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What is America’s Achilles Heel? October in Washington Technology & Disaster Relief The ZOMBIE FILES PrepareHub.org Top 5 under $50
EMPower Magazine EMPact America’s EMPower Magazine is published by EMPact America, Inc.
Contributors: David Bellavia Kathryn DeLong Ross Howarth
In This Issue On Target..................................................................................... 4 Balance of Power: October in Washington.................................. 7 Power Authority........................................................................... 8 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Opens Cybersecurity/ EMP Security Office.................................................................... 9 EMPact America ZOMBIE FILES.............................................. 10 EMPact Radio........................................................................... 14 Taken Personal.......................................................................... 15 PrepareHub.org Citizen’s Exchange: Favorite 5 under $50 & Top 5 Products for Sheltering in Place .................................. 16 Survival & the Rule of 3............................................................. 18
Cristina Maxon Michelle McCulloch Amy Thompson Thomas Woods
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David Bellavia, President Ross Howarth, Vice President EMPact America PO Box 124 Elma, New York 14059 www.EMPactAmerica.org (716) 435-7873 info@EMPactAmerica.org To submit story ideas, event information, or corrections, send an email to
America in the Dark 2-Disk Set EMPact America’s America In the Dark 2 Disc set will be available for order online through PrepareHub. org this month.
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October 2012
EMPower Magazine
EMPower Magazine there is no doubt that his actions were treasonous. Benedict Arnold will forever be known as a traitor to his country, regardless of any understanding of his personal reasons.
America’s Achilles Heel During this highly spirited political cycle we have heard about foreign policy and threats to America ad nauseum. Paid political commercials have flooded our televisions with charges of dereliction of duty and we have even heard charges of treason.
So if Guantanamo Bay is so abhorrent, if civilian trials are too mild mannered for the bad guys, why don’t we charge American citizens with treason?
Treason? Yes, treason.
In our modern context, the enemy is Islamo-extremisim and (typified but not relegated to al-Queda) and the fascist governments of the Islamic world (the former Taliban in Afghanistan, the late Hussein’s Bath party in Iraq; Syria and the always antagonistic Islamic government of Iran). To side with these governments or entities working with the leadership of these governments would be to commit treason (the giving of aid and comfort to the enemy).
What would be the reason to avoid protecting yourself from known threats? What should be the penalty if we suffer severe loss of life and we still don’t move to protect the American people? Government’s most important function is to protect the people. What are the people to do when those in power refuse to execute their duties?
Though this word is bandied about without understanding, most times at political opponents and used in hyperbole, treason is a very specific charge. It means that a person has acted in a manner that gives aid and comfort to an enemy of their own nation. While many in politics have cast this aspersion onto President Bush and now President Obama, no one has ever identified which enemy they betrayed us to. In order to commit treason, there must be an enemy that one has sided with, and this enemy cannot be “spiritually” identified as “war.” While we debate what to do with “enemy combatants” and American civilians openly in league with our enemy today, treason is the simplest of charges that our constitution guides us to use in these precarious times. - 4 -
Answer is: we need an enemy. And today in modern America, enemies are not acceptable.
Now many of you might ask, but who is supposed to pick the enemy? While this might be an appropriate philosophical question, it is easily answered with regards to the law. The duly-elected President and Congress are constitutionally empowered and would have to determine that these governments and terror organizations are the enemy. Regardless of your agreement with them, this determination is binding to the citizens of this nation. To side with the enemy is to commit treason. To use a historical example, take the circumstance of Benedict Arnold. General Arnold was a Englishman, like his early American peers, who took up the cause of the colonies in the American revolution. He happened to be married to an Englishwoman, with deep familial connections to the English government. With his allegiances appropriately torn by family and nation, Arnold chose family. While many of us might understand his ethical and philosophical stance,
Bluntly stated, one can be ethically correct (or at least think they are ethically correct) and still guilty of treason under the law. Deitrich Bonhoeffer was executed as a traitor in Nazi Germany. Though many see him as a saint of the Christian Church, he was clearly guilty of treason to his government. Indeed treason is a political crime, but it is a political crime that places its highest honor in those who are in power. Politicians who receive income from the enemy, or who petition on their behalf can indeed be guilty of treason. This can be especially true of those who would claim that the actions of the enemy are somehow righteous compared to our own actions, or who would seek to direct the military to disobey appropriate orders.
