How to make a portable EMP-Proof Container

In 1945, the most devastating weapon ever built was used. A United States Bomber dropped the Atom Bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The bomb destroyed everything in its path, incinerating those close and killing anything within range with deadly Gamma Rays and Alpha/Beta radiation.

But the Atomic Bomb released another danger. It did not affect much in the 1945 explosion. Nowadays, it would be almost as bad as the other dangers.

Atomic Bombs release EMP. EMP stands for Electromagnetic Pulse. EMPs destroy electronics. They can either shut off the device, wipe it's memory, or kill it depending on the power.

An EMP is a concentrated blast of electromagnetic waves (usually microwaves or radio waves).

But EMPs are not only in Nuclear weapons. All electronics release tiny EMPs while running. However, these are so small they do not affect anything.

EMPs are being developed for use in military technologies. Imagine every computer, phone, and server dying all at once. Not to mention life support units in hospitals. Yeah. It's scary. Did I mention you can make a short range EMP for about $10 worth or supplies? More on that at a later date.

Anyway, if an EMP weapon is ever used, you will lose anything that uses a circuit. That's no fun. Maybe you have important files. Pictures? Maybe even a mobile survival guide on your flash stick.

Today I will show you how to make a EMP Protection Box. Granted, if a H-Bomb explodes on your front porch, it won't work. But this should protect from smaller or further off EMPs.

The goal behind this is to create a Faraday cage. If you did some research, you will find that this is the same concept behind the RFID Foil Blocker.

Let's get to work!

Materials needed.

First off, you need a metal box. This guide will be showing you how to make a small, portable Anti-EMP box, but just scale it up if you need a bigger one.

This can be anything from a Sardine Tin...

...to an Altoids Case...

...or anything else completely metal. Whatever you use, it needs to be 100% encased in metal.

Now, take your USB Flash Stick with your protected files on it. Password ones are nice.

First of all, ensure that your metal container is completely surrounded by BARE metal. This means that if there is any paint on the outside (*cough* Altoids), it needs to go. Scrape it off with a screwdriver or something.

The EMP will conduct around the container. Now, get an insulator. My preference is Electrical Tape and Foam. Cover the entire inside of the box with electrical tape (Remember: None on the outside!). This will prevent the EMP from conducting right through the metal into your Files (Kind of ruins the purpose of the project to do that, doesn't it?). As an added precaution, take some Foam and stick it to the top and bottom of the box. If you don't have foam, no worries. It's not mandatory, and you can always use cardboard or another insulator. 

Place your USB Drive right into the center of the Container. Make sure it is not touching any metal or is likely to touch metal.

Close the box, and cover it in aluminum foil. Again, this is an added precaution. Remember the RFID Blocker? Same idea.

Speaking of RFIDs, you could probably block one in your EMP-proof case as well.

And... that's all. Congratulations, your files are almost EMP proof!

Why do I say almost? Well, this setup will most likely resist a small EMP, like the handhelds (yes they exist). Or, if an EMP bomb is detonated near you in the far future, this will hold out if the bomb is far enough away. 

It's not perfect, but it does give you a little added protection that could save your files.

Enjoy!

Helpful Hint: You can install an offline version of Wikipedia for around 8GB on your Flash Stick. This lets you look up anything in Wikipedia without an Internet Connection. I recommend it.

Questions? Use the comment function!