EMP Protection Australia: How to Protect Your Back-up Phone, Radio & Power Gear

How to keep your critical gear working when the grid fails

An EMP doesn't look like a movie explosion. No flames, no sirens—just a silent surge of energy that can overwhelm electronics in an instant. One moment your back-up phone, radio, solar controller or power bank is fine. The next, it may be permanently damaged. When everything depends on electronics, that kind of failure isn't inconvenient. It's catastrophic.

What matters isn't how much gear you have—it's whether that gear still works when you need it.

At Aus Security Products, we've supplied physical security and signal-shielding solutions to Australian government, defence and resilience-focused customers for over 30 years. In this guide we walk through the real risk to your back-up devices, why back-up power and comms matter most, and how Faraday protection gives you a physical fix that doesn't depend on software, updates or the grid.

What are EMP and HEMP? (And why solar activity matters)

An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a short burst of electromagnetic energy that can induce damaging currents and voltages in electronic circuits. A high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) is the same phenomenon on a much larger scale—typically discussed in the context of a high-altitude nuclear detonation, which can create a pulse that affects a wide geographic area. The important point for your back-up gear is that the effect is the same: a sudden electromagnetic surge that can overwhelm unprotected electronics.

Natural EMPs are just as relevant. Solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun can produce geomagnetic storms that induce similar currents in power grids, long cables and electronic equipment. The Carrington Event of September 1859—the most intense geomagnetic storm in recorded history—caused telegraph stations to spark and catch fire, and produced auroras visible near the equator. Scientists agree that a storm of that magnitude today would pose a serious risk to power grids, satellites, GPS and communications networks. You don't have to believe in a worst-case scenario to take the threat seriously; the physics is well understood, and space weather is monitored continuously.

Solar activity runs in cycles. Roughly every 11 years, the Sun goes through a period of higher activity (more sunspots, more flares and CMEs). The Bureau of Meteorology's Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre (ASWFC) monitors solar and geomagnetic conditions and issues forecasts that affect aviation, defence, HF radio and power infrastructure. Severe space weather can disrupt satellite-based communication, navigation, surveillance and radar—so it's not only "preppers" who care. Defence, emergency services and critical infrastructure operators plan for it. Shielding your back-up electronics is the same kind of sensible, physics-based step: when the source of the pulse is natural (solar) or otherwise, a proper Faraday enclosure isolates your devices from the surge.

The real risk to your back-up devices

EMP (electromagnetic pulse) and HEMP (high-altitude electromagnetic pulse) events differ in scale but share the same result: a sudden electromagnetic surge that can:

• Destroy unprotected circuits in phones, radios and power banks
• Disable back-up phones and two-way radios you're counting on for emergencies
• Damage battery management systems and solar charge controllers
• Ruin solar controllers and inverters that keep off-grid power running
• Render stored generators useless if their electronic controls are exposed
• Corrupt digital storage on USB drives and other media

You don't have to imagine a worst-case scenario for this to matter. Here in Australia, lightning strikes, unstable grids and severe weather—bushfire-related grid damage, storms, floods—can create the same kind of vulnerability on a smaller scale. Back-up electronics that aren't shielded can be silently damaged long before you ever need them. Internationally, agencies such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have published best-practice guidance on EMP shielding for mission-critical equipment (August 2022), recognising that critical infrastructure—banking, transport, energy, communications—increasingly depends on electronics that are vulnerable to electromagnetic disruption. Your back-up kit is your own slice of that resilience.

Turning a device off is not protection. True protection means physical isolation from electromagnetic energy.

Why back-up power and communications matter most

After a major event, your primary devices may be gone or unreachable. Recovery depends on what you planned for after failure. The gear that matters most is the gear you've set aside for exactly that moment:

• Back-up phones for emergency contact when networks are down or overloaded
• Two-way radios and ham radios for off-grid communication with family, neighbours or response groups
• Torches and headlamps (with spare batteries stored safely) for movement and signalling
• Power banks for sustained use when mains power isn't available
• Solar panels and charge controllers to recharge devices and keep systems running
• Generators (and their electronic controls) for longer-term resilience
• GPS units for navigation when mobile networks are out
• USB drives and offline back-ups with critical data, maps and contacts

That UHF in the ute. The power bank in the go-bag. The solar controller in the shed. If any of these are damaged by electromagnetic exposure—whether from a large-scale EMP/HEMP event or from lightning and grid surges—your recovery window shrinks fast. The goal isn't ownership; it's usability after impact.

The physical fix: Faraday protection

Faraday shielding uses conductive materials to create a complete physical barrier around your electronics. The principle dates back to the work of Michael Faraday in the 1830s: when an electromagnetic field encounters a conductive enclosure, currents are induced on the outer surface and the field is redirected around the interior. The result is that anything inside a properly sealed enclosure is isolated from external electromagnetic energy—whether from an EMP, a solar storm, a lightning strike or a grid surge.

