**2. Power outage**

*Infrastructure Management and Construction*

**74**

**Figure 2.**

**Figure 1.**

*Critical infrastructure sectors [2].*

*Critical infrastructure system [4].*

As has already been noted, naturogenic emergencies and crises may also result in further indications. One of them is a power outage (in some countries we can also find the term blackout). In the Czech Republic, this threat is frequently described as the failure of large-scale electricity supplies, but sometimes we can also find the term "blackout" [7, 8]. In English literature, we can find a replacement for the term "power outage". The term blackout is defined as a total power outage in a large area [9]. Furthermore, this term refers to the moment when the balance between the production and consumption of electricity has been violated, and the security of supply is undermined [7].

Power outage affects not only the lives of people but also the operation of the whole state, especially the economic development of the affected area. The particular feature of the blackout is that the secondary consequences of the outage are many times greater than the effects on the plants for the production, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The cause of this is dominoes that arise from the interconnection of the entire critical infrastructure [8].

It is a predictable factor that causes disturbances on the transmission or distribution system. In this case, the account is also taken of historical events where a power outage was caused mainly by the wind storm. This event could create a cascade effect when one cause gradually raises a series of related events.

Also, the failure of the power supply may be caused by a technical fault. Disturbances, such as transformer fire, can occur both at the power generation points and directly in the transmission and distribution system. If a combination of several serious faults occurs, a significant power outage may occur.

Among other causes, we could include the human factor. In case of concurrence of several negative influences, dispatchers may erroneously assess the situation that may result in a significant power outage. Such conditions are prevented mainly by professionally qualified service personnel and by creating a comprehensive set of safety rules. From the analysis of available data, it is clear that even a terrorist attack may also be a cause of failure. The attack could be made directly, for example, by the destruction of the transformer station, or it could be done through information networks, called the cyberattack.

Finally, there may also be a significant over-flow of energy from foreign grids. An example may be the transport of electricity from power plants in northern Germany to the sampling centers in the southern parts of Germany through the

transmission system of the Czech Republic. In the event of a sudden increase in electricity production, along downtime could occur.

Act No. 458/2000 Coll., on business conditions and the execution of state administration in the energy sector and on the amendment of some laws (Energy Act), indicates that an emergency may occur in the electricity grid. A state of emergency means a condition resulting from natural disasters; measures taken by the state authorities for an emergency, a state of state threat, or a state of war; accidents or cumulation of failures in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution facilities; smog situations according to special regulations; terrorist attack; unbalanced electricity grid balances or parts thereof; transmission of a fault from a foreign electricity system; when physical or personal safety is at risk and causes significant and sudden electricity shortages or threats to the integrity of the power system, its security, and reliability in the whole territory of the state, the significant territory or part thereof [10].

Although the company has relied on electricity infrastructure since the early twentieth century, the increasing complexity of infrastructure and its interdependence with other infrastructures such as information and communication technologies makes it more vulnerable. Even if the electricity supply outage is rare, it will occur more frequently and for a more extended period (the result of naturogenic crisis caused by climate change) [11].

Due to the sophisticated security system, the most likely cause of a major power outage is overlapping several primary reasons at one time. Due to the cause of the power supply outage, the rate of renewal of supplies also develops. If there is marked physical damage to the infrastructure, the recovery time will be proportional to the extent of the damage—in days to weeks [12].

Based on the fact that today's world is dependent on electricity, which is used in all areas of life, the power supply outage may have significant consequences. It could, therefore, be assumed that the power outage will occur in all areas—health, public transport, supply, restriction, or interruption of drinking water, gas, heat, outages of mobile operators, Internet network failure, public safety, etc.

#### **2.1 History of the power outage in the world**

The whole world is struggling with power outages that last for a variety of periods, affecting states or parts of them, and hence different populations. Power outages are widespread in Asia; however, the low level of robustness of the energy network is taken into account. Nevertheless, even developed countries do not avoid these events, as a cascading effect of an ever increasing number of emergencies and crises.

The northeastern portion of the US and the southeastern part of Canada hit an extensive power outage in 2003. In total, about 50 million people were affected, and in some places, a state of emergency was declared. The cause of this outage was the interconnected problems mentioned. It is said to have been the neglect of maintenance of vegetation along backbone power lines, the inability to detect network problems and communication with neighboring power systems, inadequate training of dispatchers, and lack of backup systems.

