government’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory warned in 2010 (“Geomagnetic storms and their impacts on the U.S. “The need to suddenly replace a large number of them has not been previously contemplated,” the U.S. Ordinarily, it takes up to 15 months to order, manufacture, install and test a high-voltage transformer - even longer for some specialized equipment. Transformers cannot just be ordered from a store. Older electrical transformers would be at particular risk of being damaged by the enormous electrical currents induced in the power grid by a severe storm. “The loss of electricity would ripple across the social infrastructure with water distribution affected within several hours perishable foods and medications lost in 12-24 hours loss of heating/air conditioning, sewage disposal, phone service, fuel re-supply and so on,” according to a study funded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences in 2008.Ī really severe storm could inflict damage and disruption estimated at between $1 trillion and $2 trillion, 20 times the cost of Hurricane Katrina, with a full recovery time between four and 10 years, the academy wrote (“Severe space weather events: understanding societal and economic impacts”, 2008). Scientists and power grid operators remain divided over how much damage the power grid would suffer in a severe solar storm aimed directly at Earth.Ī moderately severe geomagnetic storm aimed at the United States could cut power to 130 million people and damage more than 350 high-voltage transformers, which would take months to replace, according to a report published by the U.S.
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