this fatal flaw in the mythology of Achilles, whose great strength and military prowess was undermined by a fatal weakness: his Achilles heal. The Judeo-Christian scriptures speak of the Israelite Judge, Samson, whose great strength was eliminated when the last vestige of his vow to God was shaved by the hairdresser of a Philistine prostitute. The attack at Pearl Harbor proved to be a fatal miscalculation for Emperor Hirohito, as it provided the impetus for the sleeping American giant to wake from its self-absorbed slumber. Societies, like individual human beings, are born, grow to maturity and then decline into death. Our societal lives are not determined by the height of our reach, but by the ability to remember how we attained those heights. It is my belief that the fatal flaw in our current western culture has already been exposed by our Islamofascist enemy. Our military prowess is second to none. Our fighting men and women are
If the legal definition of treason is used, then any reporter who would give away American positions or military intentions would be guilty. As would those involved in the wikileaks scandal. But what do we do about those who have the science, intelligence reports and whose job it is to evaluate threats professionally and STILL don’t move to act to protect the American people? We know our culture is what makes us enemy number one in the militant
Islamist’s view. The western world is currently in a crisis of ignorance and delusion. While the rest of the world suffers from what they know to be wrong, a majority of the western world (long known as a fount of wisdom and knowledge) fails to fully comprehend the nature and purpose of our Islamo-fascist enemy. Over the course of time, in mythology and history, we have understood that no person, culture, or tradition was without flaw. The ancient Greeks expressed October 2012
stronger, smarter, more technologically advanced and more ethically trained than the enemy. How then can we be defeated? What is our Achilles Heel? It began long ago, before the birth of those who are carrying the heavy weight of the fight against global radical enemy. Men like the Ayatollah Khomeini saw it first. They recognized that like the Roman Empire the Western world had grown satisfied and decadent. Unlike their fathers, the new generation of leaders continued to think like adolescents. They did not mature into their faith, nor did they put away childish things. They no longer had the stomach for extended sacrifice. They were weak and ready for a calamitous fall. In fact they went beyond simply disagreement with the principles that created and sustained the nation for generations. The radical generation that now runs the classrooms, courtrooms and bureaucracies of the nation has rejected and abolished the faith of our fathers October 2012
from the public square. Abolition of alcohol was tried once by the political right with, as many will tell you, disastrous results. The sad truth is that the abolition of alcohol (or spirits as they are sometimes referred) was far less damaging to the nation than the abolition of the Judeo-Christian values that had sustained our nation. Further exaggerating the damage has been the unwillingness to acknowledge the mistake, and to assume that the court decisions of our rulers in black robes was now sacrosanct and, unlike past constitutional amendments and decisions, subject to further revision. And so they attacked. First toppling our allies in the Middle East. Finding the Carter administration to be the greatest ally of Islamo-aggression, they began to recreate their power base first in Iran and then throughout the Middle East. President Carter was just the first American leader to expose the jugular vein of the Western world. Embracing the Marxist concepts of revolution and “human rights,” Carter and his European allies handed over the land of the Persians to the intellectual and spiritual heirs of Nazi Germany. Fiercely anti-Semitic, bathed in bloodshed, and willing to die to cleanse the world of those who they deemed infidels. They embraced the eternal values of jihad. They embraced the cultural values of sacrifice for others. They embraced the concept of total war. And we continued to sleep. Awash in walkman cassette players and Atari video games, we entered the Reagan years looking to consolidate our portfolios, right our economic ship and rebound from the soul-crushing defeats of the seventies. With the thoughts of Vietnam fresh in our minds, America was not in a fighting mood, so we embraced the pseudo-militaristic posturing of President Reagan, who talked tough and slowly but surely built up a big stick by retooling the military. Though he courageously faced down the Soviet bluff, he was less than tough on Islamic terror. Though he may have knocked Libyan Dictator Quadaffi back to the
bronze age, he also showed a lack of American resolve by pulling our troops from Lebanon after the Marine barrack bombing. This lack of resolve created a template for the defeat of American power. Attack the weak resolve of the Americans, by using the political system of democracies to gain victories in regions that were not considered worth fighting for. Radical Islam did this by using the language so often used on Marxist college classrooms, which spoke of human rights violations to grind down the resolve of democracies, used liberation theology to usurp American values and stump for dictators/terrorists, and spoke of all things in economic terms. This resulted in the oddity of Islamic billionaires speaking of economic inequalities as a pretense for violent revolution. In the post 9/11 world, the American government and the American people have gone to great lengths to understand the Islamic mind. Americans have made bold attempts to gain a greater understanding of our Muslim brothers and sisters as we have tried to find a way to bridge the cultural gap to find the commonalities in our faiths and families. In combat, I have learned many things. I have always been struck with how consistent the enemy’s forces are in their attacks. Their playbook is not that complicated. Humanity is attacked in much the same way today as we have always been attacked, and the foundational attack of the enemy is to undercut the power of America and erode her righteousness in the world. -5-
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EMPower Magazine America’s Achilles Heel continued
for millennia).
In the past month, the western world has been shocked to see editorial cartoons and a poorly written movie trailer spark murderous riots in the street of numerous Muslim nations. Embassies have been torched. In Libya, our Ambassador was assassinated and the escalation of antiSemitic and anti-western rhetoric coming from a near-nuclear Iran is at an all-time high.
And for the near future, until another American city burns or Jerusalem is turned into a nuclear ground zero, most American politicians will continue to hope all of our problems go away.
We have entered into a strange alternate universe, where peaceful dissidents are convicted of thought crimes, while murderers are acquitted of all guilt. Why? Tragically, because it doesn’t meet the template of the mainstream media and culture. The template for the past forty years has been clear. The villains of the story are Nazis. The German kind. They are white, blonde, and fair skinned. They are predominantly male and they are Christian. Now, forget for a moment that even a precursory study of Nazism in Germany will tell you that the Nazis were not Christian, the mainstream doesn’t know this, nor do they care to be informed. Far from being Christians the Nazis outlawed the celebration of Christmas, removed crosses from Church buildings, and baptized in the name of the fuhrer. They copied the rituals but removed Jesus. Interestingly, some of these “white, Christian” Nazis were in reality Arab Muslims. The grand mufti of Jerusalem was a member of the SS who lived in Germany during the war. He was convicted in absentia during the Nuremberg trials, but was never punished because he was living in Egypt under the protection of Nassar and free to raise Yassir Arafat as his own. The Bath party in Iraq is a direct descendent of the Nazi party in France and Germany. But the template is set and there can be no truth that gets in the way of the “truth.” Islam is peaceful, Americans and Western Christians are imperialistic. Americans are decadent, Muslims are saintly. White westerners are the “violent ones,” yet it is the militant Muslims who are hell-bent on war and destruction, and if they win their war against America, they will continue to find a way to kill each other (and have
Balance of Power
with Michelle McCulloch
This doesn’t mean we will slow down in our fight to protect our way of life, but it shows the very difficult terrain we navigate to assure America’s security at home and abroad.
and the effect an event would have on our nation’s critical infrastructure. Although we at EMPact America are centered on protecting the nation’s electric grid, it is very important to recognize that any major widespread long-term electrical outage would cause cascading failures to all other infrastructure systems, including transportation, communication, and water systems.
Our elected officials must define the enemy and acknowledge the threat they pose. Failure to do so makes our nation and our people more susceptible to attack.
