EMP Survival: First Things to Do to Protect Your Family

This article contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.

An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack is a catastrophic event that can disable electronics, power grids, and essential services, thrusting society into chaos. Whether triggered by a nuclear detonation, solar storm, or specialized device, an EMP leaves families vulnerable without preparation. This comprehensive guide, tailored for preppers and survivalists, outlines the first critical actions to protect your family post-EMP, from securing communication to ensuring water and power. With resources like Grid Doctor 3300 EMP and Aqua Tower, alongside essential gear, you can act swiftly to safeguard your loved ones and build resilience for a potential year-long blackout.

Preparing for an EMP attack is crucial to ensure your family’s safety and survival. Here are the first things you should do to protect your family in the event of an EMP attack.

Preparing for an EMP event aligns with mastering the 22 essential survival skills that will help you protect your family—explore the full list here.

Understanding the EMP Threat

An EMP attack involves the detonation of a nuclear device at high altitude, creating an electromagnetic pulse that can fry electronic circuits and disable power grids over a wide area. The result is an immediate and complete blackout, affecting everything from your home’s electrical systems to your car and communication networks. In an instant, society could be left without power, transportation, or communication.


The impact of an EMP attack could last for days, weeks, or even months, depending on the scale and severity. Understanding this threat is the first step toward preparing your family for the challenges that may follow.

Immediate Actions After an EMP Attack

1. Stay Calm and Assess the Situation

In the aftermath of an EMP attack, it’s easy to panic, but panic leads to poor decisions. The first thing you should do is take a moment to calm yourself and assess your immediate surroundings. Is your home affected? Has your neighborhood lost power? Are there any functioning devices nearby?

If possible, try to contact local authorities to determine the extent of the damage. This can help you better understand whether the outage is local or part of a larger-scale disaster.

Tip: Remaining calm allows you to make better decisions and respond more effectively to the crisis.

2. Protecting Your Electronics

If you have any forewarning of an EMP attack, such as rising geopolitical tensions, take immediate steps to protect your electronics. A Faraday cage—a metal container that shields electronics from EMP damage—is one of the best defenses against electromagnetic pulses. Place essential devices such as radios, flashlights, and small generators inside a Faraday cage.

Even a simple metal trash can with a tight-fitting lid can work in a pinch, as long as it completely encloses the devices. By doing this, you can ensure that you still have access to critical devices when the grid goes down.

Grid Doctor 3300 EMP powers protected devices, ensuring functionality. Safeguard electronics with Grid Doctor 3300 EMP.

The Mission Darkness Non-Window Faraday Bag offers portable protection. Protect with the Mission Darkness Faraday Bag.

Placing essential electronics in a Faraday cage is just one way to utilize must-have survival tools—discover 50 essential items.

Protecting essential electronics in a Faraday cage is crucial for maintaining communication and power during an EMP attack.

Tip: Protecting your electronics ahead of time can keep you connected and informed during a prolonged blackout.

3. Establish Communication

One of the biggest challenges after an EMP attack is the loss of communication. Without cell phones or internet access, staying in touch with family members, friends, and emergency services becomes incredibly difficult. Having a battery-powered or hand-crank radio is essential for receiving emergency broadcasts and updates. Additionally, pre-arrange meeting points with your family and close friends so that everyone knows where to go in case communication fails.

Walkie-talkies are another great option, but they should be stored in a Faraday cage to ensure they remain functional after the EMP event.

Tip: Having a reliable communication plan is key to staying connected and informed during an emergency.

A radio like the Eton Quest Hand Crank ensures updates. Stay informed with the Eton Quest Hand Crank.

A walkie-talkie set like the Midland GXT1000VP4 enables family contact. Communicate with the Midland GXT1000VP4.

4. Call for Help

If emergency services are operational, contact them via protected radios or ham radio frequencies. Older equipment may still function, connecting you to responders or local networks.

Grid Doctor 3300 EMP powers communication devices for outreach. Power communications with Grid Doctor 3300 EMP.

Securing Basic Needs After an EMP Attack

5. Secure a Water Supply

Access to clean water is a top priority after an EMP attack. Without power, municipal water systems may fail, leaving you without a reliable source of water. Store enough water to last at least two weeks—one gallon per person per day is recommended. This ensures that your family has enough water for drinking, cooking, and hygiene.

