Thursday’s sporadic interruption of national cellular phone networks has raised new concerns about how a large solar flare event or an atmospheric nuclear attack could shut down a wider network of phones or even the electric grid.
While the number of phone outages was small, they showed up coast to coast, and some media spun the story up into a major crisis. “World Is Ending,” screamed the Drudge Report in a red headline.
Early indications are that it could have been caused by successive solar flares big enough to interrupt cellular service but not affect the electric grid.
“The Sun emitted two strong solar flares, the first one peaking at 6:07 p.m. EST on Feb. 21, 2024, and the second peaking at 1:32 a.m. EST on Feb. 22, 2024,” NASA said. The agency said the sun has been active recently.
NASA added, “Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.”
David Stuckenberg, a former Air Force combat pilot who is running a dark-horse campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, said today’s event could prompt a focus on protecting the grid and communications.
“It can help if awareness translates to action. And that action has to be an alignment of industry, public interest, and government,” he told Secrets.
Stuckenberg has been a national leader in calling for the protection of the electric grid from solar or military attacks. Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are believed to have small nuclear EMP weapons.
He also champions making the nation and public more “resilient” in case the country is attacked. He is the chief operating officer of Genesis Systems, which has developed a system to make water, called the WaterCube. His firm is shipping the truck-sized systems to military troops and has a household system that will begin shipping in the fall.
The mini-crisis today followed reports that Russia is readying to deploy satellite nuclear weapons that can detonate over United States electric grid stations. Experts in electromagnetic pulse have been warning for decades that an attack on the unprotected East Coast grid could result in the deaths of 90% of the U.S. population on the East Coast within a year.
The loss of grid and cellular service was the top concern among Americans leading the national prepper movement. In a recent survey of those leaders, 51% cited a crisis sparked by a solar flare.
“Collapse threats from new technologies account for one-third of the top 15 threats,” said Drew Miller, the CEO of Fortitude Ranch, a group of protected resorts for preppers. “This is definitely new news,” he told Secrets.
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Today’s events also prompted others to reconsider how they would survive in a larger crisis and what types of “bug out” bags, food, and even weapons they would need.
Justin Anderson, the marketing director of Hyatt Guns of Charlotte, N.C., recommended a selection of firearms to have on hand in a larger crisis, such as the one depicted in the upcoming movie Civil War.
Anderson, who emailed his comments because his phone service was down, said, “The most important thing to prepare for events like this is to have a plan. That plan, regardless of the firearms you choose, must include regular training and practice. Just buying the best and most expensive gear won’t mean a thing if you’re not comfortable using that gear. As far as specifics, my plan for two adults includes two AR rifles with 1-4 scopes, two 9mm handguns with holsters, five magazines for each gun, 1,000 rounds each of 5.56 and 9mm ammo stored in airtight ammo cans, a range bag with ear and eye protection, plus two plate vests with magazine pouches.”
