Can Devices That Are Unplugged or Off Survive EMPs?

Preparing for an EMP is, arguably, one of the most pressing and difficult tasks that a prepper has to undertake. Among the so-called mega disasters, an EMP is frighteningly one of the most likely to occur, and one that can instantly upend society by disabling, damaging, or utterly destroying our power grid and electronics, or anything that relies on electronic components.

A collection of faraday cages protecting your most vital electronics

Some people assert that merely unplugging electronics, or turning them off, is enough to save them though. Is it true? Will unplugged or off devices survive an EMP?

Maybe. Unplugging any electrical device from the power grid will go a long way to saving it from a devastating power surge, but EMPs can directly impart damaging or destructive currents to any conductive material whether it is unplugged or turned off.

Unfortunately, there is no straightforward and simple answer as to whether or not unplugging any device is going to be enough to save it from a big EMP.

It certainly won’t hurt, and indeed will likely improve the chances that your gear will survive, but it is no guarantee for reasons we will learn. Keep reading and I’ll tell you about risk factors and countermeasures for EMP preparation...

EMPs by Nature Induce Currents into Any Conductive Material

I know it’s disappointing to hear that merely unplugging or powering down your electronics isn’t enough to save them from an EMP, not for sure, but there is an important lesson in this.

Understand that EMPs can potentiall damage any unprotected or unshielded technology. Any kind of material that is conductive, be it copper or something else, can serve as an “antenna” for an EMP’s effects. Basically, EMPs are invisible waves of electrical, magnetic, or electromagnetic energy. It’s all in the name, after all!

That means that your unplugged computer could suddenly be bombarded with dangerous surges of electricity that could fry it, and the same goes for any other vulnerable device.

Now, things will certainly be a lot worse if it is plugged in at the time, that I can promise you, but unplugging it is only half the battle.

Anything Plugged into the Grid is in Serious Danger During an EMP

One thing we need to make totally clear: turning off a device is not enough to keep it safe if it is still connected to a power grid, wherever that power comes from. All connected devices and appliances are in serious danger of being totally fried during a powerful EMP event.

That’s because EMPs will energize an entire electrical grid in the area of effect, leading to a cascading, dangerous level of voltage that’s more than capable of causing severe damage or total destruction to anything currently connected to the grid in any way.

For sensitive components like batteries, chargers, computers, home electronics, radios, and the like, this is usually game over.

In fact, substantial EMPs, like the infamous Carrington Event, can cause such significant overloading that it can result in a shower of sparks and fires! It doesn’t take much imagination to see how home appliances and other electronics might literally go up in flames during such an instance.

The bottom line is that anything plugged in at the time the EMP occurs is almost certainly going to be toast unless it is protected by special, heavy-duty surge protector equipment or is built in such a way that it can handle substantial overload.

Even then, we just can’t be sure because we haven’t lived through a massive EMP in well over a hundred years!

Take Radios, Phones, and Tools Off of Chargers for Safety

All this is probably pretty worrying, right? For us preppers, we depend on all sorts of electronics to stay ready for tough times, and now, the tough times might, in fact, wipe out our electronics especially!

Don’t panic, because like everything else, there’s always something you can do to improve your chances.

For things like cell phones, walkie-talkies, radios, power tools, flashlights, headlamps, and anything else you are depending on that might be plugged into the wall, simply keep it off of the charger or unplugged as much as you can.

Simply, whatever it is, it will have a much higher chance of surviving an EMP with moderate or even no damage if it isn’t subjected to that devastating initial surge of power.

Anything with a Microchip or Transistor is Still Vulnerable When Unplugged

You must be particularly cautious to protect or harden any devices that depend on a circuit board, microchip, or transistors to function.

Basically, the thinner and finer, and more densely packed, the integrated circuits and conductive pathways are in these devices, the more prone they are to EMP-induced damage.

Obviously, our thoughts go to our PCs, laptops, gaming systems, TVs, and things like that, but increasingly more and more modern technology is completely dependent on such components for even basic function.

Things like modern, high-output flashlights might have tiny circuit boards to control power and maximize battery life.

Older electronics are less prone to this type of damage when unplugged, but only to a degree. I’ll tell you more about protecting these especially sensitive devices in the next sections.

Distance, Obstructions, and Intensity Make a Difference

Something else to keep in mind is that there’s no flat standard for intensity when it comes to major EMP events.

