PSE&G Response to
Super Storm Sandy
“Operating Procedures During a Flood Event” - 3/21/13
41,547 Premise Inspections
Performed by PSE&G Employees
Super Storm Sandy – 10/29 to 11/12
• 25 Towns Impacted by Significant Flooding
– Central Region
• Harrison, Newark, Bayonne, Hoboken, Jersey City, Kearney
– Northern Region
• East Rutherford, Little Ferry, Lyndhurst, Moonachie,
Rutherford, South Hackensack, Wallington, Bogota,
Edgewater, Hackensack, New Milford, Ridgefield Park
Village, River Edge, Teaneck
– Mid-Central Region
• East Brunswick, Sayreville, South Amboy, South River
Initial Responsibilities
• Secure “Emergency Travel Ban” Letters
• Perform Downed Wire Monitoring for Electric Delivery
• Perform Damage Assessment
• Proactively Open Communications with Municipalities
• Provide Flood Safety Training
• Establish Field Command Centers
• Engage Procurement (Supply Chain)
• Determine Manpower Requirements
7,000+ Gas Meters Were Replaced
Hoboken High-Rise Building - 326
Flooded Meters Replaced
Over 6,700 Premises - 1 or More
Violations Issued
200+ Gas Employees Provided Daily
Support for Electric Delivery
– Standby for Downed
Wires
– Management of
Foreign Crews
Gas System Infrastructure Issues
– 6 District Regulator
Stations (PSIG to
Inches WC) Impacted
by Flooding
– 26 M&R Locations
Lost Communications
During Storm
Property Damage to PSE&G
Gas Facilities
– Damage to Orange,
Plainfield, Harrison,
Oakland & Trenton
District Locations (5)
– Harrison District
Building Evacuated
with Significant Flood
Damage
Gas Operational Impacts
• Loss of System “Sight” and “Control” at Major
System Supply Points
• Basement Wall Collapses in Residential
Buildings
• Obtaining Adequate Fuel and Food Supplies to
Support Operations in Areas Affected by
Extended Power Outage
Field Command Centers -
Responsibilities
• Local Damage Assessment
• OEM Coordination
• Gas Distribution Responsibilities
• Workload Assessment
• Couriers/District Guides
• Deployment of Field Personnel
• Restoration Records
Support for Impacted Towns –
5 Field Command Centers &
4 Customer Care Centers
Field Command Centers
• Rapid Access to Tents, Trailers, Emergency
Generators, Portable Lighting, Space Heaters,
etc. for Multiple Sites
• Sufficient Space and Adequate Ingress/Egress
for Volume of Technician Traffic and Turnover of
Materials
• Sufficient Space for Storage and Removal of
Replaced Materials and Debris
• On-site Technical Support for Non-routine
Operational Procedures and Problem Resolution
Field Command Center Layout
Field Command Center Layout
Field Command Center Layout
Field Command Center Layout
Field Command Center Layout
Field Command Centers (cont.)
• Support Personnel and Appropriate Vehicles (Power Lift Gates, Pallet Jacks)
• Site Logistics Coordinators: – Establish & Monitor Site Inventory
– Stage Command Center Deliveries around Flow of Technician Traffic
– Coordinate Jobsite Deliveries
• Prepare Central Location (Depot) to Accumulate Bulk Materials and Distribute to Command Centers
• Implement Available Technologies (Cameras, Vacuum Systems) to Detect & Remove Trapped Liquids
Determining Material Needs
• Gas Meters:
– Estimate # of gas meter changes within perimeter of
flood regions
– Rule of Thumb – up to 30%
• Regulators:
– Estimate # of I&C and Residential Regulators within
Flood Regions
– Identify Pressure Areas affected
– Identify Large Volume Meter Sizes inside perimeter
Determining Material Needs (cont.)
• Replace Submerged Meters & Regulators
• Perform rough evaluation of Meter Sizes & Numbers in Flood Regions
• Use this info to determine the Types and Number of Regulator Replacements needed
• Where Outdated Regulator Designs are prevalent, consider additional Materials needed to complete Regulator Change-outs
• Consider Possible Site Rebuilds & Replacement Part Kits
• Determine Supplemental Materials Needed (Fittings, Caps, Nipples, Thread Sealant, etc.)