This power outage resulted in several events. It was a failure of the mobile telephone network due to overloading by a massive number of calls and a lack of energy to charge mobile phones. Mobile network reliability proved to be quite low and unreliable in a crisis. In some places, there has been a drop in pressure in the water pipes, and there is a risk of the entry of dangerous substances and organisms into the water. The electrified lines were out of service throughout the downtime in the USA. In chemical operation, 140 kg of poisonous vinyl chloride was leaked into the river, and some had to be hospitalized. The mines were trapped by miners who evacuated after the resumption of electricity supplies.

**77**

tion of all other lines [7].

whole world (see **Table 1**).

million of the inhabitants.

**2.2 History of the power outage in the Czech Republic**

*Hospital Energy Resilience*

**The date of the power outage**

30/07/2012– 31/07/2012

27/09/2003– 28/09/2003

20/02/1998– 27/03/1998

**Table 1.**

08/09/2011 USA and

11/11/2009 Brazil,

18/08/2005 Indonesia

14/8/2003 USA and

*History of the power outage in the world [author].*

Mexico

Paraguay, and Uruguay

(Java Islands and Bali)

Canada

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86137*

31/03/2015 Turkey The shutdown of two power plants and

11/03/2011 Japan The decommissioning of nuclear power plants,

28/1/2008 China The snowstorm destroyed the very high

26/10/2012 Brazil Fire in the substation 53

India The gap between production and dynamically

In the same year, Italy and Switzerland suffered a significant power outage. It affected about 56 million people. Again, these were cumulative causes that resulted in a significant power outage. The backbone line between Switzerland and Italy was heavily overloaded, and there was a shortage of surrounding vegetation. The operators had 10–15 min to solve this situation, which they could not solve. After the failure of the second backbone line, there was a cascade effect and the interrup-

**Country Cause Inhabitants** 

simultaneous maintenance on transmission lines (not confirmed)

growing consumption (overloaded lines), which has been momentarily exacerbated by unfavorable climatic conditions

Operator error and consequent failure of the high voltage line

after their damage to the tsunami caused by the earthquake

voltage line

Short circuit of three transformers due to heavy rains

Multiple EC failure to eliminate 2700 MW of the power

Italy Storm 56

Short branches of the tree and consequently a weak solution to these initiation faults

New Zealand Repeated failures on the high voltage cables 1

**without electricity (millions)**

70

670

3

4.4

30

60

100

50

The following table shows the history of the significant power outage in the

**Table 1** shows the significant power outage from 1998 to 2015. As can be seen, the largest population without electricity was in 2012 in India. This outage hit 670

Even though the Czech Republic is using efficient instruments of crisis management in the electricity sector, its requirement ever is taken into account that this event may occur. After the devastating storm Kyrill in 2007 and Emma in 2008, we

*Infrastructure Management and Construction*

crisis caused by climate change) [11].

electricity production, along downtime could occur.

transmission system of the Czech Republic. In the event of a sudden increase in

in the whole territory of the state, the significant territory or part thereof [10]. Although the company has relied on electricity infrastructure since the early twentieth century, the increasing complexity of infrastructure and its interdependence with other infrastructures such as information and communication technologies makes it more vulnerable. Even if the electricity supply outage is rare, it will occur more frequently and for a more extended period (the result of naturogenic

Due to the sophisticated security system, the most likely cause of a major power

Based on the fact that today's world is dependent on electricity, which is used in all areas of life, the power supply outage may have significant consequences. It could, therefore, be assumed that the power outage will occur in all areas—health, public transport, supply, restriction, or interruption of drinking water, gas, heat,

The whole world is struggling with power outages that last for a variety of periods, affecting states or parts of them, and hence different populations. Power outages are widespread in Asia; however, the low level of robustness of the energy network is taken into account. Nevertheless, even developed countries do not avoid these events,

The northeastern portion of the US and the southeastern part of Canada hit an extensive power outage in 2003. In total, about 50 million people were affected, and in some places, a state of emergency was declared. The cause of this outage was the interconnected problems mentioned. It is said to have been the neglect of maintenance of vegetation along backbone power lines, the inability to detect network problems and communication with neighboring power systems, inadequate train-

This power outage resulted in several events. It was a failure of the mobile telephone network due to overloading by a massive number of calls and a lack of energy to charge mobile phones. Mobile network reliability proved to be quite low and unreliable in a crisis. In some places, there has been a drop in pressure in the water pipes, and there is a risk of the entry of dangerous substances and organisms into the water. The electrified lines were out of service throughout the downtime in the USA. In chemical operation, 140 kg of poisonous vinyl chloride was leaked into the river, and some had to be hospitalized. The mines were trapped by miners who

outage is overlapping several primary reasons at one time. Due to the cause of the power supply outage, the rate of renewal of supplies also develops. If there is marked physical damage to the infrastructure, the recovery time will be propor-

outages of mobile operators, Internet network failure, public safety, etc.

as a cascading effect of an ever increasing number of emergencies and crises.

tional to the extent of the damage—in days to weeks [12].