October in Washington WNY Events October 3
2012 Technology & Homeland Security Forum
6
Elma Pumpkin Festival
Seneca Niagara - Niagara Falls, NY Elma Town Park - Elma, NY
27 ZOMBIE PREPAREDNESS & FAMILY SAFETY FAIR Jamison Business Park, 11am-3pm
November 9 Elma CERT & EMPact America Pressure Canning Demonstration –
Elma Senior Center 7pm
14 Elma CERT training 19 West Seneca CERT training Shelter Operations –
Ebenezer United Church, West Seneca 7pm
To submit events in your area, email webmaster@empactamerica.org
October 2012
“The existing bulk-power reliability standards don’t even address EMP vulnerabilities.” That was the disappointing statement made by Representative Daniel Lungren in his recent opening statement as chair to the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technology subcommittee. Disappointing because the congressionally appointed EMP Commission has publically reported on the importance of addressing the threats since 2004, and still no action has been taken. Mr. Lungren held the recent hearing to examine the consequences of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack and whether we, as a nation, are actively working on protecting our critical infrastructure from this growing vulnerability. How many hearings, caucuses and commissions do we need to finally get action to protect our critical infrastructures? The hearing took place on Wednesday, September 12, and included testimonies from several panelists knowledgeable about the threat of EMP including Representative Trent Franks, Director of the Office of Electric Reliability Joseph McClelland, President of the Electric Infrastructure Security Council Chris Beck, and Michael Aimone,the Director of Business Enterprise Integration at the Department of Defense. Each panelist testified on their own knowledge of EMP October 2012
Representative Lungren started testimony by laying the foundation for the possible width and scope of an EMP event by discussing a computer simulation that was carried out by Oak Ridge National Laboratory in March 2010. The findings from that simulation revealed that an EMP from a nuclear device detonated at high altitude or a powerful solar storm could destroy or permanently damage major sections of our national power grid. According to that Oak Ridge study, the collapse of the power system could impact 130 million Americans and could require four to 10 years to fully recover. Costs for recovery efforts in this type of and EMP event are estimated to be between $1 trillion and $2 trillion. Mitigation efforts are estimated to be approximately $500,000 per major transformer. I believe that the $1 billion dollars in Egyptian debt that President Obama just forgave could have been put to good use securing our grid. Later testimony by Brandon Wales, Director of the Homeland Infrastructure Threat and Risk Analysis Center, included information on what the Department of Homeland Security is doing behind the scenes for preparedness efforts. Mr. Wales discussed the fact that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working with states and the industry in deploying new capabilities as part of the public alert and warning system which is designed to keep the public informed and alerted during such an event. If they are preparing an alert system and recovery plans to address a massive outage due to credible threats,
then why are we not preparing to protect our grid and minimize the losses associated with long-term, widespread power outages? It is surprising to me that most Americans are unaware of the EMP threat. It is more surprising that our elected representatives have been well aware for many years and yet refuse to bring attention to this issue. If you listen to the hearing, no one testifying had any credible reason why this wasn’t moving forward legislatively. Congressman Franks indicated that he was aware of the EMP threat before the commission reported on it back in 2004. He also stated that, at that time, there were five nations developing this technology to use as an offensive military weapon, including the former Soviet Union. So we know there is a man-made possibility, what about solar? Panelists responding to this question said that there would no doubt be another solar storm strong enough to create massive, longterm outages. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict when. It was clear from the members of the subcommittee that the probability of action on the current SHIELD Act (H.R. 668), during this legislative session, was next to zero. Although this is not even close to what we had hoped for, it is evident from the dire testimony that not only will the bill be reintroduced in the following 113th Congress, but that further attention will be given to address this critical threat. Representative Trent Franks said it best when he stated “There is a moment in the life of every problem, when it is big enough to be seen by reasonable people and still small enough to be solved or addressed. You and I live in that moment when there still may be time for the free world to address and mitigate the vulnerability that naturally occurring or weaponized EMP represents to the mechanisms of our civilization.” -7-
EMPower Magazine
EMPower Magazine Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Opens Cybersecurity/EMP Security Office
Title
Red Cross Mobile Apps
by Michelle McCulloch
Technology and Disaster Relief: A Double-Edged Sword I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I can’t imagine life without technology. My iPhone never leaves my side. I’m constantly checking Twitter for news updates, texting my friends and sending e-mails. I buy clothes on my laptop and read books on my Kindle. These days, it seems like there’s nothing technology can’t do, which is why it comes as no surprise that technology is becoming increasingly important in disaster relief efforts. Communication is essential for organization, and so it is critical in disaster situations. Social media has become an extremely useful tool for distributing information. Sites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube allow thousands of people to provide firsthand accounts of what’s happening. During Hurricane Isaac, USA Today reported that “tens of thousands of relief workers, government officials, hospitals and residents” were turning to social media to provide them with updates about the storm. While TV stations and newspapers continue to play an important role in information-sharing, the convenience and the ubiquity of social media is making it more influential in the news realm. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently developed a new app to track disaster relief, and it was put into action in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac. The app complements the efforts of Operation Blue Roof – an initiative that helps relief workers identify homes in need of assistance. Homeowners can use the app to request aid; that information is then sent to a database that can be accessed by workers and contractors. This streamlines the entire process, making it quicker and easier for homeowners to - 8 -
recover from the consequences of severe weather. Other countries are also using technology to bolster their emergency management practices. In the Philippines, where natural disasters are frequent, the government has created an initiative called Project NOAH (National Operational Assessment of Hazards) to better prepare residents for severe weather. Project NOAH, which launched in July 2012, uses science and technology to “enhance current geo-hazard vulnerability maps.” These maps will improve emergency response by pinpointing evacuation routes and road closures during disaster situations.
