Monthly Archives: September 2017

Off-the-Grid Phone Chargers, Reviewed


Top off-the-grid phone chargers so you can stay connected when you unplug.

Most of us occasionally want to unplug from the hustle and bustle and head to the great outdoors for exciting adventures or some well-deserved relaxation, but that doesn’t mean we want to leave our phones behind. Smartphones offer many useful features for wandering off the grid, including GPS, maps, survival apps, and of course the ability to make emergency calls – not to mention access to our favorite games, books, blogs, and social media sites. The only problem? Keeping your phone charged when you’re off the grid.

No outlet? No problem! Here are some off-the-grid phone chargers so you can stay connected when you unplug.

Types of off-the-grid phone chargers

Before you can buy the best off-the-grid phone chargers, it’s important to understand the differences between each type. Several different kinds of outlet-free phone chargers are available, including:
Solar phone chargers
Hand-crank phone chargers
Camping/thermoelectric phone chargers
Water-powered phone chargers
Wind-powered phone chargers
Kinetic phone chargers
Bicycle phone chargers

Each type of charger has its own pros and cons, listed in the table below:

 

Phone charger type Pros Cons
Solar ·
Portable
·
Some have batteries so they continue to work
in overcast conditions
·
No manual power required
·
Free, easily-accessible energy source (the
sun)
·
Not always efficient
·
If no battery, will not work in overcast
conditions
·
Some have lengthy charge times
Hand-crank ·
Portable
·
Works anywhere
·
Some have batteries that are charged by the
hand-crank, so you can charge the battery and then use your phone
·
Requires manual power
·
Conversion process is inefficient; best-used
for emergency calls
·
If no battery, must crank while you use your
phone
Camping/thermoelectric ·
Works anywhere – set it and forget it
·
Not affected by conditions
·
Excellent for camping
·
Portable between campsites, but not on-the-go
(for example, hiking)
·
Requires water or wood and a heat source, such
as a camping stove
Water-powered ·
“Pods” are filled with water to activate
battery cells and generate power
·
Easy phone charging when you have access to
water
·
Portable
·
Must purchase individual pods and have access
to expendable water
·
Pods could get expensive and charger could cut
into your drinking water supply
Wind-powered ·
Unlimited free charging where wind is
available
·
Requires steady supply of ample wind force
·
Must position charger to catch the wind
Kinetic ·
Portable
·
Unlimited supply of power
·
Requires manual power to operate
·
Inefficient, lengthy charge times – best used
for emergency calls
Bicycle ·
Portable
·
Charges while you ride
·
Duplicates manual power (requires no
additional power beyond pedaling your bicycle)
·
Requires a bicycle and typically a special
adapter
·
Will not charge when you’re not riding your
bike

 

 

 

Best off-the-grid phone chargers

Once you determine which type of off-the-grid charger will work best when you bug out, it’s time to decide which model to buy. The following looks at models in each category.

Ayyie, Solar Charger, Solar Power Bank 10000mAh External Backup Battery Pack

image
There are many contenders for the best solar phone chargers, each exhibiting its own unique benefits, but this one has the perfect blend of features for most off-the-grid trips. Unlike large (and expensive) solar panels, this is about the size of a smartphone so it’s ultra-portable.

The diminutive size doesn’t mean it’s not powerful; once fully-charged, the inboard battery has enough juice to recharge an iPhone many times. Moreover, the device features two USB ports so you can charge two devices at once. Because they’re USB ports, it is compatible with just about any popular device, including the Galaxy, iPhone, and even iPads and Kindles.

The only drawback is that it’s limited by its size: because it’s so small, it can take a long time to charge. That means you need to charge it completely before you leave the grid, then leave it in the sun all day and save charging your phone for overnight if you want the power to last. That’s easily within the realm of possibility for most contemporary campers.

Finally, it comes at a friendly price-point, having about a $30 price on Amazon.

SunJack 14W

image
If not for the $140 price tag, the SunJack might be top of list. The four-panel charger folds to roughly the size of an iPad and fully charges within five hours – faster than any other solar charger listed here. Even better, the SunJack charges an iPhone as quickly as a wall outlet (about 75 minutes from 35% charge, according to Offgrid Survival).

The SunJack features a removable backup battery, and you can charge your devices directly from the SunJack while it charges or use the charged battery as a stand-alone device. If you buy a second SunJack battery, you can always have one on the charger and one in-hand.

SunJack also has a 20-watt model.

 

Zebora Powerful Portable Solar Charger – Equipped with 4 Foldable Solar Panels & 10,000 mAh Dual USB Ports Power Bank for Mobile Devices, Pads and Other USB-charged Devices at $47.

imageimage 


Cobra Electronics CPP 300 SP

image
The $18 Cobra CPP 300 SP doesn’t require direct sunlight (which can actually cause the batteries to swell), only daylight, and takes up to 28 hours to charge – a full 22 hours faster than the Apollo 2. That’s because the 300SP folds out into two solar panels, which nearly cut charge times in half.

The 300SP can deliver three to four iPhone charges on a single charge from its 2.1 Amp rapid-charge lithium battery. It’s small and lightweight, making it ultra-portable, and features three USB charging ports for simultaneous multi-device charging. An onboard illuminated LCD screen eliminates battery level guesswork.

It also has the CPP 100 SP model for around $47 an has 3.7V/6,000mAh Lithium Polymer Battery Pack.

image

Voltaic Systems 4.0W

image image
At $89, the Voltaic Systems 4.0W might be one the best deals. That’s because its dual monocrystalline waterproof solar panels are capable of charging the average smartphone after just 3.5 hours of indirect sunlight – and a single hour of solar panel charging will generate enough juice to power a smartphone for three hours.

The Voltaic Systems 4.0W is unique in that it features a removable battery you can keep in your pocket for portable charging. If you get a second battery, you can always have one battery charging at your campsite and another in your pocket during hikes and other adventures.

Best hand-crank phone charger

American Red Cross FRX2 Hand Turbine ARCFRX2WXR

image
There’s not much to be said about hand-crank phone charges, other than the fact that they require a lot of manual cranking to get a decent charge. That’s why they’re best-used for emergency situations only; all the more fitting for the American Red Cross to partner with Eton to produce an off-the-grid charger that not only charges your phone, but also doubles as an AM/FM/NOAA weather band radio. Add in the secondary solar charging panel – though small and slow-charging – and you can’t ask for much more at this model’s $39 price point.

K-Tor 120 Volt 10W

image
For a no-frills, charge-only experience, check out the K-Tor 120 Volt 10-watt hand-crank phone charger. It’s unique in that it uses an AC plug to charge your devices for universal compatibility; plus, it’s capable of charging at the same rate as a standard wall outlet (though it would take hours of cranking to achieve a full charge). It’s a great emergency device, but at $50 it’s simply not as good a deal as the Eton American Red Cross model.

 

Nice combo unit for Solar and hand crank power

 

Eton FRX5 – All Purpose Weather Alert Radio with Bluetooth

The FRX5 BT is solar-powered, splashproof², smartphone and tablet charging, Bluetooth streaming and with S.A.M.E. technology. With the rechargeable lithium battery, super duper solar panel and hand crank power generator, it is an essential for everyday use at home, at work, or in the great outdoors. You now are essentially getting two products in one – a rugged weather radio with alerts and a speaker system where you can stream anything at anytime and anywhere for just $86.

image image

    • AM/FM/NOAA weather bands
    • S.A.M.E. and NOAA weather alerts
    • Bluetooth ready
    • 2000 mAh rechargeable lithium battery
    • Digital tuner and display
    • 5v—2.1A USB output
    • High efficiency solar panel charging
    • Hand crank power
    • Rugged¹ and IPX4 splashproof²
    • Bright LED flashlight, red emergency beacon
    • Ambient light with dimmer
    • Drop-proof from a height of 3.3 ft. (1m). Drop protection varies depending on drop conditions.
    • Water resistant to IEC 60529IPX4. It is not waterproof and should not be immersed in water.
    • Dimensions 5.8 x 7.1 x 2.3” (W x H x D) 14.8 x 18.1 x 5.8 cm (W x H x D) Weight: 1 lb 6 oz (0.62 kg)

American Red Cross FRX3 

The FRX3 which is a multi-powered, multi-function, smartphone charging, weather alert radio which will give access to news and information in an emergency. at $59 it is small and easy to transport.

image image

  • Receives AM/FM (digital radio)
  • Receives all 7 NOAA/Environment Canada Weather bands
  • ALERT function broadcasts in emergency weather alerts
  • Hand turbine and solar power charging in emergencies
  • USB smartphone charge
  • Long-lasting LED flashlight
  • One red LED flashing beacon

5.8 x 6.9 x 2.6” (W x H x D) 14.7 x 17.5 x 6.6 cm (W x H x D) Weight: 0.93 lbs (0.42 kg)

 

Best camping/thermoelectric phone charger

BioLite Wood Burning Camp Stove

image
Toss a few twigs in the chamber, and the BioLite Wood Burning Camp Stove lets you charge your smartphone while you boil water and cook meals. Charge time is dependent on the strength of your fire, but generally speaking you can get an hour of smartphone use per 20 minutes of charging.

