What To Do If An EMP Takes Out The Electrical Power Grid

Whether you are a prepper or survivalist, preparing for an economic collapse, or merely a fan of the TV show “Doomsday Preppers” you have probably thought about a major power outage. An EMP attack, where a rogue nation or terrorist entity takes out the electrical power grid, is really one of the ‘worst case scenarios’ for our country, as we would be plunged into darkness, worse than the 19th century.

The reason it would be worse than the 19th century is because people back then were accustomed to a life without electricity; we are not. Not having electricity in your home is one thing, but if all of society lacked lighting, it would be utter chaos.

The first thing you would want to do is to stay home, as the streets would not be safe for a variety of reasons. If it was merely the power grid that failed, then streetlights and traffic signals would be out. If the EMP fried all electrical circuitry, then your vehicle wouldn’t even start.

Either way, the safety of your home would be the best place to be. Hopefully you have had the foresight to put together a family emergency communications plan and anyone who was caught away from home knows exactly what to do.

The first thing you would want to do is immediately fill the bathtub and all available containers with water, since the tap will be dry as soon as the water towers are emptied.

The second thing you’d want to do is to ready your emergency lighting, and prepare blackout curtains for your windows so that all of the neighbors don’t see how much light you have. The problem with being prepared is that it attracts the attention, and jealousy, of those who have chosen not to prepare.

Since the neighborhood will be very dark, any homes that have any lighting will be very obvious, and without blackout curtains someone could easily be spying in your window to see if they want to come and help themselves to your supplies.

The third thing to do after the power grid goes down is to make a plan for using up your perishable goods from your refrigerator and freezer. Cooking on a barbecue grill, either yours or a neighbors, may be your only option.

Rehearsing what to do if an EMP takes out the electrical power grid can be a fun way to spend a weekend, if you are committed to shutting off the electricity and really sticking with it. You don’t have to be a prepper or a survivalist to appreciate the confidence that comes from having taken steps toward emergency preparedness.