When a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti in 2010, relief workers used technology to deliver aid more efficiently. The Financial Times reported that workers used Microsoft’s online translation software to translate Haitian Creole, spoken by 8 million people on the island, into the relief workers’ language. Relief workers would not have been able to help the Haitians effectively without overcoming the language barrier. But our growing dependency on technology is a double-edged sword, especially in emergency situations. Cell phone towers are required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to have backup power at most sites, so most cell phones will still function during a power
outage. In the event of an electromagnetic pulse or long-term blackout, however, cell phone usage could come to a temporary standstill. This would severely obstruct communication. In a 2010 Huffington Post article, Jim Luce, philanthropist and founder of the Luce Foundation, emphasized the importance of technology and communication in emergency situations. Developing nations, in particular, are at a disadvantage in these scenarios. The absence of reliable communications infrastructure hindered earthquake recovery efforts in Haiti. According to Luce, “many of the casualties succumbed to injuries that could have been treatable if only they had a better means to coordinate activities, to confer with other medical professionals, or to access online medical databases and telemedicine capabilities.” Technology is a lifesaver, but it’s important to consider how disaster relief and emergency management could be carried out if that technology was defunct. Individuals would have to assume more responsibility. At EMPact America, we have put hundreds of Western New York residents through Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. CERT members learn basic first aid, how to use a fire extinguisher, and other valuable skills that supplement the efforts of first responders. Without technology and the means to communicate, first responders would have no way of knowing which individuals and areas need the most assistance. But the people have gone through CERT training will be able to take action until more relief arrives. Hopefully relief workers will always have access to the technology that makes their jobs easier, but it would be dangerous to be wholly dependent on it. We should always hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. October 2012
One step of progress in the ongoing struggle to get legislators and the public engaged and educated on the threats facing our critical infrastructure. Just announced on September 20, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has taken action on cyber and physical threats to our nation’s electric grid by creating an office specific to these issues. The Office of Energy Infrastructure Security will be led by Joseph McClelland, a long-time proponent of protecting our bulk power system here in the United States. This news comes as October 2012 marks the ninth annual National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in cooperation with the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). It’s important for us to take personal responsibility for our internet security in this world of ever-increasing threats. We can put the blame on our elected officials for inaction on the national and state levels, but there is no excuse for us to not be pro-active in our own lives. After all, internet safety is crucial for the protection of our identities, children, financial health and stability. Here are some ways NCSAM will be focusing on cyber security during the month of October. Week One: Stop.Think. Connect.
Week Two: Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity Week Three: Industry Efforts in Cybersecurity
Week Four: K-Life: Digital Literacy Efforts
Emphasizes general cybersecurity awareness and the Stop.Think. Connect.™ Campaign
Focuses on national and local efforts to prevent identity theft and other cyber crimes Highlights strategies and tools businesses of all sizes – including small business – can use to bolster their own cyber-security defenses
The Hurricane App lets you monitor conditions in your area or throughout the storm track, prepare your family and home, find help and let others know you are safe even if the power is out – a must have for anyone who lives in an area where a hurricane may strike or has loved ones who do. The Shelter Finder
Showcases the urgent need to develop cyber education programs to train the next generation cyber workforce
There is a great online resource that gives instruction as to the threats that are out there and how to keep your online experience safe from them. Once on the site, you will see news, blogs on cyber security, teaching resources and information to protect your small business and customers. The site is called StaySafeOnline.org and is powered by the National Cyber Security Alliance which is in cooperation with the DHS. So, as we bring news of forward progress with the opening of the new OEIS led by someone staunchly aware and educated on the threats to the grid, we also remind you of the importance of taking steps to help you take control of your personal security. Check out the sites, get informed and protect yourself.
October 2012
The official American Red Cross First Aid app puts expert advice for everyday emergencies in your hand. Available for iPhone and Android devices, the official American Red Cross First Aid app gives you instant access to the information you need to know to handle the most common first aid emergencies. With videos, interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice it’s never been easier to know first aid. Applications offered include the first aid app described above, the Earthquake App, the Shelter Finder App and the Earthquake App, all available at http://www.redcross.org/prepare/mobile-apps
App allows users to view open shelters by state, jump to the latest disaster information via the Disaster Online Newsroom, and donate to help the American Red Cross respond to those in need. Download the apps and get prepared today! -9-
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U
nless you’ve been living under a headstone yourself during the last decade, you should be aware of the overall popularity of Zombies in America. There have been so many Zombie movies, books and games that there are entire websites dedicated to categorizing and keeping track of them. Basically, there are 3 generally accepted types of Zombies: (1) undead (e.g., Night of the Living Dead (and its sequels/remakes) & Shaun of the Dead), (2) diseased (e.g., 28 Days Later, Planet Terror & Zombieland) and (3) possessed (e.g., Night of the Creeps, The Evil Dead & Slither).
DHS ZOMBIE ALERT
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security announced that “THE ZOMBIES ARE COMING!” FEMA wants to know – “Are you ready for a ‘Zombie Apocalypse?’” It’s all part of FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Division and Ready. gov’s latest campaign, complete with a free webinar about Zombie preparedness.
Among those, Zombies are typically considered more or less dangerous based upon (1) how smart or dumb they are and (2) how fast or slow they are – the most dangerous being Zombies that are smart and fast (like in 28 Days Later or The Return of the Living Dead) and the least threatening being slow and dumb (like in Shaun of the Dead and the original Night of the Living Dead in 1968).
The basic idea is that “while the walking dead may not be first on your list of local hazards, zombie preparedness messages and activities have proven to be an effective way of engaging new audiences who may not be familiar with what to do before, during, or after a disaster, and to inject a little levity into preparedness while still informing and educating people.”
