Interdependencies Workshop:
Long-term Power Outage
Region 6, EMAC, Critical Infrastructure Working Group
Workshop Details
Date:
May 23, 2019
Time:
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location:
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Seattle
16500 Southcenter Parkway
Seattle, WA 98188
Date:
May 23, 2019
Time:
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location:
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Seattle
16500 Southcenter Parkway
Seattle, WA 98188
This interdependencies workshop focused on a long-term electrical system blackout caused by a CME event striking North America. While most power outage planning revolves around other natural hazard events like windstorms, earthquakes or terrorism, this exercise looked a much longer power outage with widespread impacts to the urban areas as well as suburban and rural communities.
The scenario for the exercise incorporated considerations for the varying impact of blackouts that could last 10, 20, 30 days or more. While concentrating on critical infrastructures, the human impacts to people and systems like our healthcare institutions was included in the workshop.
The threat of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is very real. The Federal Government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to try to detect a solar outburst and provide minutes of warning to earth. Even with a timely warning, organizations do not have procedures in place to protect their electronic systems. The potential impacts from North America receiving a direct hit could be
catastrophic to our electrical grid.
The scenario for the exercise incorporated considerations for the varying impact of blackouts that could last 10, 20, 30 days or more. While concentrating on critical infrastructures, the human impacts to people and systems like our healthcare institutions was included in the workshop.
The threat of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is very real. The Federal Government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to try to detect a solar outburst and provide minutes of warning to earth. Even with a timely warning, organizations do not have procedures in place to protect their electronic systems. The potential impacts from North America receiving a direct hit could be
catastrophic to our electrical grid.
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NOAA Space Weather Prediction Warning Center estimates a G5 Geomagnetic Storm will cause the following types of impacts:
Power systems: Widespread voltage control problems and protective system problems can occur, some grid systems may experience complete collapse or blackouts. Transformers may experience damage. Spacecraft operations: May experience extensive surface charging, problems with orientation, uplink/downlink and tracking satellites. Other systems: Pipeline currents can reach hundreds of amps, HF (high frequency) radio propagation may be impossible in many areas for one to two days, satellite navigation may be degraded for days, low-frequency radio navigation can be out for hours, and aurora has been seen as low as Florida and southern Texas (typically 40° geomagnetic lat.). |
Image: Courtesy NASA
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The goals of the workshop include:
- To educate individuals and organizations who operate our lifeline and other infrastructure systems as to the impacts of a CME event.
- Understand the consequences of a long-term power outage to our systems and their functioning
- Assess the level of planning by government and the private sector specifically for CME events.
- Look for opportunities for infrastructures to incorporate mitigation and prevention measures into their planning and funding to minimize the impacts of a CME event.
- Prepare a report of the findings coming from the workshop
For more information, contact Eric Holdeman at eric.holdeman@pnwer.org or Steve Myers at steve@pnwer.org.
Associated Materials
FEMA Region 10 Power Grid Risk Profile
In 2018 National Preparedness partnered with the DHS Critical Infrastructure Resiliency Institute (CIRI) through the University of Illinois on a Region X Power Grid Risk Profile. The final document has now been released and is available for distribution. The project was a great attempt at peeling back some of the first layers into addressing potential catastrophic power outages in the region. Download the profile. You may also view a webinar by the lead researcher available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3cTV6WmJJo. 
Read the USGS Report: New U.S. Geological Survey Report Assesses Risk of Once-Per-Century Geomagnetic Superstorm to the Northeastern United States-March 5, 2019
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Click here to read the 2018 Electromagnetic Defense Task Force Report from the United States Air Force Air University and the Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education.
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