Effects of a Power Outage

Being in or around the cities has special consequences for power outages. Urban and suburban areas are highly dependent on electricity. There are several of the areas that electricity directly impacts:

As can be experienced at any time the traffic lights in an area are not functioning, traffic flow will be slowed down and can be become dangerous when people become flustered and rushed. Most individuals will behave responsiblity and polietly when trying to cross nonfunctioning traffic lights. However it only takes a few people acting irresponsibly to cause an collision.

Small areas affected by power outages for a limited time pose a very small risk. Larger areas affected by outages, especially when the entire city, can have a much greater effect on traffic congestion. Consider how a single accident at an intersection can affect traffic in several directions for considerable distances. Then consider how as the auto accidents start to multiply how it will affect traffic congestion to a larger degree. Add to it considerable frustration by the slow moving traffic, and more aggressive individuals may take more risky moves (as polietness turns into rudeness).

An increase in aggressive and risky behavior will generally increase the number of collisions caused, which will have a snow-balling effect on causing more frustration. Componding a drivers agressiveness may be a awareness of limited gasoline supplies (a a fear of running out of gass) if gas stations are not able to dispense gasoline without electricity to power the pumps.

Consider these risk factors when designing plans for movement or transportation during any emergency where there is a power outage, in both short term and long term situations.

Very simply, most locations in suburban areas will not have running water after a power outage. However, every area is different. The two major items that have to be considered when looking at the local water supply delivery system is cistern towers and pumping stations.

Pumping stations (and water treatment stations) pull and ‘purify’ the water that is to be delivered to the homes and businesses in the area. Many of these stations contain backup generators or battery banks of some sort to allow them to continue to run in short term power outages.

In some areas pumping stations deliver pressurized water directly to homes and businesses. If the pumping station stops pumping, the water stops flowing. However, after a pumping station no longer pressurizes the water pipes, any water remaining in the pipes may flow down hill (with gravity only) to homes at lower elevations. Additionally water systems that are closed in a vacumme may not flow as easly or at all with no pressure.

In other areas pumping stations deliver water to a cistern tower, also called a water tower. Many areas (especially in drier climates) still employ this method. For long term power outages, this system is much more beneficial. The only power necessary to bring water from most cistern towers into homes and businesses is gravity. The pumping station will continue to refill the cistern as long as it has power from a backup power system. However in these systems, a pumping station is less likely to have a backup power source than in a non-cistern system.

There are a few rare places where water delivery requires little to now power and utilizes gravity and elevation to delivery water. These systems have fewer problems during power outages for obvious reasons.

Another concern, is in some cases water supply delivery systems can become contaiminated if pressure is lost in a power outage. Areas that this occurs, often a boil water advisory will be issued.

Because of the importance of water in an emergency scenario, in almost every case when a long term power outage occurs or is expected, it is vital to store as much water as quickly as possible. After the tap stops flowing, acquiring water becomes much more complex.

Homes are cooled and many are heated using electricity. Most modern homes are built with the expectations that that they will be heated and cooled, compared to older homes which were not. In most older homes, opening doors and windows would enable cross breezes that would naturally regulate the moisture and temperature of the home. More modern homes have this as a secondard effect instead of an intended design. Although most homes will be well insulated against the cold, often homes will become somewhat of a hot box in warmer climates without electricity to move air via a cooling system or simple fans.

Power outages effect on communication can be complex. However, the primary notation is to not expect any current primary communication to work long term.

Cell phones must be charged, and will eventually run out of battery power without a way to recharge them (which is easily done). Cell phones require a cell phone tower to be functioning in the area for communication to work. Some towers have generators or battery back up systems, but will only function for a limited amount of time in a longer power outage emergency. Cell phone towers relay information to a communication center (either via a wired line, series of wireless connections, or satellite). The communication center must authenticate the the account and encryption information from the cell phone before making a connection. Then of course the number the cell phone is dialing must be functional.

Lan (phone lines) will often function in short term power outages. Standard phone lines recieve the electrical current they need from a phone junction center. The phone junction center often will have power when a local area does not. However, if the power is out in the area that the phone junction is located, then the phone lines in that area will not function. In the past, the Lan Line (Phone line) system was independent from other methods of communication. However to further complicate things, in the era of modern communication phone lines have started using satellite uplinks, internet connections, and wireless communication to connect one call to another.

Local radio stations often will be able to broadcast during a short term power outage, if they have a generator. However many radio stations are no longer local, and are simply repeater stations for shows and programing in other cities. Depending on how wide spread the power outages are some radio stations may be functioning when others are not.