Of course, most Zombie movies are either horror
films or comedies, first and foremost; but, both types usually contain a delicate blend of gore and levity. I’m not a huge Zombie or horror movie fan, so I personally tend to lean more toward the more comedic versions like Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland. There are even games and Zombie apps. for your smart phone, from games to Zombie Booth (which allows you to Zombify and (re) animate pictures of people, pets and more). Of course, Zombies have also taken over the small screen, with the hit Walking Dead, premiering on Halloween of 2010 it’s now in its 3rd season on AMC and is complete with its own social game on Facebook. Zombies have even fought the modern vampire on Spike TV’s Deadliest Warrior (Ep. 32) and were the focus of the season finale of Sons of Guns, Ultimate Zombie Weapon.
vampires and werewolves maintain most of their human personalities, characteristics and rational control other than when they transform or are triggered to enter a frenzied state – not true of Zombies. Once a Zombie, always a Zombie. There’s no Dr. Jekyll side of Zombies, just Mr. Hyde. True Zombies are no longer human, so there’s no stigma or remorse with de-animating (destroying) them. Zombies have no loveable or redeeming qualities, and there can be no truce among Zombies and men.
Unlike the wildly popular vampires and werewolves depicted in the modern Twilight series (or even the Underworld series), there are no Zombie-human romances, and no Zombie heartthrobs. Accordingly, I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for anything like “Twilight: Breaking Ground.” The point is that most vampires and werewolves are almost part-time monsters. O u t w a r d l y,
Those of you who haven’t heard of this before, may be surprised to learn that FEMA’s new Zombie campaign is an extension of a successful Zombie campaign by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) last year. As director of the CDC, Dr. Ali Khan, notes, “If you are generally well equipped to deal with a zombie apocalypse you will be prepared for a hurricane, pandemic, earthquake, or terrorist attack.” After the successful Zombie campaign by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) last year. As director of the CDC, Dr. Ali Khan, notes, “If you are generally well equipped to deal with a zombie apocalypse you will be prepared for a hurricane, pandemic, earthquake, or terrorist attack.” After the successful zombie preparedness campaign by the CDC in 2011, an overwhelming number of educators requested zombie-themed preparedness activities for school-aged children. The CDC even created a website to help educators teach middle school children the basics of emergency preparedness and response using a fun, fictitious Zombie scenario (http://www.cdc.gov/phpr/learn.htm). The CDC even has a very well done graphic novel, Zombie Novella: “Preparedness 101: Zombie Pandemic” (http:// www.cdc.gov/phpr/zombies_novella.htm). It demonstrates the importance of being prepared in an entertaining way that people of all ages will enjoy. Included in the novel is a Preparedness Checklist so that readers can get their family, workplace, or school ready before disaster strikes. Zombie preparedness isn’t just limited to the CDC and DHS. The US military, law enforcement, emergency workers & medical techs. have decided to join in training for the Zombie apocalypse too (see http://www.examiner.com/article/military-cdcprepare-for-the-zombie-apocalypse-but-is-it-only-a-drill). In fact, the security firm HALO Corp. will be training them in the finer points of the Zombie Apocalypse during their counter-terrorism summit this month. From Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, a 44-acre island resort will play host and train responders for every possible situation – whether alive, dead or undead. There are plenty of state and regional events as well, everything from official state Zombie preparedness events in Salt Lake City, Utah to the 7th annual Denver Zombie Crawl. In fact, this month, EMPact America is joining in and sponsoring a Zombie Preparedness & Spooktacular Family Safety Fair on Sat., Oct. 27th in Elma, NY. By the way, Zombie preparedness isn’t bad preparation for a great geomagnetic storm or EMP attack either. Just saying. - 10 -
October 2012
October 2012
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EMPower Magazine
THE SERIOUS SIDE OF ZOMBIE-TYPE THREATS PEOPLE UNDER AN INFLUENCE:
People on hard drugs have often been compared to Zombies, both for their impaired thinking and high tolerance for pain. In fact, in combat, this has been an issue at least since the time of the Viking Berserkers who are believed to have taken hallucinogenic mushrooms to create fearlessness and block pain, to the drug-fueled insurgents of Fallujah, Iraq described in House to House: An Epic Memoir of War, by EMPact America’s President, David Bellavia. Similar drug-induced combatants are also faced by law enforcement who sometimes
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ZOMBIE PREPPING & GEAR Zombie prepping has hit an all-time high. It’s amazing how popular it is and how many companies are making Zombie specific preparedness products. The Zombie craze has infected everyone from Guns and Ammo (which launched its G&A’s Zombie Nation blog last year) to actual gear and ammunition manufactures themselves, like gun manufacturer Mossberg (which released a Zombie-specific version of several shotguns and rifles, such as its Model 500 ZMB shotgun), ammunition manufacturer Hornady (which launched a Zombie Max ammo (Z-Max) line) and premium knife manufacturers like KA-BAR (which also introduced an entire Zombie line, including a Zombie™ “Chop Stick”) and Browning (which launched a Zombie™ Apocalypse Knife). Of course, Zombie shooting targets have replaced most gunman targets at the civilian gun shops and ranges.
WHAT IF THERE ANTI-BODY?
confront people on PCP, methamphetamine, and now bath salts. In fact, this year a gruesome and unsettling trend of real and unprovoked attacks is emerging with people on ‘bath salts’ (amphetamine blends – a/k/a the new PCP). These real attacks are now similar and common enough that media is using the term “Zombie Apocalypse”. That said, unless someone drugs a water or food source (like in The Crazies), we’re unlikely to see a large horde of drugged attackers, and the condition doesn’t spread like a virus. BATTLE TRANCE: Even without the use of external drugs, people can sometimes enter a super-human state. There is also a term known as “battle trance” where combatants enter a psychological state where they do not have fear or feel pain, and individuals act as one collective organism. This is often found in a military setting, but people also report super-human feats of strength by parents Is it just a trying to save their children. pain? and suspension of fear
VIRUS/DISEASE: Clearly, the CDC’s Zombie scenario is driven by a virus. And, who knows what kinds of weaponized diseases, viruses and toxins may actually exist Even deep in the bowls of government labs. flu the of n strai natural threats from a new g. tatin devas be or other known viruses could eZombi e creat y While they may not necessaril or r Terro t Plane in like outbreaks, like those -tohuman avoid to The Crazies, being prepared human contamination and survive a pandemic of any kind makes sense. - 12 -
making a huge mistake. I just hope that everyone preparing for a Zombie outbreak remembers that desperate people may be dangerous, but they’re still people. You may not be able to help them all, and you may even have a legitimate need to defend yourself against some if things really hit the fan, but you should help as many as you can – and, you should start now.
