Survey of Adjutants General Reveals States Unprepared for EMP, Missile Attack

[faheem]

America's state-based emergency responders are not actively preparing against an attack on the United States by electromagnetic pulse (EMP), according to the Adjutants General who oversee National Guard units throughout the country. Such an attack could disable most of the nation's electric power grid, telecommunications, automobiles, and computers with a single, high altitude, nuclear blast. An EMP attack is an increasingly likely possibility as ballistic missile and nuclear technology continue to proliferate.

A survey of state-based Adjutants General throughout the United States, entitled Missile Defense and the Role of the States, was conducted jointly over the last year by the Anchorage-based Institute of the North and the Claremont Institute of Claremont, California.

The survey, entitled Missile Defense and the Role of the States (http://www.missilethreat.com/repository/docLib/20070306_MissileDefenseandtheStates.pdf), was conducted jointly over the last year by the Anchorage-based Institute of the North and the Claremont Institute of Claremont, California. The survey's questions were sent to Adjutants General of all 50 states, with more than half of the states' Adjutants General responding to the questionnaire.

Although 96% of state Adjutants General indicated significant concern over an EMP attack, the majority had done little or no analysis of the impact of an overhead EMP attack to potential targets in their particular state. Likewise, most admitted little or no preparation in the areas of training, equipment/EMP hardening, and exercises/procedure.

This finding differs with a 2004 recommendation by the congressionally mandated Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from EMP Attack, which urged states to coordinate with the federal government to prepare an emergency response plan against EMP: "Working with state authorities and private-sector organizations, the Department of Homeland Security should develop draft protocols for implementation by emergency and other government responders following EMP attack, Red Team these extensively, and then institutionalize validated protocols through issuance of standards, training, and exercises."

An electromagnetic pulse is created by detonating a nuclear warhead between 40 and 400 kilometers above the earth's surface. The electromagnetic field created by the nuclear detonation at that altitude creates a "pulse" which can disrupt and disable electronic computers, electric power, telephone and information systems over a significant geographic area. Furthermore, a space-based nuclear blast could also disable satellites that would enable the U.S. to identify the source of and respond to such an attack.

The 2004 EMP report noted that, "...one or a few high-altitude nuclear detonations can produce EMP effects that can potentially disrupt or damage electronic and electrical systems over much of the United States, virtually simultaneously, at a time determined by an adversary." The executive summary of the EMP Commission report is viewable online at www.missilethreat.com/empreport (http://www.missilethreat.com/empreport).

The Institute of the North/Claremont Institute survey indicates that National Guard leaders would like increased briefings on the missile threat in general and the EMP threat in particular. While 74% of Adjutants General had been briefed on the threat from Russian ballistic missiles, only 44% had received briefings on the threat posed by ship-borne or "stateless" missiles, and 41% indicated that they received no regular briefings regarding ballistic missile threats.

Survey results also highlight overwhelming agreement (93%) that the United States needs an effective missile defense system. A majority of survey respondents supported a "layered" missile defense, composed of ground-, sea-, air-, and space-based interceptors. Furthermore, 59% of participants stated that they envisioned their state's National Guard having a role in the development, testing, manning, and deployment of missile defense systems which could prevent an EMP attack overhead.

None of the Adjutants General surveyed indicated that they were actively involved in a formal planning process on EMP attack. The survey authors suggest policy options urging states to direct contingency planning in which they create their own realistic scenarios that demonstrate the potential effects of cruise and ballistic missiles, weapons of mass destruction, and EMP attack, thus increasing state preparedness. States are also encouraged to coordinate defense efforts with the Department of Homeland Security.

"A question state policy makers may want to ask themselves is, ‘Does our state have an EMP contingency plan?,'" said Mead Treadwell of the Institute of the North: "If not, we should get on with it, as the EMP Commission recommends."

"The United States Congress has continued the EMP Commission's work since it issued its report in 2004," said Tom Karako of the Claremont Institute. "Their report was published the same day as the 9/11 Commission, but it has been too long ignored."

Survey results and a summary report were mailed to state governors and Adjutants General for their review. Based on the survey's findings, the Institute of the North and the Claremont Institute plan to follow-up by publishing a regular newsletter highlighting ways in which state military leaders and policy makers can raise awareness and increase involvement in their state. Both institutes have been working closely together for over ten years on policy issues related to the strategic defense of the United States. Their goal is to help state and local officials and citizens understand the issues related to ballistic missile defense.

The project was initiated by Mead Treadwell, senior fellow at the Institute of the North, and Tom Karako, editor of www.missilethreat.com, an online project of the Claremont Institute. Both are members of an independent working group which recently published the report, Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. (http://missilethreat.com/iwgreport/pageID.163/default.asp)

source : www.missilethreat.com (http://www.missilethreat.com)

[WebMaster]

Faheem, your comments/input?