Additionally, keep water purification tablets or portable water filters on hand to treat water from natural sources like rivers or lakes.

Tip: A reliable water supply is essential for survival.

Maintaining a clean water supply during an EMP event requires proper purification techniques—learn 20 water purification methods.

Aqua Tower generates clean water from air, ideal for off-grid survival. Secure water with Aqua Tower.

A filter like the Survivor Filter PRO purifies water on the go. Purify water with the Survivor Filter PRO.

6. Stockpile Non-Perishable Food

Food supply chains will be severely disrupted after an EMP attack, making it difficult to obtain food from grocery stores. Stock up on non-perishable food items such as canned goods, dried fruits, nuts, and freeze-dried meals. These foods have a long shelf life and are easy to store.

Rotate your food supply regularly to ensure that it stays fresh and ready to use when needed. Aim to have enough food stored to last your family at least two weeks.

Supplementing non-perishable food with survival crops can provide a sustainable food source—explore the best crops to grow here.

Stockpiling non-perishable foods ensures your family has enough to eat during an extended emergency.

Tip: A well-stocked food pantry can help your family stay nourished during extended outages.

7. Preparing for Home Security

In the chaos that often follows an EMP attack, home security becomes crucial. Without electricity, traditional security systems may not work, and the risk of looting or crime increases. Strengthen your doors and windows, and consider investing in a reliable means of self-defense. Collaborate with your neighbors to form a community watch for mutual support and protection.

A first aid kit like the Surviveware Comprehensive First Aid Kit prepares for injuries during conflicts. Treat injuries with the Surviveware First Aid Kit.

Strengthening your home security complements other preparedness strategies, such as building an ultimate car emergency kit—learn more here.

Long-Term Survival Strategies for EMP Events

8. Learning Basic Survival Skills

In the absence of modern conveniences, basic survival skills will become invaluable. Skills like gardening, first aid, and basic mechanics can help you stay self-sufficient when power and services are unavailable. Consider taking classes or regularly practicing these skills to ensure you’re prepared for a prolonged crisis.

9. Generating Off-Grid Power

While large generators may be impractical for long-term use, smaller portable solar chargers can keep essential devices running during a blackout. Investing in solar panels and batteries can help you create a small off-grid power system that powers critical devices like radios, lights, and medical equipment.

Tip: Off-grid power sources can help you maintain essential functions during an extended outage.

Investing in solar panels and batteries ensures off-grid power solutions for long-term survival—explore off-grid power generation tips.

Grid Doctor 3300 EMP provides 3300 watts of solar power with EMP protection. Stay off-grid with Grid Doctor 3300 EMP.

10. Stay Informed

Knowledge enhances resilience:

  • Sources: Read survival books, attend workshops, and follow reputable blogs.

  • Community Updates: Rely on neighbors for local information.

  • Radio Monitoring: Use protected radios for news.

Aqua Tower ensures water security, freeing focus for staying informed. Ensure hydration with Aqua Tower.

Preparing for a Year-Long Blackout

An EMP could trigger a 365-day blackout, as warned by experts. Prepare for this extreme scenario:

  • Expand Stockpiles: Aim for 6–12 months of food and water.

  • Community Networks: Build alliances for resource sharing.

  • Skill Mastery: Practice survival techniques regularly.

  • Power Redundancy: Combine Grid Doctor 3300 EMP with backup batteries.

Building a Resilient Future

An EMP attack demands immediate action to protect your family. By staying calm, securing communication with the Midland GXT1000VP4 and Eton Quest Hand Crank, protecting electronics with the Mission Darkness Faraday Bag, and ensuring water and power with Aqua Tower and Grid Doctor 3300 EMP, you build a strong foundation. Stockpiling food, fortifying your home with the Surviveware First Aid Kit, and mastering skills prepare you for prolonged crises. Start now to face any EMP scenario with confidence.

Stay powered with Grid Doctor 3300 EMP now.

Secure water with Aqua Tower today.

AATF Survival does not agree with all the statements provided in the given content.

Your source for expert survival strategies and emergency preparedness tips.


Privacy policy | Terms of use | Cookies