**2.1 History of the power outage in the world**

ing of dispatchers, and lack of backup systems.

evacuated after the resumption of electricity supplies.

Act No. 458/2000 Coll., on business conditions and the execution of state administration in the energy sector and on the amendment of some laws (Energy Act), indicates that an emergency may occur in the electricity grid. A state of emergency means a condition resulting from natural disasters; measures taken by the state authorities for an emergency, a state of state threat, or a state of war; accidents or cumulation of failures in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution facilities; smog situations according to special regulations; terrorist attack; unbalanced electricity grid balances or parts thereof; transmission of a fault from a foreign electricity system; when physical or personal safety is at risk and causes significant and sudden electricity shortages or threats to the integrity of the power system, its security, and reliability

**76**


#### **Table 1.**

*History of the power outage in the world [author].*

In the same year, Italy and Switzerland suffered a significant power outage. It affected about 56 million people. Again, these were cumulative causes that resulted in a significant power outage. The backbone line between Switzerland and Italy was heavily overloaded, and there was a shortage of surrounding vegetation. The operators had 10–15 min to solve this situation, which they could not solve. After the failure of the second backbone line, there was a cascade effect and the interruption of all other lines [7].

The following table shows the history of the significant power outage in the whole world (see **Table 1**).

**Table 1** shows the significant power outage from 1998 to 2015. As can be seen, the largest population without electricity was in 2012 in India. This outage hit 670 million of the inhabitants.

#### **2.2 History of the power outage in the Czech Republic**

Even though the Czech Republic is using efficient instruments of crisis management in the electricity sector, its requirement ever is taken into account that this event may occur. After the devastating storm Kyrill in 2007 and Emma in 2008, we

must admit that [13]. In this respect, critical infrastructure equipment is a back-up powerhouse with its fuel supply, which is capable of covering the consumption of essential offices, hospitals, etc. [7]. Hospitals are a critical infrastructure sector where it is necessary to operate as soon as possible restored.

The failure to supply electricity of the same magnitude as the one mentioned in the world has not yet been recorded in the Czech Republic. There were only local power outages or power line interruptions. These are several, frequently caused by extraordinary events and crises of a natural character.

On the verge of the power outage was the power industry declared an emergency on 24 July 2006 in the Czech Republic. It was not a typical power outage regarding a fatal impact on the consumer—no households have been interrupted by the supply of electricity in the Czech Republic. However, due to the announced regulatory levels, large consumers have had to limit their collection [14]. The reason for this outage was the previous rupture between the Hradec and Etzenricht substation. This line was replaced, but on July 24, when the substation was re-connected to an unexpected outage at the Diviča substation, this increased the demand from the Czech Republic to Austria. The cascade effect then caused further outages [14].

Another reported power outage, this time with an impact on the population, had a cause in the Kyrill storm, which was moved across Western and Central Europe and also hit the Czech Republic in 2007. The CEZ Energy Group has declared a state of emergency in the Czech Republic as a result of this storm. Due to the consequences of the wind turbine, 27 percent of CEZ Group supply points were found without electricity, which includes more than a million households. This condition was caused mainly by the fall of trees and branches into power line, thunderstorm, and other weather influences [15].

Emma was struck by Europe and the Czech Republic a year later. Again, it caused the fall of trees to power lines, which resulted in up to 920,000 households without electricity. The Herwart storm came as a result of the fall of trees to power lines in the Czech Republic 10 years after Emma's. CEZ Group has declared a calamity situation in eight regions. Without electricity, there were 500,000 subscribers. CEZ Group registered approximately 14,000 households without electricity [16].

There was also an intense storm of Fabianne in 2018. This storm caused power outages, primarily because of the trees grabbed on the line. There were 160,000 households without electricity.

From the history of large-scale power supply outages, it can be observed that the greatest cascade effects caused by naturogenic phenomena have the greatest effect on the outage.

