This post is by Bernie Carr, apartmentprepper.com
The Director of Intelligence Dan Coates is warning that our infrastructure is being threatened by a cyber attack:
According to Reuters, the U.S. Intel Chief indicated at a recent speech at the Hudson Institute think tank:
… the threat was growing for a devastating cyber assault on critical U.S. infrastructure
And that
the “warning lights are blinking red again” nearly two decades after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
He also added that “Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are launching daily cyber strikes on the computer networks of federal, state and local government agencies, U.S. corporations, and academic institutions.”
What this means
This tells me that a cyber attack can threaten public infrastructures such as the power grid, water, natural gas and other utilities. If the government is taking this seriously then we should be prepared as well.
This is worrisome but stressing about such things won’t change anything. The only way to cope is to be prepared for an interruption of services. It would be quite a disaster if the power grid or were to be compromised for any reason, whether it’s a cyber attack, EMP or a natural disaster. Our emergency supplies do include water and food, but what about power backup? Being in an apartment, we are unable to run a generator. Time to do an evaluation of how we would cope.
Water
Have two weeks worth of water stored at home at all times – one gallon per person per day. Identify all the water sources near you.
You need a backup way to purify water in case the tap does work, but the water is unsafe to drink. We use a Berkey system and have backups replacement filters.
Hygiene
If the water is not flowing, you cannot flush the toilet. Therefore you need an emergency toilet, black trash bags to line it, hygiene supplies, cleansing wipes
Lighting
Make sure you have flashlights and tap lights with batteries, hand-crank flashlight, a camping lantern, light sticks, candles, and matches.
Cooking
We have the Coleman camp stove, but need to add a few more propane canisters; also have a small barbecue grill that also needs fuel.
Refrigeration
Stock up on shelf-stable items that do not need refrigeration. If the power goes down, know what to do if you had to live without a refrigerator for a period of time.
Communication
Always keep your cell phone charged, and have backup batteries, solar powered chargers, radio with batteries; also have a hand crank radio.
Entertainment
With no TV or video games, some backup entertainment would be needed to help kids cope: we have kid-friendly card games such as UNO, and board games.
What You Can Do
While trying to be prepared for a cyber attack, protect your computers by backing up your documents and having some paper records. Prepare yourself from a cyber-attack. You never know when this type of thing can happen.
This is list is meant to get you started in evaluating your own emergency backups – please feel free to comment below and add your thoughts.
© Apartment Prepper 2018
do not forget the needs of your pets too. as for your “Coleman camp stove” I would recommend buying the hose adaptor to fix any size propane tank. The bigger tanks are much cheaper that the small cans. And you can use a tank off a gas grill as well. I much prefer candles in a jar being much safer then open candles. I have used trash bags in a toilet for years in the winter when we go up to the cabin that has already be winterized and the water has been turned off. A though provoking article and it show just how dependent we are on the technology.
Hi Old guy, The hose adapter is a great buy. My propane stove uses the small cans but they run out quickly and the stores in my area do not refill them. Thanks for the comment!