Once sealed inside a properly designed Faraday bag or enclosure, your devices are isolated from:

• Electromagnetic pulses (EMP/HEMP)
• Grid surges and voltage spikes
• Wireless intrusion and tracking
• Signal-based data theft

Here's the good news: this protection is passive. No power. No firmware updates. No software. It works because it's physics—the enclosure redirects electromagnetic energy around the contents, so whatever you store inside is protected for as long as it stays sealed.

Solar flares and CMEs: same physics. Geomagnetic storms from the Sun induce currents in long conductors (power lines, cables) and can damage sensitive electronics. Faraday enclosures block the electromagnetic radiation that would otherwise reach your devices—so the same bags and sleeves that protect against EMP/HEMP also protect against the electromagnetic effects of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. If you're storing back-up phones, radios or power banks for a grid-down or space-weather event, Faraday protection is the appropriate tool.

Standards and what to look for

Military and government standards define minimum performance for EMP/HEMP protection. MIL-STD-188-125 (in its various parts) sets requirements for HEMP hardening of ground-based facilities and transportable systems used for critical command, control and communications. IEEE 299 is widely cited for measuring shielding effectiveness of enclosures. Products that are tested to these or equivalent standards give you a known baseline—so when we say we stock Faraday bags and enclosures from trusted brands that meet demanding shielding standards, we're referring to products that have been designed and (where applicable) tested to perform in demanding electromagnetic environments. Not all "signal-blocking" bags are equal; construction, seams, closures and material quality all affect whether the enclosure actually forms a continuous shield. We focus on suppliers who take that seriously.

At Aus Security Products, we stock Faraday bags, sleeves, dry bags and enclosures from trusted brands, including Mission Darkness and others that meet demanding shielding standards. That means you can choose the right size and format for your back-up gear, not just a one-size-fits-all option.

How our gear protects your critical back-up systems

We don't just sell Faraday products—we help you match them to your actual back-up plan. Here's how our range fits common back-up and comms needs.

Back-up phones and tablets

A fully charged back-up phone or tablet is useless if its circuitry is fried by an EMP or surge. Faraday phone and tablet sleeves keep back-up devices isolated until you need them. Store the device charged, seal it in the sleeve and keep it in your go-bag or back-up kit. When the time comes, you take it out—no signal has reached it in the meantime.

Browse Faraday bags and sleeves for phones and tablets →

Radios, power banks, GPS and solar gear

Faraday dry bags are built for the kind of kit that backs up both power and comms: handheld radios, power banks, GPS units, solar charge controllers, charging cables and USB drives. They combine EMP/EMI shielding with environmental protection—so your gear stays dry and shielded whether you're at home, in the shed or on the move.

Browse Faraday dry bags →

Flash drives, spare batteries and small electronics

Faraday utility pouches give you small-scale protection for flash drives, spare battery packs, handheld radios and other compact back-up electronics. Easy to add to a go-bag or tuck in a drawer with the rest of your preparedness kit.

Browse Faraday utility pouches →

Laptops and larger devices

For mobile command setups, encrypted back-up data or technical field use after infrastructure loss, Faraday laptop sleeves and bags keep larger devices shielded. When the grid goes down, the device that holds your plans and comms software can still be there when you need it.

Browse Faraday bags for laptops and large devices →

Generators and back-up power

Back-up generators often have sensitive electronic control boards. A single surge or EMP can take them out. EMP shields and Faraday enclosures designed for generators give those electronics the same kind of physical isolation as a Faraday bag—so when the grid fails, your back-up power can still start and run.

We stock generator-sized Faraday protection suited to typical back-up and off-grid setups, including the Mission Darkness Revelation EMP Shield for Generators and other EMP-rated enclosures for control boards and sensitive electronics.

Browse Faraday bags and enclosures (including generator protection) →

Key fobs and vehicle access

If your vehicle uses a key fob with electronic components, that fob is vulnerable too. Faraday key fob sleeves protect vehicle access electronics from EMP and surges—so before and after a grid failure, you can still get in and start the car when it matters.

Browse Faraday key fob protection →

Multiple devices and go-bags

When you need to shield phones, tablets, radios and power banks in one place, Faraday backpacks and multi-compartment bags let you carry and protect several devices at once. Ideal for evacuation kits, field comms or a dedicated "back-up comms and power" bag.

Browse Faraday backpacks and bags →

What EMP protection actually preserves

Again: the goal isn't ownership, it's usability after impact. Faraday protection helps ensure that when you need your back-up systems:

• Back-up phones still power on
• Radios still transmit and receive
• Solar systems still regulate charge
• Batteries still hold and deliver power
• GPS units still acquire position
• Stored data on USB drives and devices remains intact

When electronics survive, power generation and communication remain possible. When they don't, recovery gets a lot harder. Physical shielding is the step that gives your back-up plan a chance to work.

Preparedness is about continuity

Real preparedness is planning for the moment after failure. When systems drop, the people who planned for continuity—and who protected their back-up gear—are the ones who can regain contact and power first.

