Are we at risk of fires/explosions in our homes from malfunctions in the electric utilities and natural gas systems?

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I would very much appreciate any expert opinions/information expressed here,as well as references to authoritative articles/sites on these 2 potentially life-threatening issues.

I have seen various, but usually non-expert explanations regarding this potentially universal disaster, almost all of which have expressed opinions of a strong potential of fires (in some cases, explosions) triggered by malfunctions somewhere in the grid, as well as somewhere in the LPG chain.

As many utilities experts are forecasting potential grid disruptions for up to several years, then we may be subject to fires and/or explosions for that entire period of time, POTENTIALLY EVERY SINGLE DAY, if the articles I have read have are founded on any factual or logical basis.

Further, as there is a strong possibility of disruptions in public services, including the fire department, then we may be faced with a senario of being at the total mercy of potential fires/explosions occuring not only in our homes, but also coming from our neighbors' homes, and potentially, with little/no hope of either sufficient notice from alarm systems, ability to call 911, or timely or any posse to the rescue in the form of the fire department, whether 'just in time', or at all. Thus, major firestorms may be a possiblity.

Under any such senario, how do we prepare??? Other than the obvious probably inadequate fire extinguishers ?

Can any experts in this field dicuss the potential for surges or spikes or other electrical malfunctional manifestations frying our home electronics equipment and appliances, and advise preparation techniques??

Which surge/spike protectors are the most ideal for expensive electronics equipment?? Small and large appliances???

What is the potential risk of having gas fireplaces?? If a potential danger, is my shutting off my individual pilot lite a guarantee of no explosion in my place, thus reducing my worry to all the other apartments surrounding me??? And, shutting it off for the entire potential multi-year 'danger' period....which also would eliminate a source of heat???

If there are truly potential dangers as discussed here, which are absolutely life-threatening, probably as much or more so than any other aspect of y2k malfunctions, why so little focus on finding precise answers and discussing proper preparations, if there are any?

I thank any of you in advance for your hopefully enlightening and informative responses to any or all of my questions!

-- Anonymous, November 18, 1998

Answers

Ken, there is some discussion of surge protection under the 11/15 question on "power surges". Here is some other info I copied:

"Surge protection for computers and anything else that's sensitive (your home entertainment electronics?) is a good thing. If your computer equipment isn't already connected to a surge protected power strip or UPS (uninterruptable power supply), you probably should close down your computer, go out and buy one, and return to this page after doing that. Year 2000 related computer problems isn't the only reason for power surges. Lightning strikes, and even metallized mylar kites shorting power lines to each other have resulted in thousands of volts coming out of your nominal 110 volt AC power line. If you're running off a generator, power surges are common. A surge-protected power strip once saved my own computer which was running off one and died in the process.

Power surges are very probable on New Years Eve 1999, as various sections of the power grid are switched on and offline. If you're seriously paranoid, either unplug that evening or consider adding a cheap surge protector between your good one and the wall so if a power surge hits as a sacrifice to protect the more expensive one. By the way, the ones with MOV varistors wear out from normal use every couple or three years. After that, they retain their use as power strips, but don't protect anymore. Most low - medium cost surge-protected power strips use them. If you're buying, make sure yours has UL1449 compliance, and has three protected lines. (ground-hot, ground-neutral, hot-neutral) You might as well get surge protection for your incoming phone line(s) as well. Some power surge boxes have it built-in (the ones with 2 phone jacks), or you can get separate boxes.

For business use, a UPS (uninterruptable power supply) is a good thing to have for post Y2K conditions, as I am expecting frequent blackouts and brownouts. This can not only damage your computer, but eat your last several hours of work. A small one can give you time to save all your work and shut down cleanly, a big one can keep you working.

For larger power problems (like an office with quite a few machines) a backup generator system is the way to go to keep critical functions up. Note that with a generator, you need surge protection (or better, UPS systems) to provide safe power for computer systems. Make sure you've got at least one POTS ("plain old telephone service") phone that does NOT require electrical power at your home and business and make sure that it works."

I would love to give credit for this information, but unfortunately I copied it a long time ago and neglected to include the source. I do not have any information on the gas questions you asked, nor have I read anything which mentioned any risks in that area - other than not having gas delivery at all.

Most of the fire cautions I've read about pertain to the dangers automatically present during any natural disaster, if people are trying to stay warm in their homes, or cook, and resort to any type of open flame. Having fire extinguishers on hand and being very careful in handling candles, lanterns, etc. if the power is out, is a homeowner's only real option as far as I can see. Larger events are out of our control, just as they are in everyday life. If it helps, during the upper New York State/Canada ice storm last winter, when power was out for weeks, I did not read about or hear of any problems due to fires or explosions. I know that outage was not in the same category as Y2K disruptions, but it does show that people can be careful when they have to. I did read about a higher incidence of domestic fights, when people in close quarters began to get on each other's nerves. Suddenly being without the constant electronic input and noise (TV, stereo, radio, computer games) caused some to go through a kind of sensory withdrawal. Card games and books came into their own. My brother-in-law (without electricity for weeks) reported he had read more books then than in the whole year before.

-- Anonymous, November 18, 1998


Last year an 8-unit apartment building in our complex caught fire after one of the tenants put nine (9!) pine logs in his fireplace at once. The wood frame building could not be saved.

My impression is that inexperience and ignorance with regard to indoor fireplaces will still be with us in January, 2000. Any extended power outage in winter is bound to present this sort of problem. In this area (Atlanta metro) the population is so heterogeneous, with many new immigrants from warm countries, it may be more likely.

-- Anonymous, November 22, 1998


Unfortunately there is no such thing as a perfectly safe system. Last summer, our area had the power going on and off because of a windstorm. Finally we got such a surge of voltage that I heard a loud pop in my bedroom - I believe it was a small arc inside an electrical receptacle. Could have been from lightning, could have been our tortured electrical system reacting to the constantly changing electrical loads. Less than amused and wondering how many of the house's electrical appliances had been fried in the surge, I went downstairs and threw the main breaker for the house. Now my house was fairly well isolated from the electrical system. My neighbors reported a few damaged appliances but we got away without damage.

BUT!! I beg of you PLEASE do not fiddle with your main breaker (or main fuses for the older homes) unless you understand what you are doing. I've seen some boxes, especially in older homes, that could electrocute you if you are not careful. So follow Pournelle's law: "If you don't know what you are doing, deal with someone who does." You may know how to throw the main breaker, but if you don't perhaps one of your neighbors does. Stay safe!

So here's my point. On 31 Dec 1999 at 10:30pm EST (or 11:30pm if I'm feeling lucky), I plan to throw the main breaker, sit by the fire and hope for the best!

-- Anonymous, November 30, 1998


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