I’m not a Zombie-prepper. That said, when it comes to Zombie prepping, I’d recommend taking an all hazards approach -- hope for the best (just a few slow and dumb Zombies), but plan for the worst (lots of fast and smart Zombies). Even if you can temporarily outrun a horde, you should assume that you won’t be able to hide indefinitely. So why has the Zombie craze caught fire with “preppers”? Are there really that many people out there who believe in the possibility of a ‘real’ Zombie outbreak? Is it just the fun and novelty of it? Or, is it because Zombies are a more acceptable euphemism for preparing against fellow citizens in the event of a major societal collapse? After all, preparing against Zombies is about as close as one can get to preparing against a large desperate population, right? And, it makes the self-defense elements of preparedness seem more fun and benign. But, those who are doing little more than stocking guns and ammo are October 2012
WAS
A
ZOMBIE
The CDC says, “Don’t be a Zombie; be prepared.” Will being prepared help you stay clear of Zombies or is it more like an anti-body? Well, either way, and whether you’re dealing with hordes of real Zombies or fellow citizens, you can never prepare enough to handle an entire horde on your own. You’re best chance is to help others in advance of the crisis to ensure there are more people ready to survive (and help you) and less who succumb to the situation (and join the horde). What if being prepared was the preventative cure to becoming part of a Zombie (or citizen) horde? And, what if (unlike Will Smith’s character in I Am Legend), you had the opportunity to share the cure and help immunize everyone around you before an outbreak? So, don’t be a Zombie; be prepared. And, friends don’t let friends go unprepared either. Help prepare your friends, your family and your community. The life (and brain) you save may be your own. If you live in WNY, don’t forget to join us on Sat., Oct. 27th at EMPact America’s Zombie Preparedness & Spooktacular Family Safety Fair at 611 Jamison Rd. in Elma -- you can learn more and register online now at www.preparehub.org/ zombies or call (716) 435-7873 -- We hope to see you there with everyone you care about (and everyone who lives around them – just in case). Good luck! October 2012
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EMPower Magazine
Episode #112 - Guest: James Wesley Rawles One of our most popular guests on EMPact Radio, James Wesley Rawles returns for a new interview on EMPactRadio. org in the “On EMPact” podcast, hosted by Ross Howarth. Click here to listen to the interview on EMPact Radio.org. James Wesley Rawles knows that it would only take one unthinkable event to disrupt our way of life –- whether an EMP, terrorist attack, a global pandemic, or sharp currency devaluation–you and your family may be forced to fend for yourself in ways you’ve never imagined. Where would you get water? How would you communicate with relatives who live in other states? What would you use for fuel? Survivalist expert James Wesley Rawles, author of How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It: Tactics, Techniques, and Technologies for Uncertain Times, the novelsPatriots, Survivors, and the new novel Founders, is also editor of SurvivalBlog.com, returns to EMPact Radio share some insights about e essential tools and skills you might need to survive in a “grid-down” environment. You can listen to his previous appearances on EMPact Radio, including several 30-minute podcasts that are edited down from our longer interviews, by clicking here to choose an episode. September 25, 2012, is release day and “book bomb” day for James Wesley Ralwes’s latest book, Founders: A Novel of the Coming Collapse. Order it today as a hardback book or as an unabridged audio book, or as a Kindle e-book. A Nook Book version is also available. The novel’s Amazon rankings as of 6 AM were #83 overall and # 13 in Action & Adventure (Overall rank, of 4 million+ listed titles, as well as its rank among Action & Adventure titles.).
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EMPower Magazine
Taken Personal
Subcommittee Hearing: The EMP Threat: Examining the Consequences
by Thomas Woods
It’s been 3 years, since EMPact America’s historic EMP conference (Sept. 8-10, 2009), and more than 8 years since the EMP Commission’s Executive Summary was released in 2004. Can this Subcommittee hearing help move HR 668 (the SHIELD Act), which has been sitting in the Energy & Commerce (E&C), Subcommittee on Energy & Power (E&P) since HR 668 was introduced in Feb. 2011? Remember, the original hearing for its predecessor, HR 5026 (the GRID Act), started in this Homeland Security Subcommittee, after which HR 5026 was eventually handed off to the E&C subcommittee on E&P. It’s both interesting and embarrassing that HR 5026 was unanimously passed by the E&C subcommittee on E&P (and the full E&C committee) before being passed by the full House of Reps. last term (in 2010), yet the E&C subcommittee on E&C has done virtually NOTHING with HR 668 in over a year and a half. Let’s hope this hearing by the Homeland Security subcommittee wakes someone up over at E&C’s subcommittee on E&P! Who: Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies Where: 311 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 When: Sept. 12, 2012 10:00am
Speakers included: Rep. Dan Lungren, Chairman Hon. Trent Franks, A Representative in Congress from the 2nd District of Arizona. Mr. Joseph McClelland, Director, Office of Electric Reliability Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Mr. Brandon Wales, Director, Homeland Infrastructure Threat and Risk Analysis Center. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Witness from Department of Defense. Mr. Chris Beck, President, Electric Infrastructure Security Council.
For more information about the SHIELD Act, and to take action now, please visit www.SHIELDact.com (this site contains contact info for committee members),www. GUARDtheGRID.com, and the “Take Action” section of at www.EMPactAmerica.org.
