5-4-17 EMP Attack Is An Obvious, Serious Threat To National Defense and ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE!

The EMP threat is no science fiction fable!

Dave Harbour

A nuclear explosion in the atmosphere off our coasts or inland (i.e. including Alaska, Canada and the Lower 48) could disable utilities and electronic components in a way that could cripple North American defenses for years — not to mention the death spiral that would overcome our state, provincial and federal economies.

The recent incursions of Russian bomber and fighter probes into Alaska airspace and Russian ship probes off the East Coast should be raising threat levels to very high levels in North America.

Indeed, the North Koreans could also be considering an EMP attack in preparation for a full scale invasion of the South. Today’s report from Senator Murkowski demonstrates — with everything else going on — just how seriously our policy makers are beginning to view this threat. It’s about time. One hopes, that there is still time to make appropriate preparations.

How about personal preparations? We suspect that the Murkowski declaration below will enable more spouses to respect the propensity of their husbands/wives to adopt “prepper” mentalities. After all, an electromagnetic pulse event, or more likely a series of them, would have little effect on stored food and other non-electronic but critical supplies.

And preparation for local or national emergencies only make sense anyway, as citizens in the way of recent tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, fires and civil unrest have found.

Let us also remember that we have a Creator who sent a Savior of the world and who dispatches his Holy Spirit when we ask for such help.

In the face of all of today’s challenges throughout the world, would it not be wise to reserve a priority of our preparations for the unknown to revolve around a stronger and more intimate relationship with Father God. After all, he was present and had a guiding hand as America’s Declaration of Independence was penned and then acted upon, threatening the very lives, fortunes and sacred honor of those who signed. -dh

Reference: Murkowski Video and Other Links

EMP: Technology’s Worst Nightmare | Secure The Grid

The EMP Threat From North Korea Is Real, and Terrifying – PJ Media

EMP, Debunked: The Jolt That Could Fry The Cloud – InformationWeek

Center for Security Policy | Infrastructure and EMP

Before the Lights Go Out: A Survey of EMP Preparedness Reveals …

We Can’t Keep Ignoring the EMP Threat | World Report | US News (From 2 years ago)

electromagnetic pulse (EMP) – Gatestone Institute

The EMP Threat: Sending America Back To The 1800s | Zero Hedge

Murkowski: Threat Posed By EMP Attack
a Matter of National Defense

Senator Lisa Murkowski. Northern Gas Pipelines stock photo by Dave Harbour

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today convened a hearing of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to examine the threat posed by electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and policy options to protect energy infrastructure.

During her opening statement, Murkowski spoke to the importance of the issue, indicating it to be even more salient today for several reasons, including the continued proliferation of nuclear technology and society’s increasing reliance on electronics.

“The United States has recognized a potential EMP attack as a national security threat for decades, and our efforts to understand a potential EMP burst are not new,” Murkowski said. “However, today there is a renewed focus on understanding the effects of such an attack, and an increase in efforts directed at mitigating and recovering from such an event should it occur.”

Murkowski noted that the federal government and utilities must work together to improve the nation’s ability to respond to EMP and other potential high impact low frequency events.

“As the owners and operators of critical energy assets, our utilities must assist government EMP experts in understanding how the electric grid works,” Murkowski said. “For its part, government must prudently share its knowledge and expertise [on EMPs] with industry on a timely basis and approve or direct prudent reliability standards as warranted. Both camps must work together to share information and expertise.”

Finally, Murkowski asked the witnesses whether they believed an EMP attack ought to be considered a threat to national defense, and the panel unanimously agreed.

Murkowski is chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Archived video of today’s hearing can be found on the committee’s website.

About the Author: wpnorthern

Dave Harbour, publisher of Northern Gas Pipelines, is a former Chairman of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, a Commissioner Emeritus of NARUC, NARUC's Official Representative to IOGCC and Vice Chairman of NARUC's Gas Committee. He served as Gas Committee Chairman of the Western Conference of Public Service Commissioners. He also served as commissioner of the Anchorage Bicentennial Commission and the Anchorage Heritage Land Bank Commission. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree: English, at Colorado State University, a Master of Science Degree: Communications-Journalism at Murray State University and graduated from Utility Regulatory School for Commissioners at Michigan State University. He served as a Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs at Alaska Pacific University, taught bank marketing classes at the University of Alaska and was an English teacher at Los Alamos High School. Harbour served in ranks of Private - Captain during a 4-year assignment with the Army in Korea, Idaho, Georgia and Fort Meade and received the Meritorious Service Medal among other commendations. Harbour is also a past Chairman of the Alaska Council on Economic Education, the Alaska Oil & Gas Association Government Affairs Committee, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, the Export Council of Alaska and the Department of Commerce's District Export Council. He is a past President of the Alaska Press Club, American Bald Eagle Foundation, Consumer Energy Alliance-Alaska and Common Sense for Alaska. Harbour was instrumental in founding the American Bald Eagle Research Institute (UAS), the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, the Downtown Anchorage Business Partnership, and Arctic Power. He also served as CEO of several small Alaska organizations, including the Anchorage Parking Authority and Action Security, Inc. Harbour is also Chairman Emeritus of the Alaska Oil & Gas Congress. Harbour's wife, Nancy, is a professional, performing arts administrator and his three boys, Todd, Benjamin and William work in the fields of environmental management, energy marketing and medicine.