Hundreds of people are at the beach,
soaking up the hot summer sun.
What's that?
Something catches your eye.
You look up at the sky and see
an aurora?
People around you start taking out
their phones to post a picture of the spectacle.
Suddenly, everyone loses their phone signal.
Something strange is going on.
A stream of solar particles
is crashing into the Earth's magnetic field,
at speeds of up to
8 million km/h (5 million mph).
You might want to be prepared,
because the worst is yet to come.
A coronal mass ejection is a
massive burst of plasma
and electromagnetic radiation
released from the Sun.
The good news is that
Earth's magnetosphere and atmosphere
shield us from these dangerous particles.
But even though solar storms
can't hurt us physically,
they can seriously affect our technology.
One of the most devastating solar flares
to hit Earth happened in 1859.
The Carrington Event.
The radiation shocked telegraph operators,
and set telegraph pylons on fire.
Today, in the worst-case scenario,
an intense solar storm could
overload our electric grids,
sending our world into a blackout.
The main threat you'll have to face
during a solar storm is a blackout.
That means no electricity,
no communications,
no internet,
and no social media?
You have got a better chance
of surviving a blackout
if you prepare beforehand.
Have the essential items you'd need
for any type of disaster.
Doomsday preppers recommend
a 30-day supply of food and water.
Stock up on non-perishable foods,
like canned goods and dried foods,
since your fridge won't be working.
Each person will need about
4 liters (1 gallon) of water each day.
Now that you have the necessities
on hand for any disaster,
what should you do
when a solar storm blackout happens?
And what if you didn't prepare in advance?
Grocery stores may run out of food
with the disruption of supply chains.
And if you can't grow your own food,
you'll have to save your food
for as long as possible.
If your water supply's still working,
fill up your bathtub
and other containers with water.
Keep your fridge closed as much as you can.
There won't be any electricity,
but that should keep your food
at a safe temperature for about 4 hours.
Your freezer should stay cold
for about 48 hours.
And don't forget to eat your fruits and veggies,
those are the foods that will spoil first.
During the day, find and collect matches,
flashlights, or any other sources of light.
You wouldn't want to be stuck in the dark,
and we wouldn't recommend
making a fire in your house.
While you're searching, make sure to
lock all the windows and doors.
Keep your home safe from intruders
and burglars when disaster strikes.
And reach out to your neighbors.
See if there's anything you can help them with.
In tough times like this,
they might not be prepared,
or they might just need a friend to talk to.
When a solar storm strikes,
the last place you'd want to be
is up in the air.
Being at a high altitude can increase your risk
of being exposed to solar radiation.
Not only that, but with
satellite communication down,
the plane's navigation system won't work.
Planes could end up traveling
in the wrong direction,
and some might even collide.
And don't even think about riding the subway.
If you think that your rush hour commute
is horrible now,
imagine what it would be like
if the system stops during a solar storm.
Depending on how badly
the power grids are damaged,
it could take years to repair them all.
If there's no system in place
to supply food and water,
you might need money to buy some.
And, since there's no electricity to power
the ATMs and banks,
you'll only have the money you have on hand.
Break out that piggy bank
and crack open your swear jar,
Hopefully, our communities won't
plunge into chaos,
and lead to an economic collapse.
Don't join that angry mob.