Hello Everyone,

Did anyone else see this article from MSNBC? Apparently we just dodged a huge solar flare tsunami. If you listen to the article the newscaster said that scientists predict that a huge solar flare could cripple the power grid on earth in the next year or two! What are they not telling us!!!

 

http://xfinity.comcast.net/video/giant-solar-flare-erupts/9173571905

It would take a solar flare so massive, it puts the other massive solar flares that have happened in the past 4 years to shame. I'm not saying it isn't possible, because it is, but its highly unlikely.

 

Also, little fact. The sun is at its solar maximum. That means it will be producing flares and sun spots for a little while, the peak being 2014. It goes through these cycles every once in a while.

Just to .02 cents into the mix.

 

 

Power Grid

A X-class solar flare, aka Eelectro Magentic Pulse (EMP)/Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), potentially could wipe out our nation’s ability to support critical infrastructures, including supply and distribution of water, food, fuel, communications, transport, financial transactions, emergency services, government services, and all other infrastructures supporting the national economy and welfare.

 

Should significant parts of the electrical power infrastructure be lost for any substantial period of time as a result of solar flare effects, the consequences are likely to be catastrophic, and many people may ultimately die for lack of the basic elements necessary to sustain life in dense urban and suburban communities.

 

There are many good articles out there, just google the effects of a solar flare...

It's because of all the fossil fuels and carbon emissions.

Imagine if a storm of the magnitude of the 1859 storm happened again with today's grid and electronics? The most recent bad solar storm occurred on March 13 1989 when it shorted out transformers in Quebec and created a major blackout of that area.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859

 

 

 

Carrington Super Flare

 

 

From August 28, 1859, until September 2, numerous sunspots and solar flares were observed on the sun. Just before noon on September 1, the British astronomer Richard Carrington observed the largest flare,[3] which caused a major coronal mass ejection (CME) to travel directly toward Earth, taking 17 hours. Such a journey normally takes three to four days. This second CME moved so quickly because the first one had cleared the way of the ambient solar wind plasma.[3]

 

On September 1, 1859, Carrington and Richard Hodgson, another English amateur astronomer, independently made the first observations of a solar flare. Because of a simultaneous "crochet" observed in the Kew Observatory magnetometer record by Balfour Stewart and a geomagnetic storm observed the following day, Carrington suspected a solar-terrestrial connection. Worldwide reports on the effects of the geomagnetic storm of 1859 were compiled and published by Elias Loomis which support the observations of Carrington and Balfour Stewart.

 

On September 1–2, 1859, the largest recorded geomagnetic storm occurred. Aurorae were seen around the world, even over the Caribbean; those over the Rocky Mountains were so bright that their glow awoke gold miners, who began preparing breakfast because they thought it was morning.[3] People who happened to be awake in the northeastern US could read a newspaper by the aurora's light.[4]

 

Telegraph systems all over Europe and North America failed, in some cases shocking telegraph operators.[5] Telegraph pylons threw sparks and telegraph paper spontaneously caught fire.[6] Some telegraph systems continued to send and receive messages despite having been disconnected from their power supplies.[7]

 

On September 3, 1859, the Baltimore American and Commercial Advertiser reported, "Those who happened to be out late on Thursday night had an opportunity of witnessing another magnificent display of the auroral lights. The phenomenon was very similar to the display on Sunday night, though at times the light was, if possible, more brilliant, and the prismatic hues more varied and gorgeous. The light appeared to cover the whole firmament, apparently like a luminous cloud, through which the stars of the larger magnitude indistinctly shone. The light was greater than that of the moon at its full, but had an indescribable softness and delicacy that seemed to envelop everything upon which it rested. Between 12 and 1 o'clock, when the display was at its full brilliancy, the quiet streets of the city resting under this strange light, presented a beautiful as well as singular appearance."[8]

We're gonna die! I knew it! It's December 21! Those Mayans were never any good at math, they forgot to carry the two.

A EMP and CMP are closely related but not the same thing. Power grid will be down either way but smaller electronics should still work after a CMP that are not on the grid, which acts like a huge conductor. Or at least that's was I've been reading lately. Sources claim over 70% of Americans would die in the first year. Most who survive would probably find the first year the hardest.

A EMP and CMP are closely related but not the same thing. Power grid will be down either way but smaller electronics should still work after a CMP that are not on the grid, which acts like a huge conductor. Or at least that's was I've been reading lately. Sources claim over 70% of Americans would die in the first year. Most who survive would probably find the first year the hardest.

