LVXXU

Figure 2-8. Earthquake Vulnerability Hazard Regions Severity Indices for Earthquakes 127, z
Analyzing the impacts of earthquake on TS&D infrastructure involved a review of the probability of damage and severity of damage on infrastructure
components (Table 2-5) and the probability of an event occurring in a region. Comparing this to the types and amounts of energy infrastructure in
the region (e.g., limited liquid fuels pipelines in the Rocky Mountain region) identified regional TS&D infrastructure vulnerabilites.
Responding to Liquid Fuels Disruptions
There is a range of actions that could be taken to address the vulnerabilities outlined in the previous section.
One is to develop strategic and regional stockpiles of oil and refined petroleum products to help respond to
shortfalls caused by breakdowns in the liquid fuel infrastructure, regardless of cause. Another is additional
hardening. Hardening can consist of flood protection (e.g., berms, eves, and floodwalls), self-sufficient electric
power (e.g., a generator sited at a facility that is configured to operate in a safe “island mode” disconnected
from the local electricity grid to supply that facility with electricity during a local grid blackout aa ), and other
measures. A combination of these actions may provide the most cost-effective approach to avoid the loss of
fuel supplies after a natural disaster, recognizing that government and industry (refiners, pipeline companies,
utilities, power providers, the Army Corps of Engineers, and DOE) have different roles in implementing
different measures.
z
For a range of intensities of the event (e.g., earthquakes with a magnitude less than 5), the likely damage was rated on a qualitative 1–5
score (i.e., minor, interrupting, significant, major, and catastrophic). These ratings were based on the extensive review of impacts from
past events and judgment of industry experts.
aa
“Island” facilities are used at facilities such as hospitals, office buildings, and sometimes individual’s homes; they can operate
independently from the grid to provide electricity during a power outage.
QER Report: Energy Transmission, Storage, and Distribution Infrastructure | April 2015 2-33