We really don’t have any publicly available data when it comes to the intensity of these things, as all the testing that has been conducted by the government and private interests is being kept secret for the moment. Obviously, count on it being nothing good…

But anyway, your electronics might survive just fine if the EMP happens very far away and there are many obstacles between you and the origin that can disrupt or attenuate the pulse. They do dissipate over time and distance!

Likewise, if you are underground, shielded by mountains, dense forest, or even tall buildings, that might do a lot to stop your electronics from getting fried, but obviously the issue of conduction through the electrical grid will still be a persistent problem even some distance away from the point of origin.

In short, there is a chance you might escape unscathed if conditions are favorable to you when the event takes place.

How Can You Protect Vulnerable Electronics?

Protecting anything, no matter what it is, from an EMP is a matter of just two things: shielding and Faraday cages.

EMP shielding is nothing more than an extra layer of conductive material placed around the vital components of electronics.

Typically, this is done by the manufacturer but, if you are crafty, it is possible to harden your own electronics through various means – though this isn’t going to be practical for most of us.

A better option is to use a Faraday cage. For anything that’s not connected to the power grid, enclosing it in a container of conductive material on all sides, usually in the form of fine metal mesh or foil, will block the destructive energy of the EMP from reaching the vulnerable components.

Depending on the size of the item in question, a Faraday cage can take the form of a box, bag, or can or a larger enclosure for equipment like generators and even vehicles.

The good news is that these cages are fundamentally quite simple, and you can make your own with just a little bit of DIY skill, though purpose-designed units are available if you don’t have the time and are willing to pay.

Stashing your prepper equipment inside an appropriate Faraday cage is the very best way to ensure it will be functional when you need it in the aftermath of a powerful EMP.

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Protein Powder as a Survival Food: Is it Any Good?

Preppers who are getting ready for long-term survival scenarios and living in the aftermath of disasters are always looking for a better survival food option. Something that is more nutritionally complete, longer lasting, easier to prepare, easier to carry, etc.

Stockpiled items: canned chicken breast, emergency blanket, toe warmers, pinto beans, yellow popcorn, compass, poncho, dried milk, peanut butter, canned brown bread, honey, chicken bouillon

Some folks have suggested using protein powder as a survival food, and I must admit this is not something that I myself had thought of before. But what’s the scoop? Is protein powder a good survival food or not?

Yes, protein powder is a pretty good survival food. It’s an easy and convenient way to carry plenty of easily digested protein and calories with you, and is versatile enough to be prepared and drunk as is or mixed in with other foods. It isn’t, though, nutritionally complete.

I must say, whoever first thought of this really had their thinking cap on. Protein powder is a remarkably good survival food, though not a truly complete one.

Nonetheless, it can definitely make your life easier when packing a bug-out bag or stocking a survival pantry. Keep reading and I’ll tell you why below…

Nutritional Info

This is the info that matters. How nutritious is protein powder, generally? All around, it is pretty doggone good, though of course, there’s a huge amount of variation among all the products on the market, and there are many!

But, as a base guideline, you can depend on a 30 g serving of naturally sweetened whey protein powder, which is about one scoop, to provide 120 kcal, anywhere from 20 to 24g of protein, and 3 to 8 g of carbohydrates along with a little bit of fat.

Most powders also have a bit of sodium and lots of vitamins and minerals, especially B vitamins, though some are significantly better fortified than others. In any case, you can count on getting lots of calcium, a decent amount of iron, plenty of potassium, and more.

One thing I’d like you to keep in mind is that many such products are made for folks who are working out and trying to stay fit, and accordingly, they try to keep calories at a minimum. This is usually accomplished through the use of artificial sweeteners.

Think twice before getting one of those products because in a survival situation every calorie counts, and so you’re usually better off going with something sweetened with sugar, honey, maple syrup, or something like that.

Protein Powder Lasts a Long Time in Storage

Aside from good nutrition, the other great thing that protein powder has going for it as a survival food is a very long shelf life. And it’s quite easy to store.

Again, another baseline for the shelf life of protein powder is about 5 years, conservatively, kept at room temp of about 70° F. Do that and you won’t have any issues. A little cooler or warmer isn’t a big deal, but high temps will degrade your powder!

Now, if you care to check the sell-by date on the jug you’ll see that most of them have a date that is about a year, maybe two, from the date of purchase.

