To build a reliable and resilient energy sector, communities must consider current and future hazards in assessing the vulnerability of their energy systems. The effects of climate events around the United States and the adaptations these communities made to be better prepared in the future provide a helpful window into the benefits of current investments in preventing future vulnerability.
In 2001, Tropical Storm Allison caused historic flooding in downtown Houston, Texas, causing extensive damage. The 700-acre Texas Medical Center complex, the largest aggregated medical campus in the United States, was shut down temporarily and suffered major losses. Water damage compromised emergency generators, switchgear, boiler, and chiller plant, leaving the Medical Center without electric power, heating and cooling, and other essential systems.
In the aftermath, the Center took steps to improve its infrastructure to withstand future floods. All critical infrastructure and program areas were relocated to higher ground and the organization developed a long-term hazard mitigation plan to reduce the impact of future extreme weather events.
The City of Greensburg, Kansas
In 2007, a 1.7-mile wide, EF-5 tornado struck the City of Greensburg, Kansas, causing severe damages; over 90 percent of buildings were affected. In the wake of the event, Greensburg, which relied heavily on fossil fuels for electrical generation, transitioned to 100 percent wind-derived electricity. In addition, all Greensburg buildings are now required to meet LEED platinum certification.
In a reverse example, the Greenwich Hospital, located in Greenwich, Connecticut, proactively improved its energy infrastructure so that the facility could withstand powerful storms. The Hospital installed an energy-efficient 1,250-kW combined heat and power (CHP) system and a 2,000-kW backup generator.
As a result of Greenwich Hospital’s proactive resiliency planning, when Hurricane Sandy hit a few years after the upgrades, the Hospital was able to rely on its backup power and continue running after grid power was lost. The backup generators powered the Hospital immediately after grid power was lost and after just a few minutes the facility was able to rely on its CHP system.
The Take-Away
There are lessons to be learned in these few examples. In Texas and Kansas, communities made changes following devastation from extreme climate events while a proactive hospital in Connecticut was able to continue running while a hurricane left the area powerless. If communities take steps towards improving their infrastructure today, they can avoid devastating losses later.
