Last month, National Geographic presented a docu-drama that detailed what would happen in the United States if there were a major disruption in the country’s electronic grid. The film “American Blackout” portrays a life without power due to a cyber attack. Everything we take for granted in the 21st century is affected: food, water, fuel, transportation, medicine, communications and finance.

It is worth mentioning that the scenario depicted in this docu-drama assumes that the disruption will only last ten days. The impact over a ten-day period is bad enough, but many believe that an EMP (an electro magnetic pulse) would lead to even more catastrophic devastation. According to the chairman of the Congressional EMP Threat Commission, if the power goes out and stays out for as long as a year, nine out of ten Americans will be dead.

What has been the reaction to this horrible scenario? Last week various electric utilities sponsored a nationwide exercise (known as GridEx II) to demonstrate how well the grid can cope with various disruptions. Members of the EMP Coalition doubt that such an exercise really tests the nation’s energy grid. A man-caused or naturally occurring EMP could cripple the United States.

Fortunately there are many who are taking an EMP threat seriously. Frank Gaffney (Center for Security Policy) was on my program. He says we can take appropriate steps to prevent or greatly reduce the impact of long-term blackouts due to an EMP event. The original estimated cost of protecting America’s power grid was roughly $2 billion. That cost is not much if spread to all consumers. And there is now evidence that new technology will make it possible to protect the grid for a fraction of that amount.

Representatives Trent Franks and Pete Sessions have introduced legislation that would move America forward in protecting our electronic grid. The cost of protecting us is minimal compared to the toll we would pay in lives and lifestyle if we fail to protect America from an EMP.