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As of 12-31-08
Soon after publishing Oil Crisis Pales in Comparison to EMP Threat, a post offering insight into the threat of an electromagnetic pulse attack against the United States, I decided to review the Department of Homeland Security’s recently-released National Emergency Communications Plan and examine the young agency’s take on the matter. Surprisingly, the 83-page plan includes no mention of the threat or how the nation might respond — or, quite possibly, not be able to respond — to it.
To me, inclusion of an assessment of the EMP threat seems critical, especially when one considers that the NECP’s success depends heavily upon the ability of Americans at all levels of government to use radios, computers and other electronic communication devices that could be disabled by an EMP attack.
I suspect that the exclusion of the EMP threat from the NECP resulted from the fact that Homeland Security, an agency charged via Title XVIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 with developing the NECP, was not aware of the fact that The Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack had been set up in 2001. That, however, is only the estimation of a former Air Force officer, long distanced from the bureaucracy that is the federal government.
With the stakes so high, Americans can only hope that coordination between Homeland Security and the EMP Commission improves dramatically — and soon!
5 responses so far ↓
1 Always On Watch // Aug 10, 2008 at 6:22 am
From what I understand, an EMP attack would be a very effective form of terrorism.
2 hotoffthepress2 // Aug 10, 2008 at 6:25 am
AOW — It appears that it would be very effective.
3 isotelusmaximus // Sep 15, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Why would terrorists use a perfectly good nuke on a major US city, and do us a favor giving us a target for retaliation. Launch it off a soon to be scuttled boat to 200 miles up and disable the whole coast with no obvious bad actor to fight back against. The effect would make hurricane IKE look like a picnic. What can Homeland Security be thinking???? Will the 1880’s technology still left working save the day? I think not. Never a good hand pump well around when you need one.
4 Viperkat // Mar 2, 2009 at 8:44 am
Actually, 20 miles above the target area is enough to wipe out all electronics on the east coast. I work in the communications industry and I can say quite confidently, your Cell phone will not work, nor your car, or your computer or TV. Your alarm system, at home, will die, along with your electric stove and water heater.
5 hotoffthepress2 // Mar 2, 2009 at 8:46 am
Thanks for the input, Viperkat.
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