Our Faraday protection doesn't depend on infrastructure. It doesn't rely on connectivity. It doesn't degrade when the grid fails. It simply preserves function—so that when you open the bag or sleeve, the device inside is still the device you planned on.

After a blackout or surge, the gear that still works is what gets you through

Your physical kit keeps you safe. Shielded phones, radios and power banks keep you in contact, on the map and able to run the devices that matter.

Shielding your back-up gear is simply good practice: the same kind of sensible step as keeping a torch and first-aid kit handy. When lightning strikes, grids fail in storms or you need that back-up phone or radio after a blackout, the question is straightforward—did you protect it, or didn't you?

Testing your Faraday gear: why it matters

Faraday bags and enclosures only protect if they actually block signals. Effectiveness depends on construction—conductive material, seams, closures and fit—and can vary between brands and even between batches. Independent testing (for example using reverberation chambers to measure shielding effectiveness in dB) is how serious suppliers verify performance. As a user, you can do simple checks at home.

Test when you first receive a bag, and retest every 6–12 months. Seals can wear, material can degrade and damage can create weak points. Partial blocking is worse than no blocking: if one signal type gets through, your device may still be exposed. A proper test confirms that all relevant signals are blocked.

Practical tests you can run:

• Cellular: Place a phone inside, seal the bag and call it from another phone. It should not ring. If it does, the bag is not blocking cellular.
• Wi‑Fi: With the device inside the sealed bag, check whether it stays connected to your Wi‑Fi network. Connection should drop within about 30 seconds if the bag is effective.
• Bluetooth: From another device, scan for Bluetooth devices. The bagged device should not appear.
• GPS: If the device shows GPS satellite count or lock, place it in the bag and seal it. Satellite count should drop to zero.
• NFC: Try using a contactless payment or NFC function through the bag. It should fail.

If any test fails, the bag is not providing full signal isolation—so it may not provide reliable EMP/HEMP protection either. Return or replace faulty bags; don't rely on them for critical back-up gear.

Next steps

1. Audit your back-up kit. List every electronic device you're counting on for power, comms or data after a grid-down event.
2. Match each item to a Faraday solution. Phone/tablet → sleeve or pouch. Radios, power banks, GPS, solar gear → dry bag or utility pouch. Generator → EMP shield. Key fob → key sleeve.
3. Store back-up devices charged and sealed. A Faraday bag only protects what's inside it—so make sure devices are charged (or have spare batteries stored separately and shielded if needed) before you seal them.
4. Test your bags when new and then periodically. Run the simple tests above when you first receive a bag, and again every 6–12 months. No ring when you call the sealed phone? Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth drop? That's what "signal blocked" looks like. Document the result so you know your back-up gear is actually protected.

Not sure which size or type of Faraday protection fits your back-up phone, radio, power bank or generator? We're here to help. We've been advising Australian government, defence and resilience-focused customers on physical security and shielding for over three decades.

Explore our full Faraday bags and enclosures range →
Contact us for advice on your back-up and comms setup →

Frequently asked questions

Do Faraday bags protect against solar flares and CMEs (coronal mass ejections)?
Yes. Solar flares and CMEs produce electromagnetic radiation and geomagnetically induced currents that can damage electronics. A properly sealed Faraday enclosure blocks the electromagnetic radiation that would reach your devices—so the same bags and sleeves that protect against EMP/HEMP also protect against the EM effects of severe space weather. The conductive barrier redirects the energy around the contents; the source (solar or otherwise) doesn't change the physics.

How often should I test my Faraday bag?
Test when you first receive the bag, and then every 6–12 months. Seals and materials can wear or degrade over time. If a test fails (e.g. a call gets through, or Wi‑Fi stays connected), don't rely on that bag for back-up or EMP protection—return or replace it.

What's the difference between a Faraday cage and a Faraday bag?
A Faraday cage is typically a rigid, fixed structure (e.g. a metal room or enclosure); a Faraday bag is a flexible, portable pouch or sleeve made from conductive fabric or laminate. Both rely on the same principle—conductive material redirects electromagnetic energy around the interior. Bags are practical for storing and carrying back-up devices; cages are used for fixed installations. For back-up phones, radios and power banks, a properly tested Faraday bag is the appropriate choice.

Will a Faraday bag affect my device's battery or data?
No. The bag only blocks external electromagnetic signals and radiation. It doesn't drain the battery or alter data stored on the device. You can safely store charged devices inside for extended periods. Just ensure the bag is fully sealed so no signal can enter or leave.

Where can I get Australian space weather forecasts?
The Bureau of Meteorology's Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre (ASWFC) provides solar and geomagnetic forecasts, alerts and educational resources. Their products are used by aviation, defence, emergency services and critical infrastructure operators. For general awareness of solar cycle and space weather, their Space Weather and Educational pages are a good starting point.

Understand the risks. Take proactive steps. Make sure your back-up gear is still working when it counts.