Good Mornin and Howdy to all you fine folks. I have been reading through this here thread and betwixt taking a few notes on the very good practical suggestions many of you have made and LMSAO from sum of the "Other" items I started thinkin about all that training I received from the bless-ed United States Navy up there in Philadelphia so many years ago about all them effects of EMP. Something I'd like to throw out here for ya'll to consider is "You don't need a surface or Air burst of a nuclear device to create EMP" an electrical transformer of sufficient size can create a significant EM pulse should it happen to explode from overload or defect. Which "Can" affect transistorized electical devices within several hundred feet. Something else to consider is that while an EMP can have deletrious effects on many "Modern" electro/electronic devices most newer civilian aircraft and all military aircraft and field equipment is hardened against it, and the pulse itself does not have the emmensely pervasive effect many "Sci-Fi" writers would have you believe.
Another thing to consider is dimminishing effect, the strength/intensity of the pulse as with any sort of "Wave" dimminishes over distance and with each natural or manmade object it encounters and must pass through. An EMP of sufficient intensity to affect electronics tens or hundreds of miles away would have to be the result of a nuclear detonation (air burst) of such size, or even dozens of lesser devices over a wide area that I truly believe not being able to start your camry or having electricity would be the very least of your worries.
While defense and preparation against EMP in a SHTF situation IS important I think perhaps much more consideration should be given to defense of what resources you have stockpiled against the affects of Radiation.
If your fuel is irradiated it will be useless to you (wood, gasoline, coal, diesel, even propane) because if you burn it you "recontamminate" by spreading the radiation again from the combustion of these fuels. Food water medical supplies all these things should receive some protection from the effects of irradiation. For those who have served in the Military in th ePost nuclear ages this may rekindle memories. Remember there are four differant types of radiation associated with ALL nuclear detonations. Depending upon their design and components some types of radiation will be more pervasive than others. Radiation types: Gamma (X-rays), Alpha, Beta and Neutron.
Just a thought guys. Something to consider as you stash your supplies in preparation for a day I am certain No-one here ever wants to see happen!
God Bless America!