Don’t let that misguide you: these dates are arbitrarily set by the manufacturer according to government guidelines and do not accurately reflect the actual shelf life of a product.

Think of them as a best-by or freshness date. Kept in a cool, dark location in a sealed container, protein powder will last a lot longer than that and be completely safe.

Keep Moisture Away and You’re Good to Go

The single most important thing you must do if you want your protein powder to go the distance in a survival situation is to keep it safe from moisture. I hope that would be obvious! We mix it with water or some other liquid to prepare it for consumption, after all.

If protein powder, of any kind, even gets damp, it will soon mold – that’s just going to ruin it.

Consider taking it out of the container, assuming it doesn’t have the factory seal still intact, and pack it in some sort of other heavy-duty packaging.

I like using vacuum-sealed Mylar bags, but you can also make a great case for keeping them in Ziploc freezer bags or smaller versions in pre-measured portions and then placing those inside a Nalgene bottle, storm bag or small Pelican case. That way, even if your pack gets doused, your protein powder will be fine.

Protein Powder is a Lot Easier to Carry on a Per-Calorie Basis

Now, some seasoned preppers might be balking already at the idea of protein powder as a survival food. After all, we have other mainstays like beef jerky, canned tuna, canned chicken, and so forth.

This is undeniably true, however, I assert that protein powder is far easier to carry in terms of weight per calorie and per gram of protein and also in terms of form factor than any of these canned goods, and it even beats out the foil-pouched versions of the same.

Compared to heavy, bulky, and inefficient canned goods, it wins by a mile and it’s still a logistical advantage compared to the other more modern kinds of packaging.

At home in the pantry, it might not make much difference. But in your BOB on your back while you’re hoofing it for your life across unforgiving terrain- I promise that’s an advantage you don’t want to give up.

Use Protein Powder to Fortify Other Food and Beverages

One of my favorite things about this stuff as a survival food is that it is so doggone versatile. If I’m in a hurry and just need to gas up quickly, I can pour a little powder into a cup or bottle, mix it with water, and then chug it down. Done.

But I can also mix it in with other foods like soups and stews, eggs, and more. This is a great way to add bulk, protein, and calories for basically no additional effort.

And before you ask, no, it doesn’t mean you’ll be getting a strawberries and cream omelet; you can get unflavored protein powder which is perfect for the job.

It Also Has Special Utility for the Sick and Injured

One factor that I think, regrettably, many preppers overlook in this discussion is the suitability of liquid nourishment for people who are sick and badly injured.

For those of us who have been there, it’s surprising how difficult, or even impossible, it can be to keep solid food down. When your body is in a crisis and shunting resources away from your stomach, you simply might not be able to process the nutrition that you desperately need.

Protein powder drinks or shakes, though not perfect, are usually a much better bet under the circumstances. This is something you should not discount if you want to be truly ready for all contingencies.

Protein Powder is Great for Making “Comfort” Dessert Beverages

Sort of in the same vein, your sweeter and more flavorful protein powders, stuff like classic fruit, dessert, and milkshake flavors, even more exotic stuff like key lime pie or cereal flavors, can be a great comfort food for adults and kids alike.

I don’t know when the last time you might have tried this stuff is, but most of the modern brands we have today are shockingly good!

Most preppers, myself included, tend to approach packing calories and liquids with a ruthless eye for efficiency, sparing not even a thought for human factors like “want,” “comfort,” “flavor,” and so forth.

Using protein powder, it’s possible to bring along something that will keep you going but also help you feel good under what might be the worst circumstances of your entire life.

Don’t underestimate the value of keeping yourself or someone else mentally in the game by fostering feel-good emotions when you can.

You’ll Need Water, Duh

Another update from Captain Obvious, I know, but don’t forget that at its most basic you’ll need extra water to prepare your protein powder, assuming you aren’t mixing it into food.

No kidding, right, right. But this means that you’ll either have to carry more water with you or be prepared to source water from somewhere in the environment.

I know every prepper’s already familiar with this notion and prepared to do so, but it also bears repeating here because you can’t count on mixing your protein powder with milk, juice, or something else that might make it taste better.

If you’re used to having a delicious protein powder shake after your workout made with whole-fat milk, the same stuff mixed with water might be a rude awakening.

Make sure you try and get comfortable with your chosen protein powder or powders made with water only ahead of time so you know what to expect.

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