Satellite services may be functioning and may provide key information from around the world. However it requires a power source to recieve the signal locally.

In some areas the sewage is transported uphill using a presurized system. In other areas, electricity is used to move sewage through treatment centers and various gateways. Some sewage systems will become backed up during extended power outages. Some areas are more fortunate, and the sewage system is gravity driven (or have septic tanks) and will continue to function simply by pouring water in the toliet to flush them even after the power is out.

It almost should go without saying, but refrigeration will not function without electricity. Although this is already likely part of any survival plans in any residential home, there are effects of commericial refrigeration that may need to be addressed. All refrigeration of items in grocery stores will fail, and due to the limited insulation will spoil very quickly. Staples such as milk and eggs will not be able to be purchased almost immediently. Medications that require refrigeration will also spoil.

It has been said that America is becoming a “take-out” nation. Fewer and fewer people prepare meals at home, and more and more people are either eating out, or picking up prepared meals on the way home.

Even in a short term emergency where there is no power (or no water), hot meals from restaurants and fast food will not be an option. A few establishments that cook with natural gas, brick ovens or BBQ pits may have limited service for a short period of time.

In a very short period of time, individuals who are used to just-in-time food (drive thru fast food) who now have a radical change in their diet will at the very least become stressed.

Many banks have battery backups for the computer systems. However today’s banking is not just a closed system within a bank. A banks ability to cash a check, check account balances, make withdrawls or deposits are all dependent on the communication between banks in a secure financial version of the internet. There are power outage contingency plans, but how long will they continue to function during a power outage is unknown. The power outage in the North Eastern United States in 2003 was the first real world test of this system, and it passed.

Although banks may have been closed locally for customers locally, the banking system nation wide was only affected to a minor degree. However this was only for a short term power outage. The banking system in New Orleans did not fair so well after Hurricane Katrina. That power outage covered a much longer time period and there were infrastructure problems as well. As people left New Orleans they were unable to access funds in banks within that area.

ATMs will not function. Banks only have very limited cash on hand. In the event of an emergency with a power outage in other areas, even if banks are fully functional, withdrawing more than a couple of hundred dollars from a bank account will be impossible.

The purpose of business is to make money. Most businesses can not operate (or generate income) without electricity. If the power outage is not extremely short term, it can be expected that mass layoff’s (or time off without pay) can be expected. There are job functions for businesses that can and will occur without electricity, and some may have an increase in demand (like private security firms).

No work generally means no income (cash, check, direct deposit, or otherwise). However, no work does not mean that bills do not have to be paid (for those services that are still able to collect without electricity).

Those who are in business, or employeed by a business, that will not be able to function without electricity, a backup source of income, or an emergency fund, to pay the bills should be considered.

Many large stores long ago shifted to a Just-In-Time (JIT) delivery system, and recieved shipments nearly daily. This system is very fragile for shipping stopage reasons, but with power outages, there is another concern. The standard procedure for years has been management would place daily to weekly orders for products they sold and that were requested by customers. However, this system is being automated. Products will be ordered and shipped automatically based upon purchasing patters at the register. If these systems fail due to a power outage on either side, products can not be sent to the local store.

Other concers include:

Cold items without refrigeration will spoil quickly.
Ability to process payments other than cash.
Ability to know what to charge for a product, as prices are less frequently marked on products.
Lighting and climate control.

As our economy becomes more inter-linked, more of the product delivery depends upon mail delivery. This includes services like USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL. All of these services are highly dependent on computer databases and electronic sorting and tracking. Although the mail delivery person may still be able to drive to deliver the mail, the sorting facilities across the nation may not be able to get the mail & packages to the local area to be delivered.

Some services, such as some smaller pharmacies, recieve some of their product using mail and package delivery. Using home mail delivery is often consider an alternative to the JIT (Just in Time) delivery system, but the mail system has its own limitations.

Many hospitals, emergency care facilities and larger medical centers have a backup power source; however the average local general practitioner, specialist or dentist does not. Although in a short term emergency where there is no electricty, urgent care will be able to be provided, standard care will not be as assessible. Although most doctors will still be able to see clients luxaries such as digital medical records, hi-tech diagnostic equipment, and computerized encyclopedia and diagnostic software will not be available.

Without easy access to preventive health care, contagious diseases will be more likely to go undiagnosed and spread. This will put a larger burden on the emergency care facilities as long as they are operational.