Kingston Community Risk Register

Loss of utilities can happen at any time and with little warning. Loss of a single service can have direct and indirect wider impacts on other utilities that support normal day to day living. For example, electricity is required at water pumping stations, fuel filling stations and to allow cash machines to function. A blackout can be caused by a range of things, such as severe weather including strong winds or lighting. A national outage would be very severe, causing significant disruption to critical sectors and overall society.

The recovery process from such an event is called ‘Black Start’. However a full Black Start recovery could take up to five days with the potential for disruption to last longer than this if the damage to the network is significant.

Impacts

• Loss of power, heating, cooking and washing facilities.
• Critical home health equipment fails.
• Communication systems fail.
• Transport and traffic management systems fail.
• Long delays.
• Darker streets.
• Disruption to food shops and supplies.

What residents can do

• Have a wind up torch to hand.
• Have a battery powered radio.
• Keep electrical devices fully charged.
• Consider how you can be prepared.
• Know where to turn off your utilities.
• If you are vulnerable, sign up to the Priorities Risk Register.
• If you experience a power cut, call 105.
• Ensure high school children know alternative routes to school, home and to your chosen relocation site.

What the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector can do

• Consider some form of backup power supply (fixed or portable) mains power or renewable.
• Don’t open or use refrigeration equipment until necessary.
• Have paper copies of essential documents (contact details, address, payment details and for vulnerable users).
• Have a paper based system for taking orders and requests in case of a protracted power disruption (have printed spare copies).