The main drawbacks to the BioLite Wood Burning Camp Stove are that you have to continually feed fuel (wood) into the stove and it’s not really portable, save for transport between campsites. However, quick, easy charging makes the BioLite Wood Burning Camp Stove a good alternative to solar chargers – no sun required. The $125 price tag might be a bit much for a charger, but when you add in the cooking features this dual-purpose device is a good deal.

I have even seen this at local Lowe’s store for as little as $104.

 

Power Pot 5

image
Like the BioLite Wood Burning Camp Stove, the Power Pot 5 converts heat into electricity so you can power your devices. Unlike the BioLite model, you’ll need to provide the heat source to make the Power Pot 5 work. You also need to fill the pot with water (or soup or other liquid) during operation.

Though the manufacturer claims you can get 90 minutes of talk time per 20-minute charge, customer reviews indicate actual performance depends on the output (some struggled to achieve five watts) and the size of your phone battery. As one reviewer put it, if you have a 2,000mAH battery it would take two hours to fully charge your phone, refilling the pot with water every ten minutes. The Power Pot 5 is a great idea and doesn’t limit you to a single heat source, but at its $82 price you might be better off with the BioLite Wood Burning Camp Stove.

Best kinetic phone charger

Kinetic energy represents the next frontier in off-the-grid phone charging, but results to-date haven’t lived up to the hype. Several companies have gone out of business or received poor reviews (such as the nPower PEG). However, there is hope on the horizon.

For starters, you get AMPY, a $50 motion charger funded via a Kickstarter campaign. AMPY is said to convert the kinetic energy from a half-hour run into three hours of talk time.

image

If AMPY is successful, you can expect similar products to be released soon after. Some products are borderline wacky, including foot pump and yo-yo chargers. Scientists have even developed a battery that can be charged by your heartbeat.
These are all cool ideas, but until kinetic chargers have proven themselves you’re probably better off choosing a tested option when you’re going off-grid.

Best water, wind, and bicycle phone chargers

Similar to kinetic chargers, these types of off-the-grid phone chargers aren’t as tested others. Still, there are some notable options you can consider for your next great escape, including:

myFC Power Trekk – put pods (called “pukks”) in the device and add water to charge your phones; with lukewarm reviews, it’s probably not worth the hassle at $130. Keep an eye out for myFC’s upcoming saltwater card charger, which is about the size of a smartphone and uses saltwater cards to instantly supply hydrogen power (no pre-charging required), but still have to keep replacing cards.

Vindur – Portable Wind Turbine– for $400, sun is more reliable than wind in most cases

K-tor Power Box 20 Watt Pedal Generator –For $200 can use hands or feet to pedal charge items.

Siva Cycle Atom– charges your devices while you ride your bike for $99. Also check out the BikeCharge Dynamo ($110)

Which off-the-grid phone charger should you buy?

There are a lot of cool concepts out there, but if you’re going off the grid your best bet is to choose proven, reliable technology – technology your life just might depend on. In addition, it’s a good idea to have a second option in case your first charger fails. Our recommendation is to choose one of the solar-powered models featured here, backed up by a hand-crank model.

Ultimately, of course, you need to make the best decision for your environment. If you’re venturing through an Alaskan winter, a solar charger won’t do you much good. If you plan to spend a month in the outback, you’ll probably need a larger, more expensive charger than the models mentioned here. For most weekenders, however, keeping an emergency charge on-hand can be accomplished with a solar charger and a backup hand-crank charger.

 

 

You could also choose to load up emergency supplies and have them and you ready and use the SolarGoPack solar powered backpack. at $250.

image imageimage 

 

Or if you want to go much bigger and money is no option, could always look at the Solar Powered Generator – 3.240 Kilowatt Max Output – 19ft Trailer – 24 Panels – NEMA 4X Enclosure at only $111,538.00.

image

or the SOLAR MAX POWER TRAILER 8000– (SMALL HOUSE ON WHEELS) for only $29,885.00.

image

another option the Quantum Harvest Model 6000 Portable Solar Power System for $14,995.00.

 

So many options you should be able to find or even build something yourself.

Portable Solar Wind Power Generator

image

14 Brilliant DIY Wind Turbine Design Ideas For Living Off the Grid

How to Build a Solar Energy Generator for Emergency Backup Power

 

Don’t forget to check these posts out:

Family Disaster Planning

How to communicate when the world goes silent

50 Last Minute Ways to Prepare for an Emergency

Emergency Preparedness for Everybody

Reliable Ham Radio Post-Disaster Security Communications

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

WEEKLY THREAT ROUNDUP 9-24-17

From AlertsUSA

 Ivy Mike (yield 10.4 mt) - an atmospheric nuclear test conducted by the U.S. at Enewetak Atoll on 1 November 1952. It was the world's first successful hydrogen bomb. - ALLOW IMAGES

 

North Korea Threatens H-Bomb Test in the Pacific

 

September 23, 2017

  

Between Sept 20-23, the following related Flash SMS messages were sent to AlertsUSA subscriber mobile devices:

 

9/23 – N. Korean radio & TV broadcast gov statement declaring the US “should be totally destroyed and wiped off the surface of our planet.” Monitoring…

9/23 – Overnight: AlertsUSA monitoring series of low mag seismic events near DPRK nuclear test site. Thus far, gov agencies concur all are likely natural events.

9/21 – DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho says country may conduct hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific in response to POTUS threat of destruction. See email for more info.

9/21 – Full text of Kim Jung Un’s earlier statement has been sent via email.

9/20 – Be advised that FEMA & the FCC will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wed, Sept 27, 2017 at 2:20 pm EDT. http://bit.ly/2fbocO1

 

What You Need To Know

 

On 10 occasions this week AlertsUSA subscribers were notified via SMS messages to their mobile devices regarding safety and security matters. Most pressing for this report, on Thursday evening, AlertsUSA subscribers were some of the first in the nation to learn of a threat made by N. Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho stating that the country may conduct a hydrogen bomb test in the Pacific Ocean in response to threats made by President Trump regarding N. Korea’s continuous stream of provocative and highly dangerous actions.In the last three weeks alone these actions include numerous threats as a result of UN sanctions, an underground nuclear test on September 3rd, as well as two long-range missiles fired over Japan which ultimately impacted in the Pacific Ocean.

Earlier Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jung-Un issued a rare statement in his own name, lashing out at President Trump just hours after broad new sanctions were put in place in a bid to derail the North’s nuclear and missile programs. In response to President Trump’s speech before the U.N. General Assembly, Kim Jung-un stated that the country would respond with the “highest level of hard-line countermeasures in history.

Readers should not dismiss the seriousness of the increasingly tense situation on the Korean Peninsula. The dangers posed by N. Korea’s missile launches alone (all unannounced) has resulted in numerous airlines, including Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines and Swiss Air, to change their flight routes to avoid crossing directly over the Sea of Japan amid growing concerns of an accidental strike. This concern is very real. After North Korea’s second long-range missile test in July, it was revealed that Air France flight 293 from Tokyo to Paris had flown across the rocket’s flight path just 10 minutes beforehand.

If the same reckless behavior is shown with an atmospheric detonation over the Pacific without appropriate international notification and planning, the effects could be disastrous, potentially knocking out the sensitive, unshielded electronics of aircraft over a broad area, not to mention that of maritime traffic and potentially even satellites in low-Earth orbit.

According to the Comprehensive (Nuclear) Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), of more than 2,000 test detonations that have been conducted since the advent of nuclear weapons, more than 100 were carried out in remote locations in the Pacific by the U.S., the United Kingdom and France. In the Marshall Islands and French Polynesia, the local population suffered from higher rates of cancer, birth defects and thyroid disorders, and a host of environmental impacts remain to this day.