[LouDobb]

So what's the best thing the average person can do to be semi-prepared for such a thing? I mean beyond things which out of our limits (like Average Joe can't defend the electrical grid). I'm asking about things like comms, computers, vehicles etc.

[Todjaeger]

So what's the best thing the average person can do to be semi-prepared for such a thing? I mean beyond things which out of our limits (like Average Joe can't defend the electrical grid). I'm asking about things like comms, computers, vehicles etc.

Realistically, not a great deal. Properly delivered an EMP attack can damage or destroy unshielded/hardened electronic devices even when off or not in use when in the area of effect. As for purchasing shielded or hardened devices, AFAIK they aren't generally available and I believe if/when available cost more than normal civilian electronics. Not to mention, they are of limited use when the rest of the infrastructure is damaged or non-operational.

A high altitude EMP can effect a large area. IIRC there had been a proposal at the start of GWI to detonate a small nuclear device high over Iraq before the start of the air campaign. The idea was that the EMP would damage or otherwise negate much of Iraq's C4ISR assets. Ultimately the idea was, err, shot down.

Similarly, during the Cold War there were attack plans involving FOB attacks, (Fractional Orbit Bombardment). Basically a large nuclear warhead being launched into a low orbit, detonating over the opposing side. Given the planned warhead specs and the altitude, the expectation was that most electronics on a continental scale would be knocked out.

In sum, unless one can afford to get hardened electronics, or duplicate devices to be stored in a shielded/hardened location, or be able to adapt to a pre-industrial lifestyle, there isn't a great deal an individual can do.

-Cheers

[fgx609]

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[Waylander]

I just can try to give an impression for 1).

Normally all NATO and WarPac hardware was (And is now) hardened against EMP.

There were especially efforts (Besides C4i protection) to also keep the mech formations running while operating in a nuclear environment because some of sovjet plans talked of using tactical warheads for preparing corridors for the mech forces and NATO needed own forces to counter this which could also operate without being threatened by EMPs and radiation as well as NATO plans for using nuclear weapons in the defense if needed.

[Chrom]

I just can try to give an impression for 1).

Normally all NATO and WarPac hardware was (And is now) hardened against EMP.

There were especially efforts (Besides C4i protection) to also keep the mech formations running while operating in a nuclear environment because some of sovjet plans talked of using tactical warheads for preparing corridors for the mech forces and NATO needed own forces to counter this which could also operate without being threatened by EMPs and radiation as well as NATO plans for using nuclear weapons in the defense if needed.

Basicaly, military equipment is quite well shielded against EMP. As for civilian hardware - only hardware close to nuclear blast (30-60km) will be damaged. Still, major electricity lines and distribution network could be damaged on the whole USA territory with a single warhead - but it could be repaired within days at most , and military have its own diesel backup generators. As such, there is no reason to protect lines from EMP as these measures will be more expencive than possible damage.

[ELP]

Actually we are prepared. Anything that is the source of the attack will get nuked in kind.

[Rich]

We first responders are almost totally incapable of dealing with Hurricanes and what not let alone massive EMP attacks. To put in perspective imagine a situation where almost off vehicle traffic is fried out. Communications, most medical gear, computers...ect.

I remember once, during an exercise, I paralyzed an entire Military Police response simply by keying a radio. Imagine what would happen with all communications, of every kind, fried out by EMP? Most of all in a huge city, like the one I work in, with serious crime and criminals.

We would be up against large armed gangs roaming and criminalizing at will, hell we already have that, but without communications we couldn't respond effectively. Fire Dept.'s couldn't get to fires, it would be a major cluster-fudge.

I don't know what the answer is. To harden against EMP would be hugely expensive and unwieldy. It was hard enough to do with military systems. Besides its only really a threat by a major nuclear power and would precede a general nuclear attack, "which would make a EMP issue a minor problem". Nobody is going to shoot off a missile and explode it 400 miles over America, or its allies, and not follow it up with a general attack. We would most certainly nuke the snot out of them afterwards anyways.

As far as terrorism goes why would a terrorist do such a thing even if they get their hands on the missile/warhead and Not explode the thing to kill people instead of electronics? I'd say dirty bombs are a much bigger threat from terrorists.

[Systems Adict]

For those who wish more knowledge on EMP try reading this article....

http://www.fas.org/nuke/intro/nuke/emp.htm

Following on, it becomes apparent that probably 85% of the population haven't a clue about EMP, it's effects, or how to prepare against it.:confused:

EMP is a by-product of a nuclear explosion & was discovered during the various tests that took place in the pacific in the late 1940's. It was noted that islands upto 50 Km from the epicenter of these blast were affected by a communications blackout, caused by the EMP.