October 2012
There’s a scene in the movie Taken (released in 2008 and starring Liam Neeson) where a villain tells the hero that his crimes were all business, nothing personal, and Neeson’s character answers “It was all personal to me.” I won’t spoil it for you and tell you what happens next, but I will tell you that clear and decisive action is Neeson’s character’s strong suit. Clear and decisive action is not our Congress’s strong suit. They get things done at their own pace, with a lot of talking, arguing, debating, and posturing, and also with a few deals being made behind the scenes. Eventually we end up with laws meant to protect us. Sometimes representatives vote for or against a bill in order to get help on their own issues from other members of Congress—it’s nothing personal, just business, the way these political games play out. On the other hand, we trust that when the evidence points to a clear and present danger to our national security, Congress addresses the threat immediately. We don’t want them to get caught up in the business of lawmaking at the expense of personal safety. There’s no debate that a solar flare can severely damage and disable our national electric grid, on which every modern technology supporting our lives and our ways of life depend. We don’t want to hear that a bill designed to protect the electric grid is stalled in Congress due to political business, we want them to work together, because this is personal for all of us. But H.R. 668 is stalled in committee because of the way Congress does its business, despite the clear evidence pointing to the inevitable threat to our national electric grid. We’re hearing from Republicans and Democrats that we need to protect the electric grid. And in case you didn’t realize this already, the bill is sponsored by a conservative Republican Congressman, a representative not given to creating regulations or burdening the private sector with additional responsibilities. Congressman Trent Franks (RAZ) is responsible for putting together a coalition of representatives from both parties in support of H.R. 668. He said “I’m the last one that wants to regulate October 2012
any industry, but I’m the first one who wants to protect national security.” That alone should indicate how important it is that Congress take clear and decisive action to protect the grid—immediately, because we don’t know when the next severe solar storm will hit the earth. Let’s consider the movie Taken again for a moment. At the start of the story, we learn that Liam Neeson’s character is a former government agent with the skills to protect people, but he has retired to spend more time with his daughter. When she is kidnapped, he doesn’t call the government to help him get her back. He worked for the government, so he would know what they’re capable of doing, and he decided to take matters into his own hands and go after her kidnappers alone. He is unstoppable, because it is personal. There’s a scene at the end of Taken where the hero is chasing after the kidnappers. If he loses them, there is little hope he’ll ever find his daughter again. It is one of the most intense chase scenes in any action movie I’ve ever seen, because there is a palpable tension, and the audience can’t help worrying whether this innocent young woman will be hurt or be rescued. That’s the level of tension our vulnerable electric grid imbues. Some critics of the regulations proposed by H.R. 668 have said that they’re not worried about the lights going out for a few days or weeks, but that is not the problem with a failed electric grid—it’s much worse. We’re not talking about a girl who gets lost in the mall, we’re talking kidnapped and in peril. The point of mentioning this is that the electric grid is vulnerable, and everything we depend on needs electricity. You and I can’t protect the grid on our own, but we can be prepared for that emergency. And we have to be, because there’s no way to just flip a switch and replace hundreds of damaged transformers after a major solar flare, so we’ll have no refrigeration, the blowers in our furnaces won’t spin and heat our homes, we won’t have access to the internet to look up home-made remedies for illnesses. Are you thinking about how serious it is to protect the electric grid yet?
Power Authority Join host Kathryn DeLong each Friday for a new episode of the “Power Authority” podcast. Coming up in October, Kathryn interviews name and etc. Available for download or online listening, the “Power Authority” podcast began in August and is available at www.EMPactRadio.org/power-authority
Balance of Power your preparedness plans. Visit www. EMPactRadio.org/_______ to listen online or download MP3 files for your iPod and other digital audio devices.
On Target The “On Target” podcast is recorded by EMPact’s president, David Bellavia, bringing us brief messages that challenge us to keep working hard on the important issues facing us today. Visit www.EMPactRadio.org/ on-target to listen online or download an MP3 for an iPod or other portable digital audio devices.
On EMPact The “On EMPact” podcast is recorded by EMPact’s Vice President, Ross Howarth, bringing us brief messages that challenge us to keep working hard on the important issues facing us today. Visit www.EMPactRadio.org/on-empact to listen online or download an MP3 for an iPod or other portable digital audio devices.
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EMPower Magazine
EMPower Magazine A survival kit built for hostile environments. Stick the Ultimate Kit in your backpack and hope your never have to use it. If you do, it has everything you need to survive in even the toughest spots. Includes: Gerber Miniature Multi-tools, Waterproof Bag Miniature Light Hand Saw Signaling Mirror, Survival Blanket, Fire Starter Waterproof Matches, Cotton Ball - Fire Tinder, Snare Wire Emergency Cord Waxed Thread Fishing Kit Sewing Kit Lanyard Whistle Lightweight, Ripstop Nylon Bag with Waterproof Zipper Land to Air Rescue Instructions Priorities of Survival - Pocket Guide Contains Bear’s Survival Essential # O1-31000701-H
The Sport Berkey® Portable Water Purifier is the ideal personal protection travelling companion - featuring the IONIC ABSORPTION MICRO FILTRATION SYSTEM. The theory behind this innovation is simple. The bottle’s filter is designed to remove and/or dramatically reduce a vast array of health- threatening contaminants from questionable sources of water, including remote lakes and streams, stagnant ponds and water supplies in foreign countries where regulations may be sub-standard at best. #C7-SPRT-H
#N2-SIF-10-D
The versatile Royal Berkey® system is the ideal system for use at home with large families, travel, outdoor activities or during unexpected emergencies.This powerful system purifies both treated water and untreated raw water from such sources as remote lakes, streams, stagnant ponds and water supplies in foreign countries, where regulations may be substandard at best. Perfect for outdoor activities and a must in hostile environments where electricity, water pressure or treated water may not be available. # C3-RB4X2BB-D
Mainstay 3600 Calroire - Key Benefits aa5 year Shelf Life aaNon-Thirst Provoking aaWithstands Temperatures of -40° F to 300°F (-40°C to 149°C) aaReady to Eat: Each package contains 9 pre-measured 400 calorie meals. aaIndividualized Portions eliminate the messy breaking-up that occurs with other bars aaAllows for on-land emergency consumption in a high-stress active situation. aaContains no cholesterol or tropical oils. aaEnriched with vitamins and minerals exceeding the RDA requirements. aaPleasant lemon flavor which appeals to everyone
aa Material: polyester36 inch x 84 inch aa Reflects 90 percent of body heat aa Great to have where ever you go # X204-1034-H
The 20″X30″ bag is perfect for your laptop (all sizes), gaming systems, radios and extra accessories. This Faraday bag features an outstanding 38-pound puncture resistance.