According to a report by the Lowy Institute, N. Korean nuclear tests have demonstrated a track record of steadily increasing yields. With the September underground detonation of a thermonuclear weapon, the continued testing of such weapons on land is highly impractical given their small size, lack of large, unpopulated areas and geographic proximity to other nations. So future testing in international waters is the only practical option remaining if they intend to further refine the capabilities of these weapons.

Once again AlertsUSA warns that when the cloudy historical and political narrative is removed, the world is now faced with the following realities:

Given these realities, restraint and the quest for diplomatic solutions virtually assures continued proliferation into the hands of rogue nations and those private individuals and groups with deep enough pockets.

AlertsUSA continues to monitor the overall domestic and international threat environment, and will immediately notify service subscribers via SMS messages of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens as events warrant.

 


 

AlertsUSA.com

OTHER SMS ALERTS FROM THIS WEEK
NOT DETAILED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ISSUE

9/20 – Total electrical blackout reported in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Maria. AlertsUSA monitoring..

9/19 – Plumes of smoke and dust seen across Mexico City. Significant structural damage reported.

9/19 – M7.1 earthquake rocks Mexico City area. Epicenter located east of the city in the state of Puebla. AlertsUSA monitoring for damage reports.

9/18 – POTUS has signed an Emergency Declaration for Puerto Rico in adv of CAT 5 Hurricane Maria. SE U.S. residents / Carib travelers should be paying attention.

9/18 – AlertsUSA monitoring shelter in place order for ZIP codes 21060, 21225 and 21226 ZIP codes in S. Baltimore due to gaseous acid leak from nearby plant.

9/17 – AlertsUSA monitoring reports of acid attack on two Americans outside of Marseille, France train station. Both victims hospitalized, 41 YO suspect in custody.

9/16 – New protests in St. Louis. Current largest is Delmar Loop / Wash Univ area. 11 LEOs injured last night. Use caution if in the area. Supplementals via email

AlertsUSA Service for Mobile Devices - ALLOW IMAGES

* Threat Info Direct to Your Mobile Device
* Get Away Early, Give Your Family Extra Safety.
* In Wide Use By Gov, 1st Responders, Travelers.
* 24/7/365 Monitoring. No Hype. Just the Bad Stuff.
* Issued Hours and Days before the MSM.
* On your Cell Phone, Tablet or Email.
* We Give The Clear Truth, Unlike the MSM.
* 15 Years in Operation!

We are NOT part of the government.
In fact, they are our customers!

 

 


 

A sailor assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5 rappels from an MH-60 Seahawk, belonging to the “Island Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 (HSC-25), at Naval Base Guam, August 22, 2017. EODMU 5 conducts mine countermeasures, improvised explosive device operations, renders safe explosive hazards and disarms underwater explosives such as mines. (U.S. Navy Combat Camera photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Benjamin A. Lewis). - ALLOW IMAGES

World News Roundup

 

September 23, 2017

 

Other Developments We Are Following

 

AMERICAS

Wounded but still deadly: Al-Qaeda ‘posing threat’ to Washington
Cuban official: Still no clue on US diplomat health mystery
Entire towns in Mexico flattened as scale of EQ damage emerges
Dam failing as scope of Puerto Rico’s disaster becomes clear
DoD Discloses Meeting With Russian Military To Prevent Accidental lashes
Erdogan protesters beaten and ejected from New York speech
Navy $5 Billion Deal Builds New Nuclear-Armed Columbia-Class Sub
Air Force scrambles to train more pilots for new aircraft
Robotic delivery: Drones could deliver you and your gear to the fight

EUROPE

Kremlin: Russia never placed political ads on Facebook
Russia’s Lavrov says US, N.Korea in ‘kindergarden fight’
Lavrov says US has no proof of Russian vote meddling
Straws in the wind for a reset in US-Russian relations
How Sweden is Balancing its Security in the Baltics
Boats of Spanish military blocked by Catalan ports as unrest grows
Catalonia independence bid – what you need to know
Germany expels second Vietnamese diplomat over abduction

MIDDLE EAST

Iraq PM: Half of IS families detained near Mosul are Turkish
Israeli strikes hit weapons depot by Damascus airport
UN to help Iraq build war crimes cases against IS extremists
Turkey, Iran promise sanctions over Iraqi Kurdish independence move
Saudi Arabia to test Tehran’s influence in Iraq
Gulf Crisis Still Smolders As Washington Searches for Options
Iran’s Hassan Rouhani vows to boost missile defenses despite US criticism

ASIA

Here’s A List Of North Korea’s Most Memorable Insults
Countries To Stay Away From Olympics In S. Korea Over Security
Does DPRK H-bomb threat push US closer to war?
Analysis: Kim Jong Un, taking on Trump, makes it personal
Analyst: North Korea earned revenue from bitcoin mining
Pakistan tells UN won’t be ‘scapegoat’ in Afghan war
India calls Pakistan ‘Terroristan’ in UN speech row
Chinese coast guard sails near Japan’s Senkaku Islands
No way back for Myanmar’s Rohingya refugees

Bali volcano: Thousands evacuated, travel advisory issued

 


 

 

Travel Security Update

 

The U.S. Dept. of State is the authoritative federal source for information on the security situation at travel destinations worldwide. With tensions rapidly increasing in most regions, readers planning on international travel, even to such common destinations as Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands, are strongly encouraged to do a little research on the security situation prior to departure.

Latest USGOV Travel Alerts and Warnings

Cuba
09/13/2017

Kenya
09/13/2017

Haiti
09/12/2017

Ethiopia
08/25/2017

Bangladesh
08/24/2017

Mexico
08/22/2017

Iran
08/15/2017

N. Korea
08/10/2017

Somalia
08/03/2017

Hurricane Season
06/05/2017

Europe
08/31/2017

Worldwide Caution

09/14/2017

Additional Sources of Travel Guidance

Canada Dept. of Foreign Affairs

Australia Dept. of Foreign Affairs

UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office

 


 

Threat Journal Subscription Button - ALLOW IMAGES

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: threatjournal

WEEKLY THREAT ROUNDUP 9-17-17

From AlertsUSA

 

UK Threat Level Increased to Critical
Islamic State Threatens More Attacks

 

September 16, 2017

  

Between Sept 10-15, the following related Flash messages were sent to AlertsUSA subscriber mobile devices:

9/15 – Islamic State issues add’l statement, indicating cell of 3 involved in London attack & “what is coming is more devastating and bitter”. AlertsUSA monitoring…

9/15 – UK terror threat level raised from SEVERE to CRITICAL, indicating another attack “expected imminently.” Soldiers likely to be deployed in major metro areas.

9/15 – Islamic State’s Amaq News Agency formally claims responsibility for London Subway attack.

9/15 – London subway bomber remains at large. Signif concern of add’l attacks on pub transport or crowded location. US Embassy urges vigilance and security awareness.

9/15 – Scotland Yard calling device a “partially detonated IED.” Manhunt underway. Heavy security throughout London metro system.

9/15 – AlertsUSA monitoring ongoing response to subway explosion in southwat London at Parsons Green station. At least 18 hospitalized.

9/14 – New Worldwide Caution warns of cont threat of terrorism, political violence, & criminal activity against US citizens & interests abroad. http://bit.ly/2xo2wZn

9/13 – al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) Chief Bombmaker, Ibrahim al-Asiri, issues 9/11 anniv. message vowing to continue targeting America for attacks.

9/12 – US Embassy Moscow urging incr vigilance and awareness flwg widespread bomb threats across Russia, incl schools, cinemas, malls, gov bldgs, and transport hubs.

9/10 – Al Qaeda announces the forthcoming release of a “message” on the anniversary of the 9/11/2001 attacks. AlertsUSA monitoring…

What You Need To Know

The UK’s terrorism threat level has been raised to CRITICAL, the highest of 5 levels indicating a terror attack is “expected imminently,” after London was hit by a new attack targeting commuters headed to work during the Friday morning rush hour.

In this incident, an improvised explosive device (IED) carried in a plastic bucket and outfitted with a crude timer and initiator constructed of small christmas lights partially detonated within a packed commuter rail car at the Parsons Green underground station in West London. 29 were injured in the attack, with many suffering severe burns and broken bones resulting from the crush of panicked commuters fleeing the station. Had the device detonated correctly, forensics investigators believe few of the passengers in the packed train car would have survived as the bomb was packed with nails and the easy-to-make and deadly explosive TATP (triacetone triperoxide) which is used by jihadists everywhere from Europe to the battlefields of Syria and Iraq.

