What Does EMP Mean, and Why Does It Pose a Real Threat to Your Electronics? EMP Survival Guide
We depend on electronics for almost everything: communication, transportation, power, healthcare, and information. Though rare, an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) event could disrupt or turn off these vital systems in an instant.
This guide will help you understand the EMP threat, learn what devices are most important to protect, and discover practical ways to safeguard your electronics.
Keep reading and you’ll learn:
- What is an EMP?
- What the government is doing about EMP threats
- What causes an EMP? (Sources and types)
- How EMP damages electronics?
- What electronics to protect and prioritize during EMP attack?
- What type of electronics can survive an EMP event
- How do you protect electronics from an EMP attack? (Learn practical solutions)
What Is an EMP?
An Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) is a burst of electromagnetic energy that can induce damaging electrical currents in electronic devices and infrastructure.
The electromagnetic waves that are released in an EMP act like a giant moving magnet, causing a changing magnetic field that moves electrons in a nearby wire, inducing a current. This sudden surge can temporarily or permanently disable unprotected electronics.
What Causes an EMP? Sources and Types
There are three potential sources of EMPs: High-Altitude Nuclear, Non-Nuclear EMP Weapons and Natural Solar EMP
High-Altitude Nuclear EMP (HEMP)
A nuclear weapon detonated high in the atmosphere can produce a widespread EMP capable of affecting large geographic regions. Once a nuclear weapon is detonated, gamma radiation is released and can strip electrons of air molecules and accelerate them close to the speed of light.
Once these electrons start travelling through the atmosphere, they would be corralled by the magnetic field, resulting in a powerful electric current – essentially creating a massive EMP.
Non-Nuclear EMP Weapons (NNEMP)
Less powerful than a HEMP, NNEMPs are much more targeted. These are specialized devices designed to emit powerful electromagnetic pulses to a targeted area which disable electronics without the use of nuclear material.
This kind of EMP would cripple a specific area of electronics without harming human life, so it is likely to be used as a weapon.
Natural Solar EMP (Coronal Mass Ejection - CME)
Solar storms, also known as geomagnetic storms, can eject plasma and magnetic fields that interact with Earth’s magnetosphere, inducing currents that can damage satellites and power grids.
Most of the time, Earth’s magnetic field will deflect the plasma. However, if enough is emitted at once, it has the possibility of crippling electronics around the world. Thankfully, there hasn’t been a storm of this magnitude since 1859, in the so-called Carrington Event.
Now that we know the sources, let’s look at where the threat to our everyday electronics actually comes from.
How EMP Damages Electronics?
An EMP generates a powerful electric field capable of inducing extremely high voltages and currents in any conductive material, affecting wires, antennas, and circuit traces.
When an EMP occurs, the pulse interacts with these conductors through electromagnetic induction, a process where a changing magnetic field creates a current in nearby wiring. Often in nanoseconds, the EMP rises and falls incredibly quickly and the resulting surge is sharp and intense.
The sudden intensity of the electronic current can overwhelm electronic systems in a fraction of a second, instantly overloading and destroying the sensitive components that make electronics function properly.
Even devices that are turned off aren't necessarily safe. If they're connected to any kind of wiring, they're still at risk.
What Electronics to Protect and Prioritize during EMP Attack?
Given the unexpected nature of an EMP, it’s best to think about what you should be protecting and what you may need in the aftermath. When preparing for an EMP, consider safeguarding:
- Communication: Shortwave radios and walkie-talkies, chargers
- Information: Laptops or tablets with offline maps, documents, and photos
- Power: Small solar panels, power banks, rechargeable batteries
- Lighting: LED flashlights and headlamps
- Medical: Critical personal medical devices
- Tools: Essential electronic diagnostic tools or equipment
What Type of Electronics Can Survive an EMP Event?
An EMP primarily targets solid-state electronics, which are devices that rely on delicate circuits and microelectronics, like cell phones, laptops, tablets, and modern vehicles. Highly vulnerable, these devices without protection could be disabled instantly and stored data potentially lost forever. Even critical infrastructure like the electric grid depends heavily on solid-state components and could fail in the event of a large EMP.
By contrast, simple electronics that use vacuum tubes, or devices that lack sophisticated circuitry, stand a much better chance of surviving. This could include certain older or vintage electronics, basic manual or non-electric appliances, some types of small portable devices, and equipment designed with EMP resilience in mind.
