take a long time to make and ship, and we only have a few large one's for spares for many stations to use when we would need hundreds or perhaps thousands. In the event of a serious emp to replace only 5% of all the transformers in north america at it's current plan would take many many years! The material we need is just not in the country! I do believe we are stretched way to thin.

At any rate, I believe that their test, if in fact they do it at all. Will prove we are in desperate need of massive hardening of the electrical grid and with such the massive funds that are just is not there to be found! we can order a poor homeless person to have a million dollar in a few weeks. but what are the chance he/she will have it!

From what I know of the EMP and the semiconductor issue I cannot see how you could get a grid to be EMP resistant without a ton of work. Semiconductors are essentially every diode as far as I am aware and even if you get all the big no nonsense stuff safe how do you protect all the control boards in all the different locations for monitoring, limiting, communication and the like? WOW Im sure if anyone could do it it SHOULD be them 😆 But can it be done? Who knows. When I hear stories of people in other parts of the world that go through similar things either through acts of war, government sanctions, etc. Somehow I dont think any of then are running any kind of powered appliances. There has been no EMP attack anywhere so that tells me no matter what your gonna be without power. You can wish in one hand and P(%S in the other as far as I can see Im planning no power. Pretty simple

The only real concern I myself feel of an actual EMP is the fact I need to get home and fast. It will slow me down and change up the plan somewhat but only in timing I hope. Just a little slower and more work for travel if need be.

The grid is old, patched together as it was developed over the years and needs a lot more work in addition to hardening against EMP. EMP just gets the attention on prepper forums. 🙂 Its infrastructure like anything else and needs maintaining and upgrading, and because its a foundation technology we depend so highly on it.

If there is some good news, communications and data/networking have from there onset incorporated better technology with respect to EMP, surge, UPS, etc. A main reason was simply the equipment is that more sensitive which brought the economic reality that protecting it was cheaper than replacing it. If you did some poking around with companies like Bell, etc. they do have EMP protection in place at key points.

It would be impractical to think you could protect a whole grid at once. The point would be to protect certain portions, certain key areas and have a plan in place to rebuild as soon as possible afterwards. That means protection of key facilities to restart, key facilities to manufacture and rebuild, and key facilities to support the general population until repairs are done. I've read articles saying anywhere from 1 to 10 years to rebuild the grid should it be totally disrupted.....not a pleasant thought, especially to Northern regions where even a gas furnace is dependent on electrical components....the first winter would be devastating..

On to happier thoughts....again, the OP linked an article which at least points to governments acknowledging the issue is there and starting to develop plans, contingencies, etc. They move slow...like everything else in the gov't (well..except the tax dept. lol) but, the welcome news is they are acting.

Lets see where they go. Any new articles on the matter would be greatly appreciated.