### **2.3 Power outage in the hospitals**

This part of the chapter deals with the history of power supply outages with impact toward the hospitals. A list of selected events according to the time horizon in selected parts of the world is presented.

An earthquake hit the islands of Lombok and Bali in Asia in July and August 2018. During this disaster, 98 people died. The earthquake intensity was on the seventh Richter scale. This catastrophe has caused landslides and as a consequence of the downstream cascade effect, power outage [17]. The main hospital in Tanjung in the north was critically damaged and evacuated. Employees prepared a provisional hospital—about 30 beds were in the shade of the trees and in the tent on the playground to have a place to treat the wounded. Other hospitals were overcrowded, and some patients were treated in car parks [18].

**79**

Poland [22].

in the power outage.

to the hospitals of such magnitude.

**3. Crisis management and healthcare**

quency plan based on the specific situation [10].

*Hospital Energy Resilience*

has been interrupted.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86137*

Portugal, which was also hit by flash floods [19].

than 7.5 million people were without electricity [21].

cellars. The aggregates that were placed here ceased to work.

Tropical storm Leslie hit Europe in 2018. This storm hit mainly the southern part of Europe. The most affected were Portugal, France, Spain, and the island state of Mallorca. The storm caused a flash flood in these states. The hospitals were flooded, and thousands of people in France were evacuated. A similar situation was also in

Another was the Irma Hurricane in the US. It was the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic in recorded history. The storm arrived on the Barbuda coast in September 2017. Its wind speed was 185 miles per hour for 37 hours. More than 10 million people have stayed in Florida without electricity. More than 5 million Florida residents were evacuated [20]. Some hospitals were affected by Hurricane Irma. Hospital staff decided to dismiss patients who were able to be in home care. Other patients had to be evacuated to other hospitals. In some hospitals, urgent income

Hurricane Sandy arrived on the US coast in October 2012. It was a post-tropical cyclone. The Hurricane began as a tropical wave in the Caribbean and quickly, in just 6 hours, turned into a tropical storm. It turned into a hurricane during October 24th. The total deaths reached 285, including 125 deaths in the United States. Hurricane caused damage of \$ 62 billion and \$ 315 million in the Caribbean. More

Hurricane Sandy caused floods to hit hospitals, causing power outages in New York. Five hospitals were forced to evacuate patients. The evacuation was also required due to power outages. Other hospitals were evacuated due to the flood of

These events are just a selection of some naturogenic disasters that have had an impact on the hospitals. A naturogenic disaster did not cause the following power outage. It was a power outage that lasted for 6 weeks in 1998. The city of Auckland was hit in New Zealand. A technical failure caused this outage. The initial assumptions of the downtime were for 1 week and then the estimates of the energy company's employees were specified per month. The number of banking data centers, stock exchanges, central city offices, customs and immigration, inland revenue, internal affairs, social care, Auckland City Council, central police, significant hospitals, University campus and technical institute, television and radio stations, hotels, and more was affected. Although many of these buildings have generators, various switching failures have caused problems and subsequent outages. Some institutions have tackled a power failure by purchasing aggregates from Australia or

The Czech Republic has not met the failure of electricity supply with the impact

As mentioned above, the security threats to the Czech Republic, but also the whole world have the character of naturogenic or anthropogenic. These may result

Act No. 458/2000 Coll. regulates energy in the crisis (Energy Act) and the decrees of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Decree No. 80/2010 Coll., Decree No. 344/2012 Coll., Decree No. 225/2001 Coll.). Electricity for the population will be delivered according to the appropriate level of regulation, tripping, and fre-

The Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic is responsible for crisis management in health care. To that purpose, a crisis preparedness workplace is set up [23].

#### *Hospital Energy Resilience DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86137*

*Infrastructure Management and Construction*

and other weather influences [15].

households without electricity.

**2.3 Power outage in the hospitals**

in selected parts of the world is presented.

and some patients were treated in car parks [18].

electricity [16].

on the outage.

must admit that [13]. In this respect, critical infrastructure equipment is a back-up powerhouse with its fuel supply, which is capable of covering the consumption of essential offices, hospitals, etc. [7]. Hospitals are a critical infrastructure sector

The failure to supply electricity of the same magnitude as the one mentioned in the world has not yet been recorded in the Czech Republic. There were only local power outages or power line interruptions. These are several, frequently caused by

On the verge of the power outage was the power industry declared an emergency on 24 July 2006 in the Czech Republic. It was not a typical power outage regarding a fatal impact on the consumer—no households have been interrupted by the supply of electricity in the Czech Republic. However, due to the announced regulatory levels, large consumers have had to limit their collection [14]. The reason for this outage was the previous rupture between the Hradec and Etzenricht substation. This line was replaced, but on July 24, when the substation was re-connected to an unexpected outage at the Diviča substation, this increased the demand from the Czech Republic to Austria. The cascade effect then caused further outages [14].