Gerber Survival Ultimate Cutting Knife - 4.80 Blade - Rubberized, Stainless Steel Introducing the Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Series of gear. This collaboration brings together Gerber’s over 70 years of knife and gear expertise with Bear Grylls’ extensive outdoor survival and adventure experience to create a one-of-a-kind line of knives, tools and gear. Bear knows what it takes to be a survivor in extreme situations, and each item in the Survival Series is meticulously designed by Gerber and Bear to offer a multitude of uses in any environment. #O2-31000751-H
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The 8″X16″ bag is perfect for remotes, walkie-talkies, flashlights and video cameras. This Faraday bag features an outstanding 38-pound puncture resistance. The multiple layer construction provides full protection against ESD, EMI/RFI and tribocharging. # M2--H
The multiple layer construction provides full protection against ESD, EMI/RFI and tribocharging. Check out our website for more info on this product, # M4-H
Questioning your gear at a crucial moment is not an option. Whether setting up camp or securing your perimeter, the Original Zombie knives are designed to perform under the most rigorous, unexpected and apocalyptic situations. Featured Price $49
Black Matte Finished Zippo Lighter • Lifetime guaranteed • Made in the USA # X114-4841-H
$29.49
checkout our website for more specs and info, item # G11-5704-H October 2012
October 2012
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EMPower Magazine
EMPower Magazine
Schedule of Events
11:00 AM aYou a can live 3 minutes without air - Should normally be ok in an EMP, but consider smoke and toxin hazards (fires) and potential for nuke plant radiation?
What are your supplies and solutions?
aYou a can live 3 hours without shelter - Can your existing shelter function without outside electric/gas/ water? - What about heat (do you have a wood burning stove or fireplace)? - What about security (Are you in a populated area or might it be)? aYou a can live 3 days without water - How much drinking water do you have available stored (right now)? - Where can you get more water, if the grid is down? (sources) - Do you have the capability to make collected water safe to drink? (what are some purification methods aYou a can live 3 weeks without food Food (pre-planned/stored, hunting, fishing, gardening - cooking)
aYou a can live 3 minutes without air - masks & filters - NBC - (also radiation pills)
Welcome & Announcements
Main Podium & Demonstration Area Awards to Elma & West Seneca CERT Teams
Exhibits Open
Vendors are located inside and in the parking lots outside
Zombie Ed Book Signing
Local Author Ed Kend to autograph and sell his youth books
Vendor Area until 1pm
aYou a can live 3 hours without shelter - Back-up power (protected / off-grid / solar / wind / wood) - faraday protection - Security (Stay or Go? If stay, what security/OPSEC? If you decide to go, where?)
11:30 AM Mercy Flight Helicopter Landing Main outdoor exhibit area
Chiavetta Chicken BB! opens Main Dining Area
aYou a can live 3 days without water - What’s around you / in your house (water heater, toilet reserve tank / pipes/ tub / pool) - Sources: Rain water, plants, springs, streams etc (if water is treated & not too contaminated) - Purification methods: Water purifiers (Berkey/ Katadyn etc.), boiling, chemical treating (pure pool shock – not for long and only if you know how and have the right stuff)
Proceeds benefit Boys & Girls Club of EMW, Elma and West Seneca CERT groups
Noon Self Defense Demonstrations Main Podium & Demonstration Area
Red Dragon School of Marial Arts demonstrating personal safety awareness and general self defense
12:30 PM EMPact America Preparedness Trivia Game
Prizes Awarded - Group collaboration is permitted. Use of smartphones and Internet are prohibited
Main Dining Area
1:00 PM
aYou a can live 3 weeks without food - Food (pre-planned/stored (what) - sustainable: hunting(?), fishing, gardening (skills, tools, hybrid/ heirloom seeds) - wood/solar cooking)
Self Defense Demonstrations Main Podium & Demonstration Area
Red Dragon School of Marial Arts demonstrating personal safety awareness and general self defense
EMPAct America Preparedness Demonstration Main Podium & Demonstration Area
BIG NEWS! FERC DRAFT ORDER ON PROTECTION FROM NATURAL EMP
2:00 PM
On 10/18, FERC Commissioners voted to issue a draft FERC Order for GMD (geomagnetic disturbance) protection.
Self Defense Demonstrations Main Podium & Demonstration Area
The draft order specifies two stages: 1.
Electric utilities to develop operational procedures to protect against GMD.
2:30 PM
2.
Electric utilities to plan to prevent grid collapse and equipment damage from GMD; this plan cannot be limited to operational procedures
Costume Judging Chines Auction winners announce 50 / 50 raffle drawn
There is a comment period on the draft order. Commissioners spoke favorably about the need for a GMD reliability order, but also on the need to balance costs of protection.
Red Dragon School of Marial Arts demonstrating personal safety awareness and general self defense
Auction and raffle proceeds are going to Elma & West Seneca CERT Teams and Boys and Girls Clubs of EMW
Main Podium & Demonstration Area
Watch the hearing at: http://www.capitolconnection.net/capcon/ferc/ferc.htm - 18 -
Will be visable from inside as well. It is requested that a 100 ft radius be kept clear while helicopter is landing
3:00 PM October 2012
Final Announcements - End of Event
October 2012
Main Podium & Demonstration Area
You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.
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EMPower Magazine
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EMPower Magazine
October 2012
October 2012
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