• Estimate Material “Burn-Rates”
Gas Restoration Safety &
Procedures Review
• Prior to deployment, Service Technicians receive daily Safety Tailboard reviews covering specific subject areas: – Flood Safety
– Mold Awareness Training
– Mercury Regulator Identification
– A&I Notifications (Gas Turn-ons)
– Warning Tag (Violation) Procedures
– Overheated Boiler Response
– Flood Restoration Procedures
– Gas Restoration Documentation
Safety Tailboard – Preparation
Safety in Flooded Areas
• Wear hard hats, safety glasses, vest, gloves and other PPE when working in flooded areas.
• Expect floors and stairs to be oily and slippery.
• When ascending or descending stairs, hold the railing and step to one side.
• Do not go into basements where standing water, raw sewage or obvious electric hazards may exist.
• Treat all wiring, even telephone and cable, as live.
• “Electricity and Water Do Not Mix” - high potential for electric shock.
• Do not attempt to reconnect the electric supply to an appliance that has been exposed to water damage.
• Tetanus booster shot needed if not received within 10 years. Follow OSHA website to determine if additional shots needed (Hepatitis).
Tailboard – Review Job Expectations
Gas Restoration Expectations for
OEMs, Municipalities & Towns
• Damage Assessment: – Track flooding conditions
– Assess Damage - bridge crossings, regulator stations, exposed main & other Company facilities
• Perimeter of Flooded Area: – Estimate the number of customers affected by flood
waters
• Field Command Centers: – Secure suitable locations for restoration work
– Support severely damaged areas
– Work closely with local authorities, Police & FD personnel
– Establish ongoing communications mechanisms
OEM Employees Keeping
Customers Safe in Hoboken
– Join forces with Municipal Inspectors to establish a safe plan for assessing damaged structures and turning off gas facilities at the same time. Restoration activities will not begin until flood water has been cleared.
– Safely turn off gas facilities to ensure that flood water has not caused damage to utility/customer equipment and gas piping.
– Prior to the utility restoring gas service, Municipal Inspectors may expect to provide an inspection approval (where required) to determine that:
• Customer basements are cleared of water
• Electric facilities (electric panel, meter box) are verified for safety
• Following inspector approval, customers are expected to contact utility to restore gas after their home/building passes an inspection.
Partnership with OEMs
– Gas Restoration Process
Service Technician Performs
Safety Inspection on Customer Boiler
– When restoring gas to customers, PSE&G will establish that customer gas piping is not leaking, and may replace meters, service regulators and possibly regulator vent piping if they have been exposed to water.
– PSE&G will not restore gas to water heaters if controls have been affected by flood waters. Flooded units must be replaced.
– PSE&G’s restoration policy for gas fired furnaces & boilers requires that all gas controls, control system parts, and electrical parts that have been underwater must be replaced before the unit may be safely operated. Replacement of the entire unit may be required if deemed necessary by individual circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
Gas Restoration Requirements
OEM Coordination –
Town Hall Meetings
• Provide
restoration
update for
community
• Describe
steps
required to
restore
customers
Restoring Electric or Gas
Service After Flooding
1. Verify with your town that your home/building can be occupied
safely.
2. Flooded areas of the home/building must be cleared of water.
3. Some towns or municipalities may require an inspection prior to restoring gas or electric service. After water has been cleared, contact your town/municipality to determine if an inspection is required.
4. If the inspector finds damage to the electric facilities (electric panel, meter box), you must have a contractor make repairs.
5. Following any electric repairs by your contractor, contact the town/municipality to obtain a re-inspection, if required.
6. Once the home/building has passed inspection, please contact PSE&G to restore service.
Customer Example
Municipal Inspectors
Partner with PSE&G
Work with OEMs, towns and municipalities to plan an Exit Strategy after the majority of customers have been restored and local Command Centers have been discontinued.
Exit Strategy includes:
– Establishing contact information and designated responsibilities to support customers who have had restoration delayed due to repairs or other circumstances.
Exit Strategy for
Customer Support