As of the time of this report’s preparation late Friday, the individuals responsible for the attack remained at large. The Islamic State has formally claimed responsibility for the attack through an official announcement made via their Amaq News Agency. That statement was released in multiple languages on various social media platforms. Within the English version, the announcement states that “what is coming is more devastating and bitter.”

Islamic State claim of responsibility for Parsons Green attack - ALLOW IMAGES

Readers are reminded that exactly four weeks ago, AlertsUSA subscribers were informed of the release of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s 17th issue of the online news and fieldcraft magazine known as ‘Inspire’, in which a majority of the publication was devoted to attacking different means of commercial and civilian transportation in the U.S. and Europe, and in particular, trains.

While it is the Islamic State which has claimed responsibility for the attack, there are two interesting data points to keep in mind. The first, are new reports that Hamza Bin Laden, a son of Osama Bin Laden, has been hard at work attempting to unify the efforts of the Islamic State and al Qaeda. The second data point was a 9/11 anniversary messages issued by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s master bomb maker, Ibrahim al-Asiri, within which he vows to continue targeting America for attacks.

Asiri is direcly credited with multiple previous attempted attacks on commercial aircraft, including the failed Christmas 2009 attempt to bring down an airliner near Detroit by underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, as well as the October 2010 attempt to bring down cargo aircraft using bombs built into printer toner cartridges. While Asiri is most well known by the public in the West for his bomb failures, he is in fact responsible for a host of highly successful attacks using innovative explosive device designs across the Middle East which have claimed hundreds of lives, including his own brother. In this incident, he somehow managed to talk his brother into packing his rectum with explosive material in an attempt to kill a Saudi government official.

 


 

AlertsUSA.com

OTHER ALERTS FROM THIS WEEK
NOT DETAILED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ISSUE

9/15 – Protests growing violent in downtown St. Louis. Streets being blocked by demonstrators. Avoid the area. Live feed: http://www.kmov.com

9/15 – AlertsUSA monitoring growing protests in downtown St. Louis flwg acquittal of white frmr police officer in shooting death of black man. Caution if in the area.

9/13 – AlertsUSA is now back up and following the mass shooting incident at Freeman High School in Rockford, WA. 5 shot, 1 dead, shooter in custody.

9/11 – Tropical Storm Irma Situation Update – Sept 11, 2017 sent via email.

9/10 – Hurricane Irma Situation Update – Sept 10, 2017 sent via email.

9/10 – Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal expands emergency declaration to include all 159 counties in the state due to Hurricane Irma. GA residents should tune to local news.

AlertsUSA Service for Mobile Devices - ALLOW IMAGES

* Threat Info Direct to Your Mobile Device
* Get Away Early, Give Your Family Extra Safety.
* In Wide Use By Gov, 1st Responders, Travelers.
* 24/7/365 Monitoring. No Hype. Just the Bad Stuff.
* Issued Hours and Days before the MSM.
* On your Cell Phone, Tablet or Email.
* We Give The Clear Truth, Unlike the MSM.
* Over a Decade in Operation!

We are NOT part of the government.
In fact, they are our customers!

 

 


 

N. Korean Hwasong-12 missile launch television graphic - ALLOW IMAGES

N. Korea Launches Missile Over Japan

 

September 16, 2017

 

Between Sept 10-14 , the following related Flash messages were
sent to
AlertsUSA subscriber mobile devices:

9/14 – Japanese gov indicates missile came down ~2000 km (1242 miles) E of Hokkaido. Gov say no missile intercept attempted. Regional mil forces on high alert.

9/14 – Japanese gov stating N. Korean missile has “likely” overflown Hokkaido Island and crashed in the Pacific. Approx half of Japan on alert.

9/14 – AlertsUSA monitoring new N. Korea missile launch fired eastward from Pyongyang. Add’l alerts as more info becomes available.

9/10 – DPRK Central News Agency: N. Korea threatens to inflict on the US “the greatest pain and suffering in its entire history” if it pursues more UN sanctions.

What You Need To Know

On Thursday evening AlertsUSA subscribers were notified via SMS messages to their mobile devices of a new North Korean missile headed eastward from Pyongyang (with an actual launch location of Sunan, just north of of the capital). Overflying Hokkaido Island, the intermediate-range Hwasong-12 missile ultimately fell into the Pacific Ocean 20 minutes after launch approximately ~2200 km (1367 miles) east of east of Cape Erimo. Residents of Northern Japan were advised to seek refuge, and local and bullet train services were immediately halted.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called the country’s missile tests over Japan “a meaningful prelude to containing Guam” and said his country should conduct more missile tests into the Pacific Ocean.

This most recent launch was the longest-ever such flight carried out by the rogue regime, and traveled 3,700km – 800km further than the previous launch over Japan just weeks ago.

President Trump, who has vowed not to let North Korea develop nuclear missiles that can hit the mainland United States, has previously warned on Tuesday that all options are on the table for the United States to respond.

As previously reported by AlertsUSA, when the cloudy historical and political narrative is removed, the world is now faced with the following realities:

Given these realities, restraint and the quest for diplomatic solutions virtually assures continued proliferation into the hands of rogue nations and those private individuals and groups with deep enough pockets.

AlertsUSA continues to monitor the overall domestic and international threat environment, and will immediately notify service subscribers via SMS messages of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens as events warrant.

 


 

An HH-60G Pave Hawk refuels from an HC-130P/N King. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark Borosch). - ALLOW IMAGES

 

World News Roundup

 

September 16, 2017

 

Other Developments We Are Following

AMERICAS

Mystery of sonic weapon attacks at US embassy in Cuba deepens
Five senators ask Tillerson to close Cuba embassy
Russia, China Playing Major Role in Keeping Venezuela Afloat
Expert: U.S. Should See China as ‘Number One’ Adversary
Air Force Lowers Promotion Standards to Address Officer Shortages
Trump to ‘slap’ foes, embrace friends in first U.N. speech
Arrest the American Islamic State Fighter
More Rules for Launching Nukes Won’t Make U.S. Safer
Lockheed lands contract for more-secure GPS military signals

EUROPE

Extend border controls to counter terror threat, say France and Germany
Russia launches much-hyped Zapad exercises in Belarus
Only one in four Navy brit navy ships can sail due to spending cuts
If Russia started World War III, here’s how it would go down
Catalonia to launch campaign for independence referendum
Soldiers on Europe’s streets dent NATO’s defense edge

MIDDLE EAST

Trump administration plans new sanctions against Iran
Could North Korea help Iran develop nuclear weapons?
Israel concludes massive drill for war in north
Watch As Screaming Arab League Members Accuse Each Other Of Terrorism
Iran produces propaganda video showing its forces destroying US Navy
Yemen rebels threaten to target UAE with missiles

ASIA

What are North Korea’s other WMDs?
Why China won’t help US against North Korea
Tillerson on N. Korea: Russia and China must take ‘direct action’ over launch
Philippine Defense Chief Hints That Duterte May Impose Martial Law
Japan refuels U.S. missile defense ships under new security laws
US General:l Size of most recent N. Korean test ‘equates to’ a hydrogen bomb

 


 

Travel Security Update

The U.S. Dept. of State is the authoritative federal source for information on the security situation at travel destinations worldwide. With tensions rapidly increasing in most regions, readers planning on international travel, even to such common destinations as Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands, are strongly encouraged to do a little research on the security situation prior to departure.

Latest USGOV Travel Alerts and Warnings

Cuba
09/13/2017

Kenya
09/13/2017

Haiti
09/12/2017

Ethiopia
08/25/2017

Bangladesh
08/24/2017

Mexico
08/22/2017

Iran
08/15/2017

N. Korea
08/10/2017

Somalia
08/03/2017

Hurricane Season
06/05/2017

Europe
08/31/2017

Worldwide Caution

09/14/2017

Additional Sources of Travel Guidance

Canada Dept. of Foreign Affairs

Australia Dept. of Foreign Affairs

UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office

 


 

Threat Journal Subscription Button - ALLOW IMAGES

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: threatjournal

How to communicate when the world goes silent

So how would you communicate with your family or get help if communications go down? If you found yourself in the middle of a wide-scale disaster such as a hurricane or other catastrophe and you had no government coming to help for a while, how would you communicate with your family or others? What if the power grid went down?

You won’t be able to rely on your cell phone. There are alternatives, however. This is a pretty long article that goes into some good detail, but if you want the short answer, this is what you need.

I’ll go over the basics of some emergency communication methods but if you want more detail, check out Personal Emergency Communications: Staying in Touch Post-Disaster: Technology, Gear and Planning.

