Image Credit: PBS
There has always been a possibility of a communications system blackout. Now, more than ever before we are a connected society whether it be through cellular phones, social media, email, smart meters, GPS, smart watches, computers, multi-player video games, or televisions. A total blackout of power combined with communications systems is not only a very real possibility, it may be inevitable given what we’re up against: cyber warfare, nuclear/drone warfare, Electromagnetic Pulses (EMP), Directed Energy Weapons (DEW), & Coronal Mass Ejections (CME), climate activists, & government censorship. Are you & your family prepared for a total blackout lasting for several months to a year or more?
Image Credit: NASA
In 1859, there was the Carrington Event which would had a massive impact on communications systems, even back then. According to Wikipedia:
The Carrington Event was the most intense geomagnetic storm in recorded history, peaking from 1 to 2 September 1859 during solar cycle 10. It created strong auroral displays that were reported globally[1] and caused sparking and even fires in multiple telegraph stations. The geomagnetic storm was most likely the result of a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the Sun colliding with Earth's magnetosphere.[2]
The geomagnetic storm was associated with a very bright solar flare on 1 September 1859. It was observed and recorded independently by British astronomers Richard Christopher Carrington and Richard Hodgson—the first records of a solar flare.
A geomagnetic storm of this magnitude occurring today would cause widespread electrical disruptions, blackouts, and damage due to extended outages of the electrical power grid.[3][4][5]
On September 11, 2001, shortly after the World Trade Center buildings fell in New York City, I remember trying to get in contact with my sister who was living in the city at the time. Cell signals were extremely spotty & some of the last words I heard from my sister on that day were “I’m trapped in my building & they’re saying there’s a gas leak!” Any further attempt at communication over the course of the next two days was met with a busy signal.
On September 24, 2023, there was an electricity blackout in St. Petersburg Russia’s Pulkovo Airport & in one of St. Petersburg’s surrounding towns after locals reported hearing an explosion & seeing a flash in the sky prior to the blackout. There were no storms or unusual weather events that evening. These are the spoils of war.
For more detailed information about the aforementioned types of events, check out my Substack article about the vulnerability of the U.S. power grid.
Not only must we consider power outages & communications blackouts from enemy & environmental forces, we must consider the potential for a ‘One World Government’ to commandeer the communications channels/power grid so that the human population only has access to what they want you to see & hear in addition to the times & ways you are allowed to use your electricity ration. A decade ago this might have sounded too tin-foil hat for many. Given the past five or so years however, one could easily see this happening. Censorship is in high gear in places like China but did you know this past December, a woman was arrested in the U.K. for silently praying across the street from an abortion clinic in Birmingham? You can be cancelled, deplatformed, unbanked, & demonetized all within several hours, just ask Russel Brand. You could be banned from 26 countries for being invited to speak at a peace rally like David Icke. How will can my fellow Warriors prepare for radio silence &/or total blackout?
Keep at least one cellular phone, one laptop, & one USB stick in a faraday bag. I keep my laptop in a faraday bag while traveling as well, especially through airport scanners.
Consider purchasing an EMP Shield for your car or home to protect them from pulses.
If you are able, visit trusted non-mainstream websites, blogs, telegram channels, & applications to determine what occurred & the extent of the damage.
If all internet & cellular coverage is blacked out, turn on your handheld solar/crank radio to see if there are any AM/FM/NOAA transmissions. You may also want to consider a ham radio or police scanner.
For communications between family members within a 2-10 mile range (depending on line-of-sight & other interference), consider a set of 2-way radios.
If you have a little bit bigger of a budget, consider purchasing a global satellite communicator & corresponding subscription. I recently attended a prepper event & met a courageous female solo-traveler. When she goes hiking in the far nether regions that do not have cellular phone coverage, she carries a global satellite communicator with her in case of emergency. Also noteworthy, in May 2023, more than 50 U.S. senators were issued satellite phones for “emergency communication”. They may know something we don’t.
Consider stocking up on solar chargers & solar generators to keep any devices or refrigerators that may have survived the grid-collapse/EMP/CME.
Fill up your tub immediately after blackout to ensure an average of 40-70 gallons of clean drinking/bathing/cooking water is available. You can line the tub with a sterile bag to keep the water free of contaminants for several weeks.
Have a designated meeting point in your family or community’s emergency plan. Travel to the meeting point if it is safe to do so. Be sure to have an atlas with topographical maps of your immediate surroundings & state to help you land navigate if GPS is not available.
If banking institutions are open, pull all of your available cash out of the bank. Bank runs are almost certainly guaranteed to happen. Especially if credit card machines go down. Ideally, have at least two-three months worth of expenses in cash which is readily accessible in emergencies. Cash first, then have barterable amounts of silver & gold on hand once you run out of fiat currency,
Purchase as much fuel of all types if possible. This includes propane, kerosene, diesel, & regular gasoline. When the SHTF, fuel delivery trucks may not be able to deliver or fuel pumps may not work. You may be able to use these fuels for cooking, heating, or bartering purposes as well.
Purchase as much non-perishable food/toiletries/hygiene items as possible. Preferably you would have a minimum 3 month to 1 year supply of these items in your home ahead of time but if not, get to the grocery store immediately. Grocery stores can be totally wiped out with panic shoppers within a matter of several hours.
Make sure you obtain a supply of life-saving antibiotics which you can obtain easily via telemedicine appointment. In addition, if you require medication for your day-to-day survival, talk to your doctor about obtaining an emergency 90-day supply given the unstable nature of world events.
We are living in very precarious times my fellow Warriors. We still have time to prepare. Hopefully you will never have to use the items mentioned in this post but if you do, at least you will be prepared & have a sense of calmness that comes from not being part of the panic-stricken crowd.
Until next time my fellow Warriors, stay informed, stay vigilant, Ever Forward!