EMP Attack Preparation Guide: Protect Your Electronics & Survive
EMP attack preparation addresses one of the most underappreciated threats to modern civilisation. An electromagnetic pulse (EMP): whether from a nuclear detonation at high altitude, a solar coronal mass ejection (CME), or a purpose-built EMP weapon: can simultaneously destroy unprotected electronic equipment across vast areas. The U.S. Congressional EMP Commission estimated in its 2019 report that a successful EMP attack on the American power grid could leave the country without electricity for a year or more, with cascading failures across water treatment, food distribution, communications, and transportation. This guide gives you a practical, prioritised approach to EMP preparedness that most households can implement for under $500.
What Is an EMP and What Does It Damage?
An electromagnetic pulse is a burst of electromagnetic energy that induces voltage spikes in electrical conductors: power lines, circuit boards, antennas, and wiring. It operates in three distinct components:
- E1 (Fast pulse): Microsecond duration, extremely high intensity. Destroys solid-state electronics directly: phones, computers, vehicles with electronic ignition, modern appliances. This is the component Faraday cages are designed to block.
- E2 (Middle pulse): Similar to a lightning strike. Most existing surge protectors can handle E2 alone, but E1 arrives first and destroys them before E2 hits.
- E3 (Slow pulse): Lasts seconds to minutes. Induces current in long conductors: power transmission lines, pipelines, railroad tracks. This is what destroys transformers and takes down the power grid.
Solar CMEs produce primarily E3 effects. Nuclear EMP produces all three. Purpose-built EMP weapons focus on E1.
What Gets Damaged in an EMP Event?
| Item | Vulnerable to EMP? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphones, tablets, computers | Yes (E1) | Protect in Faraday cage |
| Modern vehicles (2000+) | Yes (E1) | Electronic ignition and ECU vulnerable |
| Older vehicles (pre-1980) | Mostly no | Mechanical ignition more resistant |
| Power grid transformers | Yes (E3) | Months to years to replace |
| Solar panels (themselves) | Partially | Panels may survive; inverters likely damaged |
| Simple electronics (flashlights, manual radios) | Minimal | Low-tech devices more resistant |
| Tube radios, older generators | Low | Analogue electronics more resistant |
Faraday Cages & EMP Protection
A Faraday cage is any conductive enclosure that blocks electromagnetic fields. A proper Faraday cage for EMP protection needs to:
- Be made of conductive material (metal mesh, metal foil, or solid metal)
- Completely enclose the device with no gaps larger than the wavelength of concern
- Be electrically isolated from the contents inside (insulation layer between cage and device)
DIY Faraday Options
- Metal garbage can + lid: Line interior with cardboard or foam, tape lid seal with copper tape. Tested and validated by EMP preparedness researchers.
- Aluminium foil wrapping: Wrap device in cardboard first (insulation), then 2–3 layers of heavy-duty aluminium foil. Effective for E1 but less reliable than a sealed metal container.
- Ammo cans (metal): Military surplus ammo cans with gasket seals are effective Faraday containers for smaller items: phones, radios, dosimeters.
Commercial Faraday Options
- EMP-shielding bags: DefenderShield, Mission Darkness, or Faraday Defense branded bags; convenient, portable, tested to military standards
- Commercial Faraday boxes/cages: Aluminum or steel enclosures specifically designed for EMP protection; higher assurance than DIY
See our complete Faraday Cage Guide for detailed build instructions and product reviews.
Which Electronics to Prioritise Protecting
You can’t protect everything. Prioritise by importance and replaceability:
Must Protect (Tier 1)
- Hand-crank/battery emergency radio: your information lifeline post-EMP
- Spare communication radio (Baofeng or equivalent ham radio)
- Radiation dosimeter/Geiger counter: if nuclear EMP scenario
- Medical devices (insulin pump, pacemaker remote, CPAP) and their controllers
- Spare phone (loaded with offline maps, reference materials)
- USB drives with critical documents, maps, and reference material
- Solar charge controller (for post-EMP solar recharging)
Protect If Possible (Tier 2)
- Laptop with offline survival reference library
- Portable power station inverter board
- FRS/GMRS two-way radios
- Battery-powered tools (drill, saw)
- Spare vehicle ECU module (for post-2000 vehicles)
Off-Grid Power After an EMP
The grid will be down for months to years after a major EMP event. Your off-grid power strategy:
- Stored power station (in Faraday cage): Your protected power station is your immediate post-EMP power source. 1,000–2,000Wh gives you days of device charging and lighting.
- Protected solar panels + controller: Solar panels themselves have some EMP resistance, but the charge controller and inverter do not. Keep a spare charge controller in Faraday protection.
- Pre-1980s generator: Older mechanical-ignition generators are far more EMP-resistant than modern electronically-controlled units. A vintage cast iron generator is worth having if EMP is a serious concern.
- Fuel storage: Gas/diesel don’t require electronics, but fuel pumps at gas stations will be offline. Store 100+ gallons of stabilised fuel.
