by Ted Koppel, and am concerned, but not terrified, by the possibility, or even probability of a cyber attack on the country's electrical infrastructure. Seems like it's not IF, but WHEN, and if/when it happens, I'll be better prepared than most, having worked and lived in 'disaster' areas many times, without electricity. Even if it's just for a few days or a week, from a blizzard or something, our food, generator/gas situation is better than most. I just know I wouldn't wanna be on the East Coast, esp in an elevator in NYC, when the lights go out. According to Ted, one of the worst scenarios involve HUGE transformers that are at the heart of electrical tansmission, and they would be destroyed, as they burn up without adequate 'direction' from internet programs, like the centrifuges in Iran, as the US 'cast the first stone'. In just one aspect of the potential disaster, a typical transformer weighs over 500,000 lbs and takes approx a year to manufacture and transport. There are tens of thousands at risk. Nearly all available large generators would have to be used just to run water and sewer utilities that are ESSENTIAL to keeping millions alive in the large metro areas, where there is emergency food for a few days, AT BEST, for the huge population. There is no feasible way to transport the masses to those areas that are unaffected. If it happened during the winter, MANY would freeze to death.
Bottom line, it would be the 'ultimate weapon' and it is VERY doable, by any of MANY terrorists groups who hate the US and what it stands for. Not a pretty thought, but very interesting and very real....
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