Hollywood has also blagged the idea of using EMP, as in the remake of Oceans 11, where they use a device called a "pinch" to replicate the effects of EMP, to blackout Las Vegas.

Several authors have also used it in fictional, but believeable novels, where it becomes a "Weapon"(either in the form of a Missile, or "E" grenade),used to knock out electrical systems, communications & computer systems.

This aside, the boffins know about it, it's effects & how to combat it.

However, relatively few companies are prepared to produce equipment that will continue to operate after an attack, mainly for financial reasons(ie - how much it would cost to test a system (if it's possible in the 1st place), building in the additional materials costs, manufacturing costs, etc.)

This is partly why only a very few Military Equipment/Systems manufacturers can say that their hardware can withstand such an attack, & why this equipment has up till now only been available Military customers.

It's allegedly reported that probably the best equipment to have IWO Comms systems are those that use old "wireless" Valve technology & hardwired connections from pre WW II, as anything built after 1950 usually uses Solid State transistors, resistors & printed circuit boards etc, which are known to be subsceptable to such a blast.

Systems Adict

[fgx609]

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[Todjaeger]

For those who wish more knowledge on EMP try reading this article....

http://www.fas.org/nuke/intro/nuke/emp.htm

Following on, it becomes apparent that probably 85% of the population haven't a clue about EMP, it's effects, or how to prepare against it.:confused:

EMP is a by-product of a nuclear explosion & was discovered during the various tests that took place in the pacific in the late 1940's. It was noted that islands upto 50 Km from the epicenter of these blast were affected by a communications blackout, caused by the EMP.

Systems Adict

I believe that certain types of conventional devices have also been noted as generating an EMP, though not to the extent a nuclear device does. IIRC some of the FAE (fuel-air explosive) used in GWI, or at least available for use, could generate an EMP. From what I understand, that was something that was discovered in testing, and hadn't been originally been intended. I don't remember if the Daisy Cutter or MOAB was also capable of generating an EMP.

-Cheers

[Jambo_100]

i think the US is more than prepaired. they have tens of billions of dollars worth of missile defence systems. i think the US government just over react. (thats just my opinion so please dont get angry with me :p: )

[Todjaeger]

i think the US is more than prepaired. they have tens of billions of dollars worth of missile defence systems. i think the US government just over react. (thats just my opinion so please dont get angry with me :p: )

Personally, I'd have to disagree. AFAIK, the (limited) BMD program the US has, is not geared to deal with a very high altitude EMP attack like Fractional Orbital Bombardment. Also, the interceptors are all basically on one coast, and there's only something like 18 of them. If the device that generates an EMP is either delivered from a different area, or via a different method, the interceptors aren't a great deal of use. A US$100 bil (or whatever the total amount spent now & with SDI in the 80's) BMD doesn't do any good when the WMD is brought in via cargo ship, for instance.

As for the US being prepared, I'm not sure that we could prepare for an EMP. The effects are understood, however, the scale is not as well understood. Things like the size of a detonation, relative to the AOE, or how well devices can withstand EMP, things that aren't well known, and not something that could be tested safely. Keep in mind all the devices that could potentially be effected... Anything using transistors and/or printed circuits. Transistors & circuits are used in virtually everything currently. Motors are controlled by them, data is stored, etc.

A worst-case scenario would cause chaos as people had to immediately adapt to non-electronic devices.

-Cheers

[fgx609]

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[Todjaeger]

Looks like I AM going crazy! :confused: :)

Call me silly but i'd be halting the JSF program and be funding EMP research like crazy. There appears to be a MASSIVE lack of understanding and MASSIVE lack of funding into this area. What good is a multi-billion dollar aircraft program when half the country is left without power, rioting for food and the government has trouble restoring order.

As far as war tactics go.
Personally, I would have thought that it would be a lot easier to EMP a country with a measily million dollar warhead rather than spend millions of dollars a day to fund a power projection with air supperiority and naval warfare ect.
Take out the communication and basic infrstructure and the country falls
apart itself! Why hasn't anyone put some serious thought into this? As I've already said, this all doesn't add up!

Take a look a few posts back to Post#10 from Systems Adict
For those who wish more knowledge on EMP try reading this article....

http://www.fas.org/nuke/intro/nuke/emp.htm

Following on, it becomes apparent that probably 85% of the population haven't a clue about EMP, it's effects, or how to prepare against it.:confused:

EMP is a by-product of a nuclear explosion & was discovered during the various tests that took place in the pacific in the late 1940's. It was noted that islands upto 50 Km from the epicenter of these blast were affected by a communications blackout, caused by the EMP.

Hollywood has also blagged the idea of using EMP, as in the remake of Oceans 11, where they use a device called a "pinch" to replicate the effects of EMP, to blackout Las Vegas.

