What are the likely consequences of prolonged, wide-area electrical power failure?
- lifts [elevators] blocked: people possibly trapped in them
- trains stranded: people possibly stranded in them
- traffic control inoperable: possibility of accidents and queues at road junctions
- critical facilities (hospitals, police stations, etc.) dependent on their own generators
- food refrigeration stops: perished food needs to be disposed of
- food manufacture lines cease operation; food perishes
- no water or sewerage pumping: health and safety regulations put buildings out of use
- electric cars and electrical equipment cannot be recharged
- people with disabilities and illnesses who are dependent on home electrical equipment are at risk or in difficulty
- fuel cannot be pumped: vehicles are gradually immobilized
- there is no street illumination: safety issues at night
- mass communication ceases or is severely limited
- internet communication and commerce cease
- loss of heating systems (for people and indoor animals)
- cows cannot be milked electronically and milk cannot be refrigerated
- cellular telephone networks cease operation as masts and repeaters run out of charge: mobile phone calls are not possible
- people in need are isolated by the cessation of public and personal transportation
- global navigation and positioning systems cannot be used at ground level
- problems may occur with air traffic and navigation as a result of any unreliability of electrically controlled navigation systems (satellites and avionics)
- if conditions are cold, cases of hypothermia rise as a result of loss of heating systems; if the weather is very hot hyperthermia is the risk
- alarm systems are inoperative: cases of burglary and theft rise
- people are stranded away from home as a result of the cessation of public transport and difficulties with private transportation (lack of availability of fuel or vehicle recharging)
- the use of candles leads to an increase in home fires
- electronic transactions do not take place: home purchasing conveyancing fails
- stock market transactions are reduced or cease
- toll booths do not work: loss of revenue or access
- critical information is almost impossible to share (on closures, warnings, evacuation, critical needs and emergency situations)
- it is difficult to construct and share the common operating picture of the emergency, leading to reduced situational awareness by emergency services and crisis managers
- emergency response coordination is plagued by uncertainty, and possibly equipment failure
- it is difficult to buy food, drink and medicines as tills that operate electronically are locked shut and credit and debit cards do not work
- reduced hygiene
- social isolation occurs, with particular effect on vulnerable people, including those with cognitive disabilities
- workplaces are constrained to shut down, with losses of revenue and income
- potential increase in criminal activity (not to be overestimated)
- potential increase in stress-related violence (not to be overestimated)
- cessation of many public administration functions
- supply chains are interrupted or slowed down
- cold chains are out of action
- rubbish collection and disposal are affected by lack of fuel
- educational activities are suspended, with an effect on learning, examinations and childcare
- risk of unrest in prisons
- postponement or cancellation of major activities (sports, arts, religion)
- vehicles (and their occupants) are stranded when they run out of fuel
- failure of sensors, including CCTV
- medical and dental appointments are cancelled
- there may be an increase in the birth rate nine months later
- the functionality of electricity generators in critical facilities cannot be guaranteed and may deteriorate over time
No doubt there are many other potential consequences. The list needs additions and some form of classification (and cross-referencing) of the impacts.
