|
Ice Storm Scenario
Model: Central Kentucky Ice Storm (January 26, 2009)
A massive ice storm struck Kentucky on January 26, 2009 and continued through the 28th. According to Governor Steve Beshear, the ice storm was the “worst outage event in the history of Kentucky”. Over 700,000 people lost power. The map above indicates counties that reported power outages. Over 35% of Kentucky homes lost power. The Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives estimated that 15,000 power poles snapped under the one-inch thick ice.
Repair crews were hindered by prolonged subzero temperatures.
Four days later, while the rest of the country watched the Super Bowl, over 500,000 Kentucky residents were still without power and 200,000 were without water. Rows of cars were frozen in place along streets and highways. Fuel, kerosene and propane supplies were in short supply with very long waiting lines.
Nine days later (February 5) President Barack Obama declared 93 of Kentucky’s 120 counties as Major Disaster Areas, providing reimbursement for cleanup and repairs.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) closed the last shelter on February 13. The storm was responsible for 36 deaths, including 11 deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning and 8 from hypothermia.
The last known residential power outage was restored on February 23 (29 days after the storm).
How would an identical disaster impact your organization's ability to provide service to customers, the community or patients?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|