Another reported power outage, this time with an impact on the population, had a cause in the Kyrill storm, which was moved across Western and Central Europe and also hit the Czech Republic in 2007. The CEZ Energy Group has declared a state of emergency in the Czech Republic as a result of this storm. Due to the consequences of the wind turbine, 27 percent of CEZ Group supply points were found without electricity, which includes more than a million households. This condition was caused mainly by the fall of trees and branches into power line, thunderstorm,

Emma was struck by Europe and the Czech Republic a year later. Again, it caused the fall of trees to power lines, which resulted in up to 920,000 households without electricity. The Herwart storm came as a result of the fall of trees to power lines in the Czech Republic 10 years after Emma's. CEZ Group has declared a calamity situation in eight regions. Without electricity, there were 500,000 subscribers. CEZ Group registered approximately 14,000 households without

There was also an intense storm of Fabianne in 2018. This storm caused power outages, primarily because of the trees grabbed on the line. There were 160,000

From the history of large-scale power supply outages, it can be observed that the greatest cascade effects caused by naturogenic phenomena have the greatest effect

This part of the chapter deals with the history of power supply outages with impact toward the hospitals. A list of selected events according to the time horizon

An earthquake hit the islands of Lombok and Bali in Asia in July and August 2018. During this disaster, 98 people died. The earthquake intensity was on the seventh Richter scale. This catastrophe has caused landslides and as a consequence of the downstream cascade effect, power outage [17]. The main hospital in Tanjung in the north was critically damaged and evacuated. Employees prepared a provisional hospital—about 30 beds were in the shade of the trees and in the tent on the playground to have a place to treat the wounded. Other hospitals were overcrowded,

where it is necessary to operate as soon as possible restored.

extraordinary events and crises of a natural character.

**78**

Tropical storm Leslie hit Europe in 2018. This storm hit mainly the southern part of Europe. The most affected were Portugal, France, Spain, and the island state of Mallorca. The storm caused a flash flood in these states. The hospitals were flooded, and thousands of people in France were evacuated. A similar situation was also in Portugal, which was also hit by flash floods [19].

Another was the Irma Hurricane in the US. It was the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic in recorded history. The storm arrived on the Barbuda coast in September 2017. Its wind speed was 185 miles per hour for 37 hours. More than 10 million people have stayed in Florida without electricity. More than 5 million Florida residents were evacuated [20]. Some hospitals were affected by Hurricane Irma. Hospital staff decided to dismiss patients who were able to be in home care. Other patients had to be evacuated to other hospitals. In some hospitals, urgent income has been interrupted.

Hurricane Sandy arrived on the US coast in October 2012. It was a post-tropical cyclone. The Hurricane began as a tropical wave in the Caribbean and quickly, in just 6 hours, turned into a tropical storm. It turned into a hurricane during October 24th. The total deaths reached 285, including 125 deaths in the United States. Hurricane caused damage of \$ 62 billion and \$ 315 million in the Caribbean. More than 7.5 million people were without electricity [21].

Hurricane Sandy caused floods to hit hospitals, causing power outages in New York. Five hospitals were forced to evacuate patients. The evacuation was also required due to power outages. Other hospitals were evacuated due to the flood of cellars. The aggregates that were placed here ceased to work.

These events are just a selection of some naturogenic disasters that have had an impact on the hospitals. A naturogenic disaster did not cause the following power outage. It was a power outage that lasted for 6 weeks in 1998. The city of Auckland was hit in New Zealand. A technical failure caused this outage. The initial assumptions of the downtime were for 1 week and then the estimates of the energy company's employees were specified per month. The number of banking data centers, stock exchanges, central city offices, customs and immigration, inland revenue, internal affairs, social care, Auckland City Council, central police, significant hospitals, University campus and technical institute, television and radio stations, hotels, and more was affected. Although many of these buildings have generators, various switching failures have caused problems and subsequent outages. Some institutions have tackled a power failure by purchasing aggregates from Australia or Poland [22].

The Czech Republic has not met the failure of electricity supply with the impact to the hospitals of such magnitude.
