Our nation’s communications infrastructure, modes of transportation and many fundamentals of survival all rely on a power grid that is vulnerable. The current system lacks safety features needed to prevent damage to critical electrical infrastructure. …

Could such a scenario be in our nation’s future? It might, if we do not learn from this experience. Preparation begins with demanding that our governments — local, state and federal — prepare as well.

The technology exists to harden at least part of the national electric grid against an EMP attack or major solar storm. Two years ago, in a time of political deadlock, the House approved the Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense Act with bipartisan support. It would put in place protections such as fortified bunkers for the national power grid — but this effort stalled in the Senate.