Short-term emergencies have shown the limitations of using cell phones to coordinate with each other. Even if the towers are operational, they can’t handle the added traffic of millions of people trying to get a hold of loved ones – or help. Ever had trouble calling your mother on the morning of Mother’s Day?

During many recent events, cell phone service wasn’t an option for many for days. The system became seriously overloaded on 9/11 so calls wouldn’t go through, 70% of the towers went down during Katrina and were down for days, and most areas haven’t been adequately improved across the US.

These won’t be isolated events. Don’t think that because you live in a large metropolitan area that you’re safer. A quick look at some of the things that went on during Hurricane Sandy in NY will show that the government has a lot to deal with in addition to just trying to get your cell phone service back up so even though that was a pretty short-term event, it caused a lot of problems.

Here are just a few issues that would affect you being able to pull out your iPhone to call up people:

  • Cell phone communication has a lot of vulnerabilities that make it a poor solution for widespread or long-term emergencies.
  • Heavy winds or flooding can disrupt the cables between towers such as during Hurricane Sandy.
  • Cell towers require AC power to operate so if they don’t have an automatic backup system, they stop. Keep in mind that a lot of towers are just glorified antennas on the tops of buildings or mountains and backup power, such as an emergency generator, is a very short-term solution. Generators require fuel and that fuel has to be replenished quite often. In a lot of cases, the only backup power available is a bank of batteries that stop charging when the main power system stops.
  • Backhaul systems (essentially the system that connects and/or allows overflow from outer systems to the core, often including other carriers) aren’t always reliable. A lot of this system is wired but has been expanded to microwave and other systems.
  • Most cell phones will only stay charged for a day or three. If you don’t have local power to keep it up, when the system does come back up, you won’t be able to talk to it.
  • Cell phones require satellites, which are vulnerable to hackers, physical attack, or solar storms.

Now don’t get me wrong, for day-to-day emergencies, such as getting a flat tire, a cell phone usually works pretty well. It’s just a crappy solution for big emergencies. They’ll be pretty useless if the national grid goes down due to a cyber attack, EMP or CME, which is actually a lot more likely than you might think.

One cool idea that’s coming out is the goTenna cell phone radio antenna system. Your cell phone connects to it via Bluetooth and an app, and the signal is sent and received through an encrypted radio signal. How awesome is that? It won’t be able to reach to the other side of a city but you should be able to locate your family if they’re in the area and maybe even communicate with others if they have the system.

So if you can’t rely on cell phone service, what other options do you have?

CB radio for emergency comms

A lot of people grew up watching BJ and the Bear and they remember seeing all the truckers talking over the air with each other. CB radio is definitely more available during an emergency but they have a lot of limitations.

For one, not a lot of people are on CB. You might be able to find someone in a truck but even that’s harder to find. The problem isn’t just the lack of people who use it, it’s the lack of people in your range that use it.

One of the big reasons your range is very limited with CB vs other systems is that they’re limited to 5 watts input which is about 4 watt out. That may be just some vague notion but more power means more distance. At the frequencies that CB radios use, you can only expect to get between 1 and 10 miles or so, depending on the terrain. There could be a million people in the US with their CB’s all on the same channel at the same time, but if they’re not within range, you won’t be talking.

You might think that you could just hack into your ham radio and pump out more power, but the FCC goes after people who do that (just a few examples). Obviously if SHTF, you’re not gonna really care about that but remember that adding more power to transmit and receive farther doesn’t do anything to help you hear the other guy with a normal CB transmitter.

How good are satellite phones in an emergency?

For a lot of emergency situations, satellite phones are pretty good. The first problem with them though is cost. They’re mighty expensive. Not only do you have to shell out for the phone, you have to pay for service and minutes. If you’re stranded somewhere though, it may be worth the cost.

They don’t always work though. I had one with me at all times when I was in Uganda, and it came in hella handy at times. They don’t like jungles though due to the trees blocking the satellites and contrary to what every freaking movie shows, they don’t work indoors or inside a ship like they kept showing in World War Z (which was a decent movie but movie mistakes like that drive me crazy).

The real problem is that it’s highly unlikely you’d need it in a normal household so they’re ONLY good for emergencies and probably not worth the cost.

Another big problem is that just like cell phones, they rely on the satellites to function so if the satellites stop working, then so do the satellite phones. Obviously. Solar storms and CMEs have taken out satellites in the past. They will do it again.

GMRS/FRS/MURS radios

For local communication, GMRS, FRS and MURS radios are pretty good. They don’t require an FCC license for FRS and MURS, they’re cheap, and easy to use. They’ve pretty much replaced CB radios for a lot of families. As such, even though they’re an improvement, they have a lot of the same limitation on power and range.

If you have a true GMRS radio, you may be able to tap into a repeater, which will expand your range to possibly hundreds of miles, but the repeater obviously has to be running, and you have to be within range of the repeater for your radio to hit it. GMRS radios are also allowed to operate at higher power than a lot of other radios. You also need a license to use GMRS frequencies.

Basically, if you’re considering one of these radio systems for emergency use, go with a true GMRS radio and get the license.

Amateur radio (ham radio): the best emergency communication system

I have one of these – AWESOME radio!

So now that I’ve gone through several options that you could choose, but obviously from the title I don’t recommend, let’s look at ham radio.

Ham radio is the go-to communication system for pretty much every emergency response system and is what MARS (the Military Auxiliary Radio System) and ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) both use, as well as many search and rescue and other emergency groups.

One of the nice things is that a lot of ham radios can reach the national weather system (NOAA) frequencies. That means that if you have a radio, you can find out what’s going on in the area. If you have a radio scanner, you can listen to what’s going on with emergency frequencies as well as any other that the scanner can reach, and you don’t have to know which one they’re transmitting on. That’s why they call it a scanner. It goes in a loop up through whatever frequencies you tell it to and it stops if it hears someone transmitting.

Here is a list of emergency radio frequencies that you should keep in mind when both looking for radios and coming up with your emergency communications plan. Just to pacify all the know-it-alls who keep telling me this list is crap because you can’t transmit on them – keep in mind that they’re useful to monitor in emergencies even if you can’t send anything out, and I wanted to make as complete a list as I could for everyone:

34.90:      Used nationwide by the National Guard during emergencies.

39.46:      Used for inter-department emergency communications by local and state police forces.

47.42:      Used across the United States by the Red Cross for relief operations.

52.525:    Calling frequency used by ham radio operators in FM on their six-meter band.

121.50:     International aeronautical emergency frequency.

138.225: Disaster relief operations channel used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; it is active during earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and other catastrophic events.

146.52:    Used by ham radio operators for non-repeater communications on the two-meter band; it is very busy in many parts of the country.

151.625:  Used by “itinerant” businesses, or those that travel about the country. Circuses, exhibitions, trade shows, and sports teams are some of the users you can hear. Other widely used itinerant channels are 154.57 and 154.60.

154.28:   Used for inter-department emergency communications by local fire departments; 154.265 and 154.295 also used.

155.160: Used for inter-department emergency communications by local and state agencies during search and rescue operations.

155.475: Used for inter-department emergency communications by local and state police forces.

156.75:    Used internationally for broadcasts of maritime weather alerts.

156.80:   International maritime distress, calling, and safety channel. All ships must monitor this frequency while at sea. It is also heavily used on rivers, lakes, etc.

162.40:   NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

162.425: NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

162.45:   NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

162.475: NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

162.50:   NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

162.525: NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

162.55:    NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

163.275: NOAA weather broadcasts and bulletins.

163.4875: Used nationwide by the National Guard during emergencies.

 

163.5125: The national disaster preparedness frequency used jointly by the armed forces.

164.50: National communications channel for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

168.55: National channel used by civilian agencies of the federal government for communications during emergencies and disasters.

243.00: Used during military aviation emergencies.

259.70: Used by the Space Shuttle during re-entry and landing.

296.80: Used by the Space Shuttle during re-entry and landing.

311.00: Flight channel used by the U.S. Air Force.

317.70: Used by U.S. Coast Guard aviation.

317.80: Used by U.S. Coast Guard aviation.

319.40: Used by the U.S. Air Force.

340.20: Used by U.S. Navy aviators.

409.20: National communications channel for the Interstate Commerce Commission.

409.625: National communications channel for the Department of State.

462.675: Used for emergency communications and traveler assistance in the General Mobile Radio Service.

Here is a large list of different frequencies that you could use to put together a list of channels to follow during an emergency or other times.

