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Everyone, at some time in their life, has experienced a power outage but may think they’re safe with adequate communication if they have a portable charger and cell phone. The charger allows you to stay in touch by keeping your cell phone charged is one method and for those who still have landlines which aren’t wireless, there’s no problem calling if the lines aren’t affected. However, if an EMP—electromagnetic pulse—hits, all types of phone communication could be down. That’s when you need a backup plan. You also need to have your backup stored in a Faraday cage to protect it or you could be left in the same situation as having nothing at all.
Alternatives to the phone system, whether cable or wireless, are limited. You could be like the soldiers of WWII and create a Foxhole radio from wire, a toilet paper tube and other things you have in your home, but these only pick up radio station broadcasts. If the area is completely down, there won’t be any radio stations broadcasting for at least a week, which is the estimated time it would take to get an FM up and running after an EMP. One created by a nuclear explosion would disrupt satellite transmission for days. So what can you do to be prepared?
Start with a group of handheld radio transmitters and receivers. These two-way radios need to be stored in a Faraday cage to be left untouched by the damage of an EMP. While the range isn’t good, it may be good enough to check in with your family and provide emergency instructions or meeting places for everyone. The key is to keep them in a Faraday cage, which is nothing more than a simple metal container that is made of conductive material. The device can also be in any type of container wrapped in aluminum foil. The containers can be small enough to carry in the car glove box, store in a drawer at home or work or put in a school bag. You can also store an external antennae to increase the range.
The second and extremely good alternative is a HAM radioHAM radio. An interesting fact is the name came from the first wireless station operated back in 1908. It came from the first letters of the last names of the operators, “HYMAN- ALMY-MURRAY”. You need a license to operate a HAM radio, but it’s easy to secure and may be well worth the investment. While you might not use the radio normally, you need to practice on it so you know your way around the airways. There are all sizes of HAM radios, some hand-held and some large enough to fill a kitchen counter. Just like all electronic equipment, it needs to be stored in a Faraday cage to protect it from an EMP, so if you have two, one should always be stored.
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