Guide for Conduct in the Event of Major Damage to the Power Transmission or Distribution Grid
The Romanian Department for Emergency Situations and the Intelligent Energy Association have developed a guide for conduct in the event of a major power transmission or distribution grid failure. This is a useful tool for knowing what to do in the event of a prolonged power outage. The material contains recommendations on how to behave before, during and after a major power outage.
Even though no major power grid failure is anticipated in Romania, such events can occur at any time for various reasons, such as extreme weather conditions, including strong winds, heavy snowfall, and torrential rains causing flooding. Until the situation is remedied, proper conduct and a minimum of preparation in advance can help overcome the difficult moments that may arise from a lack of energy supply.
The guide for dealing with major damage to the power transmission or distribution grid encourages people to prepare an emergency backpack, which should be available in every home.
During a longer power cut it is important to get information from official sources. It is advisable to keep a light switch on to know when the power is back on, while all appliances are unplugged to prevent power fluctuations from causing a breakdown. Special attention will be paid to the creation of a protective microclimate, using methods specific to the winter-summer seasons, protection from excessive cold or heat, food storage and personal hygiene. Constant contact with others can banish feelings of depression and provide a healthy perspective on crisis situations.
Always wait for the electrical system to balance after a major power outage before reconnecting electrical appliances. It is forbidden to approach areas where downed power lines have fallen, and the authorities should be notified. It is also recommended to follow the instructions of the authorities regarding the drinking water supply in the locality.
“Preparedness is a key pillar of the European Union’s strategy to prevent and respond to threats. One of the key recommendations is the development of guidelines to help citizens become self-sufficient for at least 72 hours in the event of an emergency or disaster. To this end, together with representatives of the Intelligent Energy Association, we have developed an essential guide for a prolonged power cut. The guide has the same structure as those already existing on the National fiipregatit.ro Platform and provides, in accessible language, concrete advice on what to do before, during and after a major power outage. We want every citizen to be aware that proper training can turn them into their own saviour in crisis situations, which, unfortunately, we are facing more and more often,” said the Head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Dr. Raed Arafat.
“Power outages in Europe and beyond this year have caused many of us to wonder how to respond in such a situation. We have put together in this guide a series of recommendations on what to do in the event of a major power outage, as well as a very useful kit to be prepared in the event of such a situation, because a strong community is a community prepared to deal with any unforeseen situation. We are glad that the members of the Intelligent Energy Association were part of the team that developed this guide and we will continue to bring to the attention of the general public relevant information on how to react in unexpected situations, through the projects we are running in this regard,” said Monica David, Vice President of the Intelligent Energy Association.