Ham radio operation requires a license, but as you can see in this article, they’re easy to get. This isn’t quite as daunting as it seems, especially considering you don’t need to learn Morse code anymore, but it still requires some studying.

There are three main levels of licensing: Technician, General and Extra. The higher license you get, the more frequencies you can use. This is important. The lower license will get you started but you really need the higher licenses if you want to communicate around the world.

Amateur Radio Frequencies as of 5 March 2012

So why is it important to get a license? In non-emergency life, you have to be concerned that the FCC will go after you if you transmit on a frequency that you’re not allowed to operate. For you to be ready for a SHTF scenario, you need to have the equipment and practice with it in order to make sure you’ll be able to get through.

Just like with FCC investigators and volunteers who track down offenders (you have to call out your FCC callsign every 10 minute on the air or you’ll probably get some unwanted attention), if you find yourself in martial law and don’t want to be found, they can track you down pretty easily.

So why does it matter about what frequencies? Just like with CB radios and the others, the frequency will affect how far you can transmit/receive a signal. This can be pretty complicated so it’s best to get a good book on antennas and propagation, and work with more experienced people to help you get going.

There are a LOT of people around the world who use amateur radio. These people are typically in tune with dealing with emergencies or working with communicating with people in different scenarios. Because of the range ham radios can get, it’s a LOT easier to get a hold of someone during an emergency. These people are also extremely resourceful so even if they don’t have a working radio (such as after an EMP pulse), they can make one.

I currently have three ham radios. An inexpensive Baofeng UV-5R handheldthat I keep on my Harley, a great Yaesu VX-6R waterproof handheld with an upgraded antenna that I keep in my bug out bag, and a portable Yaesu FT-857d radio that I can run off a 12v battery. I’m seriously considering upgrading to the Yaesu VX-8DR though because it’s pretty awesome. You might prefer the VX-8GR though.

Here’s a video that shows the difference and some of the cool features, btw:

 

 

A big part of getting your signal out and hearing others is the antenna so if you get a handheld, I’d suggest upgrading the antenna like I mentioned above. Keep in mind also that if you get a Baofeng that their antenna connections are different so you’ll need an adapter in some cases.

Repeaters:

There are a lot of repeaters around the world that can help you transmit long distances with just a little radio. Basically, a repeater will listen to the little radios in its immediate surroundings and then blast the signal out for hundreds, or thousands, of miles. Obviously the repeaters need to be functioning to do this but people who have repeaters are usually up on emergency communication and will have backup power systems. If they go down, they usually know how to fix it.

There are even repeaters that use the internet so if you tap into a repeater and type in the address of a remote repeater in another country, what you say on your little radio will blast out to that point on the other side of the world. I talked to a guy in Australia on the first day I got my Yaesu handheld that way.

Using stealth to operate an amateur radio:

Because ham radio people are crafty lot (and some places don’t allow antennas), there is a whole sub-genre of ways to make antennas so they can’t be detected (by sight, not by signal). Antennas can be made out of flagpoles, ladders, fences, railings, and a lot of other things in plain sight. They can also be hidden inside things or buried.

There are several books such as Low Profile Amateur Radio: Operating a Ham Station from Almost Anywhere that can show you how to do these (which is a great book, by the way but good luck finding a copy of it).

Here are a couple more:

With the proper knowledge (which you can pretty much only get with practice), you can make a radio out of stuff you can find pretty much anywhere that will transmit on frequencies that you can reach other people. Not only is this useful to hide your antennas, it could seriously come in handy if you had to make an antenna in an emergency.

Obviously, the more experience you have with radios, the easier it’ll be for you to do something like this.

The Ham radio community:

As I’ve mentioned, amateur radio operators are not only creative and resourceful, they’re very in tune with handling emergency situations. There are several groups that use ham radio for dealing with disasters or for search and rescue. The two biggest are Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES).

If you want to get started learning about ham radio as an effective emergency communications system for you or your family, check out the Prepared Ham Forum. My buddy AD owns the site, and it’s great for learning and asking questions. Lots of helpful people on there to help out.

 

Creative ways to communicate with ham frequencies:

With the right equipment and some practice, you can easily get around the world. And, you don’t have to actually buy a radio to do it. That’s one of the greatest things about learning and using ham radio. You can literally make a working radio out of scrap. There will always be scrap. You will always be able to make a radio.

In addition to the plethora of ham radio equipment and information available, a good basis of theory can get you talking to people even if all electricity and electronics are taken out. Here are some examples of what you can do with a little knowledge:

The Foxhole Radio

A foxhole radio was used by GI’s during WWII and beyond. The cool thing is that it doesn’t require a power source and is made from simple parts like a pencil and razor blade. It’s only a receiver though.

 

 

Crystal Radios

There are many, many, many ways to make a radio out of household items. Way too many to list them here. Suffice it to say that with all the wires and old electronics laying around, making a simple radio receiver is pretty simple. Just like the foxhole radio, these pretty much only receive. They can also be made to use power from the signal itself so they don’t all need anything else to power them.

Homemade AM transmitter?

Fear not dudes and dudettes, you can still make a transmitter out of stuff you can find in a lot of homes or junkyards:

 

 

The spark-gap transmitter

Spark-gap transmitters are pretty simple to make. The good thing is that they transmit over a HUGE frequency range so pretty much anyone nearby is gonna hear it.

The bad things are that they’re illegal (for the same reason) and can zap the heck out of you if you’re not careful. You also have to learn Morse code or create your own in order to have anyone have any idea what you’re trying to say.

 

 

If you don’t have a ham radio license yet (or actually, even if you do), you should look at getting an emergency shortwave radio so you can listen into weather bulletins etc. The Safe-T-Proof radio is a great little one to have because you can charge it with a hand crank or the solar panel, it has a flashlight and a cell phone charger outlet on it too.

It won’t have the range of a ham radio with a good antenna, but it could be really useful in an emergency, and you don’t have to worry about running out of power.

So, there are many different ways to communicate during a disaster situation or if society collapses but for the most flexible and effective way, you should seriously look into getting your ham radio license and start playing with it. It’s a great hobby and one that could be the difference between finding your family in an emergency or losing them.

Either way, make sure whatever you do that you come up with an emergency communications plan beforehand.

 

Other articles to review:

Reliable Ham Radio Post-Disaster Security Communications

Currently Available QRP Radio Kits (ham radio)

Ham Radio Show on TWiT.tv

Emergency Communications

 

Something else to consider:

The Inevitable Death of Ham Radio

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

 

via:  graywolfsurvival

North Korea threat: EMP attack can destroy a nation’s entire infrastructure in a flash

KIM Jong-un needs only one hydrogen bomb to bring America to its knees. And he knows it. This is the nation-wide effect it can have in nanoseconds.

DETONATING a thermonuclear warhead 400km above Washington would instantly fry most of the nation’s power grid — and electronics.

The idea is not about melting a city, set enormous fires and irradiate vast tracks of terrain.

It’s about eliminating a nation’s entire infrastructure in a single flash.

There’s little surprise that North Korean state media has been lauding the power of Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP).

This is where the gamma radiation of a high-altitude nuclear blast interacts with the ionosphere — a blanket of electrons and electrically charged particles surrounding the Earth — to send a series electromagnetic pulses spearing into the ground below.

Once this burst of radiation strikes the ground it can induce strong currents — particularly in electrical cables and phone lines. This can overload and destroy electrical networks, as well as cause delicate circuit boards to fuse.

An entire economy can be brought to a standstill in nanoseconds.

In the words of former director of the CIA James Woolsey, it would bring the United States “to a cold, dark halt”.

The 1962 “Starfish Prime” high-altitude thermonuclear test which revealed the effects of EMP. This picture was taken 45 to 90 seconds after the detonation. Picture: Los Alamos National Laboratory

The 1962 “Starfish Prime” high-altitude thermonuclear test which revealed the effects of EMP. This picture was taken 45 to 90 seconds after the detonation. Picture: Los Alamos National LaboratorySource:Supplied

ELECTRIC WAR

It’s an effect similar to that of Earth being struck by a serious solar storm, or — at a much smaller scale — when lightning causes a surge in a power grid.

North Korea’s state news agency commented on just such a tactic at the weekend. It follows a series of similar observations about the power of EMP in July.

The latest statement boasts North Korea’s new bomb “is a multifunctional thermonuclear nuke with great destructive power which can be detonated even at high altitudes for super-powerful EMP attack.”