Several authors have also used it in fictional, but believeable novels, where it becomes a "Weapon"(either in the form of a Missile, or "E" grenade),used to knock out electrical systems, communications & computer systems.

This aside, the boffins know about it, it's effects & how to combat it.

However, relatively few companies are prepared to produce equipment that will continue to operate after an attack, mainly for financial reasons(ie - how much it would cost to test a system (if it's possible in the 1st place), building in the additional materials costs, manufacturing costs, etc.)

This is partly why only a very few Military Equipment/Systems manufacturers can say that their hardware can withstand such an attack, & why this equipment has up till now only been available Military customers.

It's allegedly reported that probably the best equipment to have IWO Comms systems are those that use old "wireless" Valve technology & hardwired connections from pre WW II, as anything built after 1950 usually uses Solid State transistors, resistors & printed circuit boards etc, which are known to be subsceptable to such a blast.

Systems Adict

As mentioned, there are problems in conducting research as well as designing EMP shielded devices. As for the FOB tactic, that was designed specifically because detonating a large EMP generating warhead is cheaper than attack an integrated defence system with a massive air attack. One of the things NORAD does, is monitor anything that gets launched into orbit, and calculating what the orbital path would. Basically to try and determine if a launch was something harmless (satellite placement, etc.) or the prelude to war.

As for the research problems, it isn't just a matter of throwing money at the problem... The only way to really test if something is EMP-resistant, is basically to design and build it, then try to destroy it with an EMP. If it doesn't work, then the EMP shielding doesn't work... The problem comes in when one considers that in order to actually test the EMP shielding, an EMP needs to be generated. And that means nuking something. Using a nuke as a test device is somewhat overkill. Not to mention, that the possible side effects of using a nuke can be rather unpleasant. Like accidentally damaging/destroying non-EMP protected devices that aren't supposed to be effected, etc.

Take a look at the link Systems Adict provided as well, it's a good quick read for a general understanding of EMP.

-Cheers

[fgx609]

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[Waylander]

You seem to forget something. Firing a big Nuke over a country to generate an EMP is a good way of starting WWIII. ;)

[fgx609]

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[Waylander]

It is hard not pissing of the wrong people when you use an EMP for example against NK or Iran which are neighbours of China and Russia. :)

[fgx609]

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[Systems Adict]

Having read thru the thread again, I think it's fair to say that there are a few points for discussion that may have been missed / need elaboration.

#1. EMP & the public - As I stated earlier, I feel that the general public isn't aware of how EMP would affect there lives.
If there was an mid-air / high altitude accident & a B1 / B2, or a B-52 carrying a live warhead caused the weapon to detonate over the US, depending on many variable factors (including yield (in Kilo or Mega tons), height of the A/C at the time, positioning over the country, etc.), then a large percentage of the country could effectively be driven back to the stone age in an instant. While that thought could spread a panic, the Likelyhood of such an event is so slim that it really is a "What If..." scenario, so his "hidden" to some extent.

#2. EMP & the Military - Again, as stated previously, the Military are AWARE of EMP, it's effects & how to combat these effects. It's also fair to say that like the accident mentioned above, the likelyhood of WW III taking place is slim, even with the M.A.D.(Mutually Assured Destruction) policy. And in following with the accident scenario, if WW III took place then most of the globe would be driven back to the stone age, meaning an even playing filed (albiet a radioactive one !), thus negating a need for equipment that can withstand EMP.

#3. EMP & the cost of preparing for it - Also stated previously, to engineer/design a ship/missile/vehicle such that it's considered EMP Proof, then test it to prove that it is, is highly expensive & would no doubt double or quadruple the actual cost of each production unit, to help offset the testing costs.

This testing / over engineering, while meaning that the equipment would operate after an EMP blast, would more than likely make it less financially attractive to the bean counters in power, thus meaning less sales & less profits for the manufacturer. In addition, such testing would add additional time onto the length of time before the equipment could be classified operational, and possibly lead to the technology being "out-of-date" by the time it actually comes into operational service.

And all of this is really just as a back up, so that we have equipment that would operate after a Nuclear holocust.

Don't get me wrong, there are Facilities in the US that DO conduct EMP testing (possibly at either China or Groom Lake ). :confused:

The test facility I'm refering to was demonstrated on an episode of the discovery channel programme "Future Weapons". They took a reasonably modern car & subjected it to an EMP Blast from a "Pinch" device. While the lights still worked afterwards, the car couldn't do anything else as all control circuits for the electric gadgets, such as windows, door locks, etc. as well as the Engine Management CPU, where all fried in the blast.

That aside, I don't think that the facility can duplicate EXACTLY the power that would be produced in a nuclear blast. Also, it's ground based & in the desert 100's of Miles from the Ocean, so not a lot of use for ships or aircraft.


Systems Adict

[fgx609]

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