EMC065 Eternal Vigilance!
To:   Emergency Management Agencies via Internet and Radio
Info: Communications Volunteers in Government Service
By:   Auxiliary Communications Service Unit (ACS) of the
      California Governor's Office of Emergency Services
 
Bulletin EMC065 - Eternal Vigilance!   For release 2-3-97
 
The following is from a l990 utility company report after the
Loma Prieta Earthquake in l989. It is a reminder that when it
is quiet and uneventful, it's easy to be lulled into thinking that
all of our equipment is operative and will do the job when it is
needed. However, as the following indicates, forever vigilance is
required to be ready when the need does occur.
 
1. Sloshing battery acid resulted in unexpected damage.
2. Buckled battery stands resulted in battery damage
3. Weld failures caused batteries to shift
4. Unistrut end rails came loose and batteries fell to floor
5. "C" washers on door locking bars shook loose and fell 
   into 1/2" space of 48 volt 6000 AMP bus bar shorting the circuit
6. 48 volt, 600 amp distribution cable moved 6" to short to a
   metal case and then it returned to normal placement
7. Gas turbine engine floor mooring anchors pulled out in a
   4th floor installation
8. Light fixtures dangling from KONDU compression fittings
   (which should not be used to support equipment)
9. Fuel transfer lines shaken loose
10. 2500KW generator failed under load. 1000KW backup overheated
    and failed. 1700 KW generator had to be trucked in via the
    badly disrupted highways
11. 350KW generator would only carry 100 KW load and soon failed
    but meanwhile end cells melted down.
12. 350KW generator ran for short time, caught fire and failed.
13. 500KW replacement generator was placed too close to a building
    and could not cool itself.
14. 115KW generator started up immediately after the earthquake
    but after five hours shut down due to overspeed failure (that
    turned out to be a loose damper shaft.)
15. 125KW gas turbine failed to start after the earthquake
 
While these items refer to one company's problems, it can serve
to remind us that the unexpected can and does occur. Relate it to
your own facilities and equipment. Then look them over with a new
eye to discern potential failures where LEAST expected.
 
ACS Web page: http://acs.oes.ca.gov   ACS Landline BBS 916-262-1657
FTP archive:  ftp.ucsd.edu/hamradio/packet/tcpip/incoming for
new bulletins and ftp.ucsd.edu/hamradio/races for earlier bulletins
OES ACS staff manager Stan Harte, Email: stanharter@juno.com
Send messages WITH attachments to cmangum@mail.macnexus.org
W6WWW: crm@oes1 oes.ca.gov Packet W6WWW@KM6PX.#NOCAL.USA.NA
EOM EMC065