US National Guard soldiers after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The fallout from an EMP attack would span much of America. Picture: AFP

US National Guard soldiers after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The fallout from an EMP attack would span much of America. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

It’s a use clearly on Kim Jong-un’s mind.

But it’s not an attack without human cost.

It would bring “widespread and long lasting disruption and damage to the critical infrastructures that underpin the fabric of US society,” a 2008 US Congress report warns.

The last time anything on this scale happened was in 1859 — when the world was just beginning to discover the use of electrical technologies. The EMP from an enormous solar storm overloaded the simple telegraph wires then in use to transmit morse code, setting the paper telegrams at their terminals on fire.

Things would be infinitely worse today.

“Two thirds of the US population would likely perish from starvation, disease, and societal breakdown,” Woolsey warned US Congress in 2014. “Other experts estimate the likely loss to be closer to 90 per cent.”

A Louisiana Army National Guard officer pleads for evacuees to stop from pushing forward during relief efforts at the Superdome in New Orleans, after the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster. The impact of an EMP attack would be far worse. Picture: AP

A Louisiana Army National Guard officer pleads for evacuees to stop from pushing forward during relief efforts at the Superdome in New Orleans, after the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster. The impact of an EMP attack would be far worse. Picture: APSource:News Limited

image

 

INFRASTRUCTURE ELIMINATED

Hospitals would be without power. Essential services — electricity, gas, water, sewage, communications — would all be offline. Emergency services would be unable to respond. Food production and distribution networks would collapse.

Computers. Smart phones. Car ignitions. Pacemakers. Any form of delicate electronics within the pulse’s effective range would cease to function.

But the greatest damage would be to the power grid itself. Power stations and network transformers would be burnt out.

And the effect of a high-altitude EMP burst would not be localised.

The night sky above Honolulu is lit with an eerie glow after the Starfish Prime high-altitude thermonuclear test.

The night sky above Honolulu is lit with an eerie glow after the Starfish Prime high-altitude thermonuclear test.Source:Supplied

A 1.4 megaton US hydrogen bomb detonated 500km above the Pacific in 1962 caused lights to flare-out in Honolulu, more than 2000km away. It also knocked-out eight satellites.

A weapon of the magnitude tested by North Korea at the weekend could — if well positioned — burn out the power grid of a large part of the mainland United States.

Repairing the damage would take years.

And delivering such an attack would actually be much easier for Kim Jong-un’s hermit state.

Kim Jong-un inspected the loading of a hydrogen bomb into a new intercontinental ballistic missile fairing, a claim to technological mastery that some experts doubt. Picture: AP

Kim Jong-un inspected the loading of a hydrogen bomb into a new intercontinental ballistic missile fairing, a claim to technological mastery that some experts doubt. Picture: APSource:AP

EASY OPTION

Such a high-altitude thermonuclear attack does not require the technical skills necessary to enable a warhead to survive re-entry to the Earth’s atmosphere, cope with the heat of enormous speeds — and still hit its specific target.

Perhaps this is why the devastating power of EMP attack has again appeared in North Korean propaganda broadcasts.

“I can exploit it in high-altitude areas for strategic purposes and (inflict) EMP attacks on vast areas,” Kim Jong-un declared back in July.

In 2015, North Korean propaganda boasted it could destroy all electronic devices in South Korea and Japan by detonating a 100 kiloton bomb 100km above Seoul. “If we lower the altitude to 60-70km, we can make the EMP effect only the southern part of the Korean Peninsula,” it declared.

“(EMP) can neutralize all advanced electronic guided weapons and destroy aircraft carrier fleet at once”.

The warhead it tested yesterday is estimated to be in the vicinity of 50 to 120 kilotons.

But such an attack would not give Kim Jong-un a victory.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks with Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi before a UN Security Council emergency meeting over North Korea's latest missile launch. Picture: AFP

United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks with Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi before a UN Security Council emergency meeting over North Korea’s latest missile launch. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

MAD WORLD

The nuclear arsenals of the United States are hardened against such a pulse. It’s also one of the reasons so much effort and money is invested on near-invisible and widely dispersed ballistic missile submarines.

The instant a North Korean ICBM was detected to be on a trajectory capable of delivering such a high-altitude blow, a retaliatory firestorm of nuclear warheads would almost certainly be unleashed on North Korea itself.

Such is the grim nature of Mutually Assured Destruction — the Cold War philosophy that compelled cool minds to avert the catastrophe that could have resulted from the likes of the 1960s Cuban missile crisis.

 

via:  news.com.au

This is why we all need to stay prepared

Floods in Africa, Cyclones in Asia, hurricanes in America, fires, and more and now earthquakes in Mexico with a severe Tsunami alert. Now coronal mass ejection.

 

imageimage

 

image image image

 

image imageimage

 

The sun released two powerful solar flares which could also damage satellites, communications and power systems.

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/solar-flares-cause-radio-blackouts-on-earth-coronal-mass-ejection-cme/

image

 

That cloud of charged plasma would arrive within 1 to 3 or 4 days.

 

We’re shockingly unprepared for an extreme weather event that could fry Earth’s power grid

http://www.businessinsider.com/solar-storm-effects-electronics-energy-grid-2016-3

 

To make matters worse, a solar storm’s blast of electromagnetic energy can induct through Earth’s crust, knocking out power grids on the ground.

A relatively minor CME in 1989, for example, shut down power for 6 million people in Canada. A stronger geomagnetic storm may shroud about 130 million in darkness, possibly for months or years.

This has come close to happening before. In 2012, a monstrous CME barely missed Earth. And in 2014, NASA reported that we have a 12% chance of getting hit by a CME sometime in the next decade.

“If [the 2012 CME] had hit, we would still be picking up the pieces,” physicist Daniel Baker said in a NASA press release.

 

Stay ready. Stay prepared.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

WEEKLY THREAT ROUNDUP 9-3-17

From AlertsUSA

 

Health and Environmental Hazards Mount After Hurricane Harvey

 

September 2, 2017

 

Between August 27th and Sept 1st, the following related Flash messages were sent to AlertsUSA subscriber mobile devices:

9/1 – Large fire now burning at Arkema chemical facility, Crosby, TX. Those in the area should monitor local news for official guidance. Add’l alerts as warranted.

9/1 – Arkema Inc warns of threat of add’l “explosions” and chemical fires at Crosby, TX facility. 1.5 mile evac perimeter remains in effect. AlertsUSA monitoring…

8/31 – EPA & TX Comm on Enviro Quality warn floodwaters may contain biohazards including bacteria & other disease agents. Precautions advised. Full stmt via email.

8/30 – TX HAZMAT officials stressing reports of “explosions” at Arkema plant incorrect. Chem containers “popped” from overpressure. Smoke not life-threatening.

8/30 – Explosions reported at Arkema Inc. chemical plant, Crosby, TX. At least 10 injuries. Add’l alerts as warranted.

8/29 – CEO of Arkema Inc: No way to prevent explosion at Crosby, TX chemical plant due to flooding. Fire / explosion within 6 days. AlertsUSA Monitoring…

8/29 – Arkema Chemical Plant, Crosby, TX (NW Houston) at risk of fire/explosion due to damage by TS Harvey. Local area under evac orders. AlertsUSA monitoring…

8/29 – Shelters are open across the affected areas of TX and LA. Get the FEMA app (Playstore & iTunes) for shelter info, resources, weather alerts, etc. in Eng/Span.

8/29 – Columbia Lakes Levee, Brazoria County, TX has been breached. This is located SW of Houston. RED NOTICE ISSUED. LOCAL RESIDENTS GET OUT NOW.

8/28 – Tropical Storm Harvey Situation Update – August 28, 2017 – sent via email.

8/27 – Addicks Reservoir / Barker Dam near Houston nearing capacity. Army Corps of Engineers plan emergency water release. Area residents should tune to local media.

8/27 – USCG: Widening USCG communications for Harvey rescue ops in Houston: Call 281-464-(4851)(4852)(4853)(4854)(4855). Keep calling. Get on roofs. Mark locl w/SOS.

8/27 – NWS warns TX residents: “Weather event unprecedented, all impacts unknown & beyond anything experienced. Follow orders from officials to ensure safety.”

What You Need To Know

Eastern Texas is slowly beginning recovery efforts following Hurricane Harvey, which dumped an estimated 20 trillion gallons of rain on Texas and Louisiana over a six-day period. Moody’s Analytics estimates the combination of property damage to homes, cars, commercial buildings and infrastructure, as well as losses from paused production at oil refineries and other businesses, will reach well above 100 billion dollars, making this one of the costliest natural disasters in the history of the country.

