Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
device with a couple of layers of plastic garbage bags, or layers of rolled plastic film,
then covering it with a continuous layer of aluminum foil. Tape overlapping sections
of foil to itself to form a continuous metal shielding layer.
• “Nested” Faraday cages work even better. To make a nested Faraday cage, start with
a single-layer aluminum-foil Faraday cage and add one or two more layers of foil
with an insulating layer of plastic between each layer of foil.
• Aluminum window screen material is also good for making Faraday cages.
• A simple small ready-made “Faraday cage” for protecting sensitive electrical com-
ponents is any old microwave oven (cut the power cord off to prevent it from acting
as an antenna). Alternately, a common galvanized garbage can with a tight-fitting lid
would do an excellent job as a low-cost Faraday cage.
• Grounding Faraday cages for optimal EMP protection is quite tricky. In the Soviet
EMP nuclear tests, large currents were induced in buried power lines, causing extens-
ive damage. Unless you are an EMP expert, it is probably best to leave your Faraday
cages ungrounded, and resort to nested Faraday cages for sensitive equipment like
computers and solid-state shortwave radios.
• Store plenty of batteries, and a battery-operated shortwave radio. After an EMP or
solar storm event, it is quite likely that your shortwave radio may be the only source
of outside information about what has actually occurred. A battery-powered short-
wave radio stored inside a nested Faraday cage is probably your best form of insur-
ance to stay connected and informed after an EMP event. (See
chapter 9
for more in-
formation on radios.)
• Most magnetic media will probably survive an EMP event, but the key word is
“probably.” Optical media, such as CDs and DVDs will certainly survive. Even if all
your computer equipment is fried, data stored on optical media will survive, and one
can hope that at some point in time new computer equipment will arrive from outside
the affected area, allowing you to once again access your stored data.
• For more specific information on tools and techniques for personal protection from
an EMP, see the online article, “Getting Prepared for an Electromagnetic Pulse At-
tack or Severe Solar Storm” by Jerry Emanuelson, available at
Coping Strategies
If you are one of the ones with the time and money to prepare a sustainable survival retreat,
complete with a renewable energy system, garden, greenhouse, and fully stocked with spare
parts (including key electrical components like inverters) and survival supplies, as soon as you
