Cybercrime

Koppel Praises Mormons for Their Disaster Readiness

Cybercrime

A doomsday disaster is an immediate possibility, says former Nightline Anchor Ted Koppel.

Known to millions of Americans as the host of ABC News Nightline, Ted Koppel raises the possibility of the nation's electrical grid being vulnerable to a cyber-attack that could have far reaching consequences.

Koppel Praises Mormons for Their Disaster Readiness[/tweetthis]

He has extensively studied the subject for a year, learning in the process that the Department of Homeland Security doesn't have an emergency response plan in case one should ever occur. He has spoken to several former Secretaries of Homeland Security, who all concur, and incumbent Jeb Johnson, handpicked to the post by U.S. President Barack Obama, could only point to a shelf of binders and say there ought to be something somewhere.

Russia, Iran and China already have the capability to carry out such attacks, while North Korea is upgrading itself to be in a position to do so. While Koppel's statements could be attributed to paranoia, the truth is that there is roughly one attack of significance every four days. Republican Randy Weber from Texas testified at a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Research and Technology that in over 300 documented attacks since 2011, no one has been able to zero in on the suspects.

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Ted Koppel has gone to the extent of procuring freeze-dried food for his entire family, including his grandchildren. For its part, the White House has released its emergency preparedness plan should an electromagnetic pulse or EMP knock out the national grid. It defines such a situation – no communications, internet, gas, lights, functioning hospital equipment, ATMs, credit cards, refrigerators, heating or cooling. It could be weeks, months or even years before services are restored, according to an expert.

Ted Koppel outlines all these in his latest book Lights Out.

It is here that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is different. It recommends that its members prepare themselves for an emergency by stockpiling basic food and water supplies that would see them through for three months. It adds that Mormons do so at a gradual pace, without incurring debt. It also notes that wheat, rice and beans may also be stored for a longer term if circumstances permit, as these could theoretically last for thirty years provided they are stored correctly. Rotation of these food supplies to avoid wastage is also part of the plan.

Much of this is based on their scripture, "…if ye are prepared ye shall not fear," which can be found in Section 38 of Doctrine and Covenants.

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