On Thursday, President Trump’s Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert stated that approximately 100,000 homes were damaged by the storm, though this number is expected to climb significantly as flood waters recede and inspections begin. Many towns outside of the Houston remain flooded.

About 40 percent of the buildings estimated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to have been flooded in Harris County, Tex., are in areas considered to be “of minimal flood hazard.

The Response

FEMA and its federal partners continue to mobilize personnel and resources to support state, local and tribal efforts throughout Texas and Louisiana. As of August 1, more than 21,000 federal staff were deployed in support of the storm response. A staggering 364,000 individuals have registered for assistance, the largest number after any single disaster event.

Two US Navy warships, the USS Kearsarge and the USS Oak Hill, are being deployed to Texas bringing supplies, heavy lift capabilities, as well as additional medical personnel who will join others from across the country to head off a looming public health crisis that extends far beyond the Houston metro area.

On Thursday, AlertsUSA subscribers were notified of a statement issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality warning that floodwaters may contain bacteria and other disease agents from sewage, chemicals and the need for precautions and safety measures for anyone involved in cleanup activities or who may otherwise be exposed to floodwaters. There is also the long-term threat of different a variety of different types of dangerous molds, mosquito-borne viruses and more.

Of particular concern is the health of those displaced by the storm and living in crowded shelters as respiratory and intestinal illnesses are extremely contagious in close quarters, particularly when proper hygiene is impossible.

 


 

AlertsUSA.com

 

OTHER ALERTS FROM THIS WEEK
NOT DETAILED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ISSUE

9/1 – AlertsUSA monitoring unspecified security incident at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Area being evacuated and sealed. Add’l alerts as warranted.

8/31 – USGOV issues new Europe Travel Alert warning of the continued threat of terrorist attacks. Read the full alert here: http://bit.ly/2xBqE8u

8/29 – AlertsUSA monitoring evac of London’s Euston Station flwg reports of smoke coming from a bag on train platform and sound of blast. Add’l alerts as warranted.

8/28 – AlertsUSA monitoring mass casualty shooting incident, Clovis-Carver Public Library, Clovis, NM. Multiple fatalities and injuries rptd. Shooter rptd in custody.

8/27 – Clashes breaking out between demonstrators and police in Civic Center Plaza area of Berkeley, CA. Avoid the area. AlertsUSA monitoring…

AlertsUSA Service for Mobile Devices - ALLOW IMAGES

* Homeland Security Threat Info Direct to Your
Mobile Device
* Get Away Early, Give Your Family Extra Safety.
* In Wide Use By Gov, 1st Responders, Travelers.
* 24/7/365 Monitoring. No Hype. Just the Bad Stuff.
* Issued Hours and Days before the MSM.
* On your Cell Phone, Tablet or Email.
* We Give The Clear Truth, Unlike the MSM.
* Over a Decade in Operation!

We are NOT part of the government.
In fact, they are our customers!

 

 


 

N. Korean Hwasong-12 missile launch - ALLOW IMAGES

N. Korea Launches Missile Over Japan

 

Oct 26, 2013

 

On August 28th, the following related Flash messages were
sent to
AlertsUSA subscriber mobile devices:

 

8/28(a) – BREAKING: Japanese gov warns residents of Northern Japan to take precautions against possible missile strike flwg DPRK launch. Monitoring….

8/28(b) – NHK reports DPRK missile has overflown Japan. Highly provocative move. AlertsUSA monitoring…

8/28(c) – DoD confirms DPRK missile flight over N. Japan. Missile flew ~2,700 km w apogee of ~550 km. S. Korea intel rpts activity at DPRK nuclear test site. Monitoring.

What You Need To Know

On Monday evening, AlertsUSA subscribers were notified via SMS messages to their mobile devices that Japan’s government had just warned its citizens of a North Korean missile was headed their way. Overflying Hokkaido Island, the intermediate-range Hwasong-12 missile ultimately broke into three pieces and fell into the Pacific Ocean approximately 575 miles east of Cape Erimo.Residents of Northern Japan were advised to seek refuge, and local and bullet train services were immediately halted.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called the country’s latest missile test over Japan “a meaningful prelude to containing Guam” and said his country should conduct more missile tests into the Pacific Ocean.

President Trump, who has vowed not to let North Korea develop nuclear missiles that can hit the mainland United States, warned on Tuesday that all options are on the table for the United States to respond.

Additionally, U.S. and foreign intelligence agencies have also detected increased activity at North Korea’s main underground nuclear testing facility, signaling preparations for a sixth underground test blast.

As previously reported by AlertsUSA, when the cloudy historical and political narrative is removed, the world is now faced with the following realities:

Given these realities, restraint and the quest for diplomatic solutions virtually assures continued proliferation into the hands of rogue nations and those private individuals and groups with deep enough pockets.

AlertsUSA continues to monitor the overall domestic and international threat environment, and will immediately notify service subscribers via SMS messages of new alerts, warnings and advisories or any developments which signal a change the overall threat picture for American citizens as events warrant.

 


 

Air Force F-22 Raptor aircraft fly in formation over the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, Aug. 26, 2017, while returning to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. after participating in Red Flag 17-4 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The aircraft are assigned to the 94th Fighter Squadron and the 1st Fighter Wing. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Carlin Leslie. - ALLOW IMAGES

World News Roundup

September 2, 2017

Other Developments We Are Following

AMERICAS

Canada preparing winter shelters as migrant wave continues
Trump to host Sept. 18 meeting of world leaders on U.N. reform
Top CEOs warn Trump on ending migrant amnesty
White House weighing a tax on remittances to Mexico to fund border wall
Obesity epidemic at new high, costs $150B a year, hurts military recruiting
Stingray Unmanned Tanker Could Almost Double Strike Range of Air Wing
As it looks to fill capabilities gaps, the U.S. Navy is keeps an eye overseas
Talk of Assange pardon worries intelligence community

EUROPE

US warned Spain of Barcelona attack risk: report
Barcelona: US, CIA did not warn about terror attack, despite report
Russia and America’s Tit For Tat Continues
Lavrov: Russia will ‘respond harshly’ to ‘damaging’ sanctions
Bad blood between France and Italy undermines EU unity
Germans in Aachen get free iodine amid Belgium nuclear fears
Military Exercises Are Tearing Up Russia’s Infrastructure
The Russian Missile Program has Raised Concerns Among NATO Countries

MIDDLE EAST

‘We’ll just try to kill him’: US vows to hunt Isis leader Baghdadi to the death
Al Qaeda affiliate mining uranium for Iran, Somali official warns US
Trump keeps world guessing on Iran deal’s future
Last Isis stronghold in Syria could fall by October, says UN envoy
Kuwait’s ruler, mediating Qatar crisis, heads to Washington
Shock as Kenya court cancels election result, demands re-run

ASIA

France: N. Korea within months of nuke-capable rockets
Allies discuss redeployment of nuclear weapons
North Korea threat: Will Europe help S. Korea, Japan militarily?
The aircraft Kim Jong-un fears most. Or ought to
USS Wasp departs to join 7th Fleet forces in Japan
Putin warns North Korea situation on verge of ‘large-scale conflict’
North Korea threatens to turn South into ‘field of ruin’
Trump, Moon agree to boost S.Korean missile capabilities
US, allies conduct drills over Korean peninsula after latest missile launch
North Korea tourism: US travel ban takes effect

 


 

Travel Security Update

The U.S. Dept. of State is the authoritative federal source for information on the security situation at travel destinations worldwide. With tensions rapidly increasing in most regions, readers planning on international travel, even to such common destinations as Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands, are strongly encouraged to do a little research on the security situation prior to departure.

Latest USGOV Travel Alerts and Warnings

Ethiopia
08/25/2017

Bangladesh
08/24/2017

Mexico
08/22/2017

Iran
08/15/2017

N. Korea
08/10/2017

Somalia
08/03/2017

Venezuela
07/27/2017

Jordan
07/20/2017

S. Sudan
07/20/2017

Egypt
07/19/2017

Philippines
07/17/2017

Hurricane Season
06/05/2017

Europe
08/31/2017

Worldwide Caution

03/06/2017

Additional Sources of Travel Guidance

Canada Dept. of Foreign Affairs

Australia Dept. of Foreign Affairs

UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office

 


 

Before the Storm Hits - ALLOW IMAGES

 


 

Threat Journal Subscription Button - ALLOW IMAGES

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: threatjournal