The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced the release of a Strategy for Protecting and Preparing the Homeland against Threats from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and Geomagnetic Disturbance (GMD).

Developing a strategy that lays out a clear vision, the Department of Homeland Security aims to protect critical infrastructure, prepare a response in the event of a EMP, and recover from potentially catastrophic electromagnetic incidents. 

DHS describes in their strategy the impact an EMP attack could have on the nations critical infrastructure that includes the electrical grid, communications equipment and transportation capabilities. 

The DHS urges continued efforts to continue and improve collaboration with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial decision-makers, sector-specific agencies, and private sector critical infrastructure owner-operators.

Outlined in the EMP Strategy, DHS has developed 3 main goals that they will strive to accomplish. 

New DHS Electromagnetic Incident Protection Strategy

Department of Homeland Security’s 3 Outline EMP Strategy Goals:

Goal 1: Improve Risk Awareness of Electromagnetic Threats and Hazards
Goal 2: Enhance Capabilities to Protect Critical Infrastructure
Goal 3: Promote Effective Electromagnetic-
Incident Response and Recovery Efforts
Electromagnetic Pulse or EMP and the E1, E2 and E3 Components

Electromagnetic Pulse or EMP and the E1, E2 and E3 Components

E1 vs E2 vs E3, Oh My!
When a Nuclear Weapon is detonated in the atmosphere it produces Gamma Radiation which ionizes atoms in the upper atmosphere. This is typically part of the E1 Pulse. In this article we will look at the three types of energy pulse created during an Electromagnetic Pulse or EMP.

E1 Pulse – Like a thief in the night…
The E1 pulse is the very fast component of nuclear EMP. E1 is a brief but intense electromagnetic field that induces high voltages in electrical conductors. E1 causes most of its damage by causing electrical breakdown voltages to be exceeded. E1 can destroy computers and communications equipment and it changes too quickly ( several nanoseconds) for ordinary surge protectors to provide effective protection from it. Fast-acting surge protectors (acting in less than 1-10 nanoseconds) will block the E1 pulse, like those produced by www.empshield.com of Burlington, Kansas.