Solar panels, while electronic, may survive depending on their design and the strength of the pulse.
How Do You Protect Electronics From an EMP Attack?
While no method can guarantee 100% protection against a powerful EMP, there are proven steps you can take to greatly reduce the risk of damage. The key is shielding your devices from the pulse’s electromagnetic energy.
You can do this with both simple DIY solutions and purpose-built products like Faraday bags or cages. Let’s take a look at your options.
Basic DIY EMP protection you can try at home
Simple shielding options include wrapping devices in several layers of aluminum foil, storing them in steel trash cans with tight-fitting lids, or using metal ammo boxes lined with insulation to prevent contact.
Faraday Bags
Faraday bags are designed to block electromagnetic fields by creating a conductive enclosure. They’re portable, easy to use, and offer reliable protection for everyday devices. Learn more about how they work in our Faraday bag guide.
Check out our collection of Faraday bags that’ll help you stay ready for whatever the future throws your way.
Faraday Cages
A Faraday cage is a sealed conductive enclosure (often metal) that prevents electromagnetic fields from reaching the contents inside. These can range from small DIY boxes to professionally built rooms.
How to Test Your EMP Protection?
Here’s a simple test you can try anytime to see it for yourself: place a cell phone or battery-powered radio inside your Faraday bag or cage.
Once sealed, the phone should lose all signal, and the radio should go silent.
If not, your protection isn’t sufficient.
Best Practices to Reduce EMP Risk
Even small habits and precautions can strengthen your preparedness. Here are some best practices to help reduce the risk of EMP-related damage to your essential electronics:
- Store critical electronics unplugged and shielded when not in use
- Keep backups of important devices and data
- Maintain analog or non-electric alternatives where practical
- Stay informed about solar activity and national alerts
What the Government is Doing About EMP Threats
EMP risks are taken seriously at the highest levels. The U.S. government and military have invested in EMP-hardened infrastructure and have issued reports and executive orders aimed at improving national resilience.
In 2019, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Status Report as part of an update on efforts underway in support of Executive Order (E.O.) 13865 on Coordinating National Resilience to Electromagnetic Pulses. This order establishes resilience and security standards for U.S. critical infrastructure as a national priority.
Other actions taken at the governmental level include:
- Introducing a bill to Congress to strengthen the protection of the electrical grid to reduce the effects of an EMP. Though it has been introduced in every Congress since 2009, it has unfortunately yet to be passed into law.
- The Department of Defense relocated the North American Aerospace Defence Command inside Cheyanna Mountain in Colorado which is built to withstand an EMP.
- At the state level, governments have begun taken preparedness steps in order to protect portions of their electrical grid throughout their respective states.
All this is evidence that EMP threats are a real, recognized risk that experts continue to study – not just “science fiction.”
Are You Prepared for an EMP Attack?
EMP threats might seem like something out of a movie, but the reality is that they’re a genuine risk, one that experts, governments, and industries are taking seriously. And you should too.
By understanding how EMPs work, what devices are most at risk, and how to shield your electronics, you’re already taking the first steps toward preparedness.
You don’t need to overhaul your life or build a bunker. But a little planning today could make all the difference if the unexpected happens tomorrow. So take action, protect your electronics and safeguard your communication.
Don’t leave your vital electronics vulnerable. Explore our Faraday bag collection and protect what matters most!
FAQ
Does an EMP permanently destroy your electronics?
It can. The damage depends on the intensity of the EMP and the vulnerability of the device. Some may be permanently disabled, others may just need repair.
How to fix electronics after EMP?
Repairs depend on the extent of damage. Often, the sensitive components (like microchips) are destroyed and would need replacement, which may not be feasible without spare parts.
Will an EMP destroy electronics that are unplugged?
Unplugged devices are less vulnerable, but not immune. EMP can induce damaging currents in wires, even if they aren’t connected to power.
What material can block an EMP?
Conductive materials like copper, aluminum, and steel can block or attenuate EMP energy when properly used to create a sealed enclosure.
Will flashlights work after an EMP?
Simple battery-powered flashlights with minimal electronics are likely to work. Advanced models with complex circuitry may fail if unprotected.
Will an EMP destroy electronics that are off?
Yes, an EMP can damage electronics even if they’re turned off or unplugged, because the pulse induces damaging currents in their internal circuits. Proper shielding is key to protection.