- Alternative energy: Wind generators with mechanical voltage regulation, bicycle generators, and water wheels have essentially zero EMP vulnerability.
Communications Without Modern Electronics
In an EMP scenario, cell networks, internet, and most digital communications will be down. Your protected communications stack:
- Protected hand-crank NOAA radio: government broadcasts; only works if broadcast infrastructure still operates
- Ham radio (protected): most resilient two-way communication; if infrastructure is down, ham operators build peer-to-peer networks
- FRS/GMRS radios (protected): local family and community communication
- Physical messages and pre-planned rally points: in total communication blackout, pre-agreed plans are your fallback
- Signal mirrors, whistles, air horns: non-electronic signalling
- Physical address book: contacts stored only in phones are inaccessible
- Printed maps: GPS satellites may still work but devices to receive them may be damaged
Financial Preparedness for EMP Scenarios
Banking infrastructure, ATMs, and payment systems are among the first casualties of an EMP event:
- Cash reserve: $1,000–$5,000 in small bills at home; the only payment method that works without electronics
- Barter goods: Coffee, alcohol, cigarettes, fuel, medicine, and batteries have high barter value post-EMP
- Physical gold/silver coins: for long-duration barter if paper currency loses value
- Printed copies of all financial accounts, account numbers, and insurance policies
Food & Water Without the Grid
Municipal water systems and food distribution depend entirely on electronics. Your preparation:
- 30-day+ food supply in sealed storage (not dependent on any electronics)
- Manual cooking (camp stove, rocket stove, wood fire)
- Hand-pump water well or gravity-fed water supply
- Gravity water filter (Berkey): no electricity required
- Rain catchment system with storage barrels
- Seeds for gardening: long-term post-EMP food production
Recommended Products
Mission Darkness Window Faraday Bag (Large)
One of the most tested commercial Faraday bags on the market: independently verified for military EMP shielding standards (MIL-STD-461). The large size accommodates tablets, laptops, radios, and multiple devices simultaneously. Dual-roll closure creates a genuine RF seal. For most households, keeping critical electronics in a Mission Darkness bag when not in use provides reliable EMP protection at an affordable price.
- Military EMP shielding standard (MIL-STD-461) verified
- Large size: fits tablets, radios, and multiple devices
- Dual-roll closure for genuine RF seal
Baofeng UV-5R Ham Radio Transceiver
The Baofeng UV-5R is the world’s most popular affordable ham radio: and in an EMP scenario, a protected ham radio is one of your most valuable possessions. Store it in a Faraday bag and it survives an EMP. With a Technician-class amateur radio licence (easy, just study), you can communicate across cities and counties when all other systems are down. Buy 2–3 units for different Faraday bags as backup.
- Dual-band VHF/UHF: wide range of communication
- Compact, lightweight, USB rechargeable
- Under $30: buy multiple as EMP-protected backups
Renogy 200W Foldable Solar Panel with 20A Charge Controller
After an EMP, your protected power station needs recharging: and solar is the only realistic option. Renogy’s 200W foldable panel is EMP-resilient (passive photovoltaic cells have no electronics to damage). Keep a spare 20A charge controller in your Faraday cage: this is the component most vulnerable to EMP damage. Once you’ve confirmed the EMP is over, deploy panels and the protected controller to begin recharging your protected power station indefinitely.
- 200W output: significant daily recharging capacity
- Foldable design: easy storage and deployment
- Includes 20A MPPT charge controller (store extra in Faraday bag)
EMP Preparation FAQ
Will my car work after an EMP?
Probably not, if it was manufactured after approximately 1985. Modern vehicles have extensive electronic control units (ECUs), electronic ignition, and fuel injection systems that are vulnerable to E1 EMP. Pre-1980s vehicles with points-type ignition and carburetors have much greater EMP resistance. If your modern vehicle is outside and the EMP occurs, it may be permanently disabled. EMP preparedness guides recommend keeping an older mechanical-ignition vehicle or motorcycle as a backup: or at minimum, storing a spare ECU module in a metal ammo can.
Does a microwave oven work as a Faraday cage?
Partially. Microwave ovens are designed to keep microwave frequencies in: not necessarily to block all EMP frequencies. The seams and door seals of most microwaves are not tight enough to block the very fast E1 component of nuclear EMP. While better than nothing, a purpose-built metal container with a tight lid, or a commercial Faraday bag, provides more reliable protection. The classic test (can you get a cell signal inside?) only tests microwave-frequency blocking, not E1 EMP blocking.
How likely is an EMP attack?
A deliberate high-altitude nuclear EMP attack is assessed as a low-probability but high-consequence scenario by U.S. defence agencies. A natural solar CME event (like the 1859 Carrington Event) is assessed as higher probability: NOAA estimates approximately 12% probability of a major solar event in any given decade. Either event produces broadly similar infrastructure effects. The preparation is identical, and the prep also covers more common grid-down scenarios.