 

Will my portable generator be okay?

^ was just thinking that. also i wonder if natural gas will still work. working on a generator conversion and it would be nice to have a continuous NG supply if this happens...

^ was just thinking that. also i wonder if natural gas will still work. working on a generator conversion and it would be nice to have a continuous NG supply if this happens...

My guess would be no. They have to pump the NG to you.

Get those properly grounded Faraday cages ready!

I made a deal with the Amish. They will keep me fed and I will keep them alive

I made a deal with the Amish. They will keep me fed and I will keep them alive

 

:icon_twisted:

The rules:

 

1. Distance

2. Shielding

3. Length of Conductor

4. Sensitivity

5. Phase vs. Angle of Incidence

 

Anything attached to the grid sees a higher transient, and antennae don't help either. Solid state electronics have narrow voltage tolerances as we know and are more susceptible than lightbulbs, motors, crystal radios, etc.

 

If your portable generator is wiped out, then just about everything is gone. And that's not really expected and not what we worry about. That last bit of damage would be like an extra pebble on Mount Everest.

Like mentioned, trying to run a generator is kinda pointless at that point, even if it still works... there will be no way to get any gas, other then what you have stored away. I'm currently making plans to build a wood stove from a 55 gallon drum, they sell kits pretty cheap. most/any of my gas is going to the chain saw for wood. another plan to is get hand pump for my well, and stock up on storage food. Other then that in the case of a CME, expect complete collapse of anything that runs on the grid. We have a septic tank i can easily rig an outhouse over, lol.

 

Concentrate on how you will get heat, food and water... also think about keeping your living conditions sanitary.

The issue is, the grid will be down indefinitely until fixed... which can take years, if it even happens. You need to look at what tools allow for long term independent survival. a generator is short term.

 

In the case of am CME, your car may still work, and anything not attached to grid, but its gonna be hit or miss. Unlike an EMP which will destroy everything.

I was doing some more reading about Solar Storms and saw this, which might be of interest to everyone here.

 

 

The March 13 1989 Solar Storm that blacked out Quebec also affected a transformer in NJ.

 

http://www.solarstorms.org/SWChapter1.html

 

 

A $12 million, 22,000-volt generator step-up transformer owned by the Public Service Electric and Gas Company of New Jersey experienced overheating and permanent insulation damage. This transformer was the linchpin in converting electricity from the Salem Nuclear Plant, and boosting it to 500,000 volts for transmission.

 

 

Replacement power had to be bought for $400,000 to keep East Coast residents from sharing the same fate as their neighbors in Quebec. Luckily, the owners had a spare replacement transformer available, but it still took six months to install. Without the replacement, it would have taken a year to order a new one.

 

Across the United States from coast to coast, over 200 transformer and relay problems erupted within minutes of the start of the March 13 storm. 50 million people in the United States went about their business, or slept, never suspecting that their electrical systems had been driven to the edge of disaster. Not since the Great Blackout of 1965 had U.S. citizens been involved in a similar outage. There would have been no place they could drive to in an hour to escape.

The one scary thing is som super expensive parts like mentioned above are already backordered in terms of years according to some TV show. So if a bunch of em went poof...........it might be a while!

It's because of all the fossil fuels and carbon emissions.

 

Watched the documentry on sandy and they blamed fossil fuels and global warming on this super storm..i have news for you this storm was not that bad wind wise, if the winds were higher we would not have to worry about fixing any shore homes..

Solar flares don't effect guns and ammo. Guess I will have to put my metal storm order on hold

I truly recommend the book "One Second After." Give it a read and I guarantee it changes your entire view on EMP's and how dangerous the threat actually is. My wife used to think I was crazy when I mentioned the idea of doing some basic preps...that changed the instant she read that book. It paints a truly real and terrifying picture.

Solar flares don't effect guns and ammo. Guess I will have to put my metal storm order on hold

 

 

NJIT and Rutgers will "perfect" the "smart gun" 6 months before the flare. Under current law it will be the only legal firearm in jersey

I truly recommend the book "One Second After." Give it a read and I guarantee it changes your entire view on EMP's and how dangerous the threat actually is. My wife used to think I was crazy when I mentioned the idea of doing some basic preps...that changed the instant she read that book. It paints a truly real and terrifying picture.

 

+100 to that! Great read while being insightful!