<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas />
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables />
<w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct />
<w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit />
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if
gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false"
LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> <object
classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui>
</object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style> <![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times
New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]-->
Singapore’s power supply is very stable; everyone knows that.
That is why no one would ever thought of a nationwide blackout in
Singapore. How big can that odd be anyway?
And even if it happens, can it be that much of a problem?
From Discovery and Nasa news, it is predicted that a solar storm
will hit the Earth in 2012, and Singapore might also be affected.
The solar storm, through a process that is somewhat complicated and
would involve a lot of technical terms if one attempts to explain,
can create a huge current in the power grid, which melts the copper
wires and destroys our power system. Youth Olympic 2010 make
Singapore a vulnerable target for the terrorists; just imagine if
the power supply is attacked…
There are plenty of reasons for the lights to go off, not just
those listed above. In life, things often happen unexpectedly.
After all, the Northeastern blackout in North America in 2003 that
left 55 millions people in such developed countries like the USA
and Canada without power for hours happened just because of some
poorly pruned trees!!!!
Anyway, I am sort of doing a project on this topic, in which we
research the possible impacts of the potential blackout in
Singapore. I came across this problem, which by the way was a
brand-new surprise to me at the first sight, imposes on home stay
patients who are dependent on medical equipment for survival.
We know that medical equipment requires electricity to operate.
This include ventilators, home dialysis machine, etc, or in another
words, machine that without which for just a few hours, we all have
a big problem.
Those home stay patients are hard to reach as they are scattered
in different areas. Since they are weaken due to the failure of the
medical equipment, in case of the emergency, they need help from
those who are directly or indirectly in contact with them.
How to provide more help to those people is sure a headache for
the government.
Here are some suggestions for the individuals (collected and
modified):
For people who are directly in contact with the patient (eg:
family members, neighbors, etc…)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
<!--[endif]-->For family members, always prepare an emergency
kits in your house which includes the batteries and supply that can
sustain the equipment for at least 4 hours (approximately the time
needed to get out of any building and move the patient to the
nearest hospitals, can vary with different locations)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
<!--[endif]-->Keep a list of emergency number at all time to
ensure accessibility to necessary help in case of emergency
(http://www.singapore.alloexpat.com/singapore_information/useful_telephone_numbers_singapore.php
http://www.entersingapore.info/sginfo/emergency-info.php)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
<!--[endif]-->For neighbors, if you know that your neighbor
are home stay patients that are dependent on medical equipment,
please contact them as soon as possible in case of emergency or
call the managers of the buildings for help if you receive no
response
For different agencies (schools, companies, shopping malls,
etc..)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
<!--[endif]-->Emergency kits inside building lifts should
have battery supplies in case the patients are trapped during a
blackout
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
<!--[endif]-->At the first sight of the emergency,
announcement should be made to immediately gather patients that are
dependent on medical equipment to specific locations, ensuring that
their equipment can sustain before moving them to the nearest
hospitals
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
<!--[endif]-->Residential areas are recommended to purchase
generators and keep in their community centers or other public
locations to provide help to home stay patients in the
neighborhood
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
<!--[endif]-->A list of names of those patients can be
obtained by the local authorities of each residential area to
ensure that help can arrive quickly
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
<!--[endif]-->Talks about blackout can be included in regular
meeting of the residential areas, identifying people in need and
familiarizing people with the emergency escape routes.
Is there anything else that we can do to help those people?
http://www.scdf.gov.sg/Community_and_Volunteers/Learn_Civil_Defence/Peace_Time_Emergencies/peacetime05.html
Your report is true, as even scientists from Nasa had confirm
this factual event.
Ground induced currents from the solar flare storm will fry
power grids around the world. Anything that is remotely connected
to the power grid system will be destroyed within hours, from
satellites to home electrity, to water and food distribution, and
even communications systems.
GPS and its dependencies would be crippled = flight, shipping
and transportation management systems. Everything will absolutely
grind to a halt.
But it is not a doomsday event, as eventually, within months,
every single item fried can be replaced. The costs will be
terrible, but not a price humanity cannot pay over time.
In terms of defence capabilities, every nation will be reduced
to battling it out with sticks and stones, human runner style
communications and air balloon circa 1918 era, should some nuthead
decides to take the opportunity to wage war.
The most critical aspect for survival of the human race during this
storm would be food, water and medical attention.
My suggestions would be:-
1. Convert existing tunnels or build storage caverns 30ft under
the ground, turn them into food, water distribution
centres and hospitals with its own electrical generating
capacity constructed closer to them with energy shielding conduicts
to protect from any wandering currents that would penetrate that
deep into the earth.
2. Work closely with Nasa's team to study the trajectory, the
flare's orbital mechanics, its predictions of likely areas of high
destructive electromagnetic influences with emphasis of them upon
our country.
3. Allocate funds to immediately create spare parts for the
existing power grid system that will eventually be destroyed come
2012, as well as planning for a schedule of repairs needed to be
done, without major disruptions to commerce, the lifeblood of our
country.
4. Life must go on once the solar flares hit and it's
electromagnetic effects disappates within weeks. Transportation of
goods will solely be by ships, using non electronic aids. Cargo
hands and rudimentary machineries such as pulley systems will have
to be used.
The pulse of life will be slowed, but not stopped. When
precautionary measures such as stockpiles of critical supplies are
made, life will go back to normal once the electrical systems are
fully repaired.
5. Stockpiling and cavern systems must be prepared, followed by
rehersals for the general population to be prepared and tested
fully by 2011 on emergency and living aspects without the power
grid. If all goes well, there need not be panic, and life will go
on normally after a few months.
6. (This one will be difficult ) A temporary moratorium on the
price of raw mineral resources such as copper, tungsten, etc, to
prevent hoarding now or greed induced opportunistic run on the
stock market for this factual event.
There will be plenty of jobs for everyone, from now till the
event is long over, therefore, there really is no need for greed,
which eventually will be the real doom for mankind if we succumb to
such greed.
Good luck with your project and research.
