5 Electronics Worth Protecting From an EMP (and What to Skip)

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You can’t protect everything from an EMP. And honestly, you don’t need to.

A fridge, a TV and a gaming console are useless without a working grid anyway. The smarter question is which small, battery-powered gadgets would really help you in a long outage.

So here’s my simple answer to what electronics to protect from an EMP: five picks worth saving, plus the stuff you can skip.

A Quick Reality Check: How an EMP Affects Electronics

An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a burst of electromagnetic energy that can induce surges in conductors, especially long wires. The Department of Energy says EMPs can come from solar activity or man-made devices.

Here’s the honest part. Nobody knows exactly what would break, and a DOE report admits there are gaps in our knowledge.

So treat everything below as smart insurance, not a promise.

How to Decide What’s Worth Protecting

Ask three quick questions about any gadget. If it passes all three, it’s a keeper.

Most of the best picks are also on the Ready.gov emergency kit list. That’s no accident. They solve real problems in any long outage.

The 5 Electronics Worth Protecting

1. A Battery-Powered or Hand-Crank Radio

News is power when everything else is down. Ready.gov lists a battery-powered or hand-crank radio as a core item.

Keep a spare in your Faraday storage, along with a set of fresh batteries.

2. A Backup Phone and Power Bank

Ready.gov also suggests a phone with chargers and a backup battery. An old phone with a short charging cable can work as a spare.

Even if cell towers are down, a phone can still hold maps, contacts and photos of documents.

3. A Small Solar Charger and Rechargeable Batteries

This is your power plan for small devices. A compact solar charger and rechargeable AA or AAA batteries can keep radios and lights going.

Store a spare charger set away from the one you use daily.

4. A Flash Drive or Backup Drive With Key Documents

Ready.gov recommends keeping copies of important documents in your kit. Scan your IDs, insurance, medical records and photos onto a drive.

Keep paper copies too. Paper doesn’t need protecting!

5. A Basic Health Device (If You Use One)

If you rely on something like a digital thermometer or a glucose meter, keep a spare stored with fresh batteries. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what you’d need in a long outage.

For insulin storage, see the FDA’s emergency guidance.

What to Skip (Save Your Money and Space)

Here’s the good news. You can leave most of your stuff out of the plan.

If you’re wondering about your car, remember the lab tests show results can vary. Newer cars have more electronics than the older models tested.

How to Store Your Protected Electronics

Once you’ve picked your five, it’s time to store them. A Faraday cage is a conductive enclosure that blocks some electromagnetic fields.

A BCIT physics demo shows a metal can blocks a radio signal while a plastic bucket doesn’t.

Be careful: a Faraday cage hasn’t been lab-certified when you make it yourself. Live Science notes that an EMP shield would need to be tight and thick, with no holes.

For a beginner walkthrough, the sales page for this survival guide says it includes a DIY Faraday method using household items.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Most beginners slip up in the same few ways. Skip these and you’re ahead of the pack.

Beyond Electronics: Why Low-Tech Skills Matter

Gadgets are great, but skills never run out of battery. That’s why some beginners also look at a low-tech skills program like BlastProof: David’s Shield.

According to the sales page, it costs $67 and has a 60-day money-back guarantee. It covers topics like food preservation, water, heat and light, and a DIY Faraday enclosure.

I haven’t read inside the guide, and it isn’t a guarantee of protection. Read my full David’s Shield review before you decide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What electronics should I protect from an EMP?

Start with a radio, a backup phone and power bank, a small solar charger with rechargeable batteries, a flash drive with documents, and any basic health device you rely on.

Should I unplug my electronics before an EMP?

You can’t know when an EMP will happen, but unplugging devices you aren’t using lowers their exposure. One guide suggests unplugging power cords and other cables when not in use.

Will my phone survive an EMP?

No one can promise either way. Experts disagree on small devices, so keep a spare stored.

Is a Faraday cage enough?

It’s one layer, not a guarantee. Pair it with water, food, light and a family plan.

What about my car?

In lab tests, most cars kept running, but newer models are less certain. Don’t build your whole plan around it.

Conclusion: Protect the Few, Prepare for the Many

When it comes to what electronics to protect from an EMP, keep it simple. Save a radio, a backup phone and power bank, a solar charger with batteries, a document drive and a basic health device.

Then skip the rest, build a plan for water, food and light, and learn a few low-tech skills. That’s a calmer, cheaper approach than trying to shield your whole house.

If you’d like a place to start learning, take a look at David’s Shield and use the guarantee to decide for yourself.

Sources and Further Reading