The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: sledgemeister on December 06, 2010, 05:48:56 AM
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In Tasmania where I reside we only have one power company which is called Aurora.
Side Note: It is also one of the companies that the IT company I work looks after.
Long story short one of my daughters has a friend called Dirk sent Aurora a interesting question via their online forms which he forwarded on to her and she shared it with me, I found it a little amusing hence I am sharing it also.
The email:
From: Dirk
Sent: Wednesday, 1 December 2010 3:29 PM
To: Complaints Administrator
Cc: Ecommerce
Subject: Online message: Your electricity supply 2/12/2010 Dirk XXXXXXXXXX
Request/feedback submitted via the Aurora Website
The following message has been sent:
________________________________________
Date submitted 01-December-2010 3:28 PM
Subject Your electricity supply
Contact name
Address
Email address
Telephone number
Do you wish to be contacted about your message Yes
Your preferred contact method Email
Your message to us Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Dirk and I would like to ask you a question about the availability of energy supplies in emergency situations. I was watching a program called the Walking Dead last night, which is about a group of people surviving after the rest of the population is taken by zombies. In the event of a virus, an alien invasion, or nuclear attack that wipes out 99% of the population, what plans would Aurora have in place to ensure that the remaining citizens are able to generate a siginificant power supply? The people in the show had lighting but whether or not they had their own power supply was never explained. Do Aurora Energy have contingency plans in place for ensuring power can still be generated by a small group of people with average day-to-day life skills?
Any assistance would be kindly appreciated so that I can ensure that I am well-prepared for these bastards.
Kind regards,
Dirk
The Response:
On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 12:52 PM, Dirk Armstrong <XXXXXXXXX@gmail.com> wrote:
apparently this has been forwarded to half of aurora, and a lot of them think i was serious...
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Escalation (Aurora Customer Service) <escalation@auroraenergy.com.au>
Date: 2 December 2010 10:41
Subject: FW: Online message: Your electricity supply 2/12/2010 Dirk XXXXXXXX
To:
Dear Dirk
Thank you for your enquiry via the Aurora Web Site regarding our disaster recovery
I would just like to say that Aurora has a disaster recovery process in place and would assure you that we would put this in action if an when it was needed
I am sure you are aware that the SES (State emergency services) would notify the public of any disaster recovery plans
Regards
Gaylene
CSC Senior Representative
Aurora Energy Pty Ltd
21 Kirksway Place Hobart
Post: GPO BOX 191, Hobart TAS 7001
Web: http://www.auroraenergy.com.au
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Someone missed a trick. My response:
Dear Dirk:
Thank you for your inquiry. Let me assure you that we are fully prepared for zombie attacks. In the event of legions of the walking dead, all central power will be maintained, due to our security services armed with BFGs. However, should lines go down, you are, sadly, on your own as we cannot in good conciense send crews out. Still, internet services should work. Best of luck, and remember, shoot for the head.
Sincerly
Aurora ;D
FQ13
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Someone missed a trick. My response:
Dear Dirk:
Thank you for your inquiry. Let me assure you that we are fully prepared for zombie attacks. In the event of legions of the walking dead, all central power will be maintained, due to our security services armed with BFGs. However, should lines go down, you are, sadly, on your own as we cannot in good conciense send crews out. Still, internet services should work. Best of luck, and remember, shoot for the head.
Sincerly
Aurora ;D
FQ13
Of course, it is likely that Aurora would, ya know, actually know how to spell! Or at least use (and know how to use) a spell checker!!! ;) ;D
BTTTAIP - It was a typically corporate non-responsive response. The next email would ask - when was the last time the DR Plan was tested in something other than a simulation, or actually used in a real-world disaster? That answer might be interesting.
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Of course, it is likely that Aurora would, ya know, actually know how to spell! Or at least use (and know how to use) a spell checker!!! ;) ;D
BTTTAIP - It was a typically corporate non-responsive response. The next email would ask - when was the last time the DR Plan was tested in something other than a simulation, or actually used in a real-world disaster? That answer might be interesting.
Dude! The zombies are knocking at the door! You want me to do a spell check? Call customer service with your complaints. Its 1-(800) bite-me, wait for the tone (press 2 for Spanish). ;D
FQ13
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Of course, it is likely that Aurora would, ya know, actually know how to spell! Or at least use (and know how to use) a spell checker!!! ;) ;D
BTTTAIP - It was a typically corporate non-responsive response. The next email would ask - when was the last time the DR Plan was tested in something other than a simulation, or actually used in a real-world disaster? That answer might be interesting.
I will be sure to pass along your suggestion. LOL
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I do some work for our local Emergency Management Agency. This past summer we were doing our bi-annual updates, I made the suggestion that we needed a section for zombie attacks. Needless to say most we not ammused ;D. But it did strike up an interesting conversation. All I know is I'm ready 8).
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In my former job we looked to harden up critical infastructure. It was dissapointing to see how easy it was to knock big chunks of the utility grids off line by attacking control rooms. They were very lacks on security and did not have redundent capabilities for command and control.
Zombies, terrorists or natural causes, the power infrastructure is very fragile.
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In my former job we looked to harden up critical infastructure. It was dissapointing to see how easy it was to knock big chunks of the utility grids off line by attacking control rooms. They were very lacks on security and did not have redundent capabilities for command and control.
Zombies, terrorists or natural causes, the power infrastructure is very fragile.
How much security have you ever seen around a municipal water supply ?
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The original question reminds me of the query posed to the Fire Chief about evacuating the Phx area in the event of an NBC attack.
The answer?
We can't, so there is no plan.
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The original question reminds me of the query posed to the Fire Chief about evacuating the Phx area in the event of an NBC attack.
The answer?
We can't, so there is no plan.
Look on the bright side Mitch, He's at least honest enough to admit it.
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Look on the bright side Mitch, He's at least honest enough to admit it.
True.
He knows that in the event of a city/county wide disaster, the fire guys would be getting their own families out if possible. We would be in the I-17 & I-10 parking lots with everybody else.
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The original question reminds me of the query posed to the Fire Chief about evacuating the Phx area in the event of an NBC attack.
The answer?
We can't, so there is no plan.
I think the real honest answer is WE have a plan, the rest of you are on your own. ;D As was posted, critical infrastructure guys are human too. If there is a plan and a drill and good morale, figure 75% will man their posts on a good day, the rest are gone. No plan, low morale? Good luck. Remember the NOPD in Katrina. Of the ones who showed up, most didn't know what to do and followed whatever BS orders they got. The rest were taking care of their own families.
FQ13
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How much security have you ever seen around a municipal water supply ?
Tom,
Municipal water supplies are pretty safe because of the large volumes of water involved. You might knock out distibution for a while but to contaminate a city supply so bad that it could not be used is pretty hard. You can target buildings pretty easily.
Unless you live in huricane country, most big cities do not have evacutation plans. In fact if there was a WMD event there really would be no need to evacute short of a nuclear bomb going off. Dirty bombs, Bio or chem weapons are pretty local in inpact and would be handled like a train derailment.
I had a major FD HAZMAT chief tell me if they had a WMD attack in his city he expected less than 50% of his folks to report for duty. Many EMT, PD and FD have worked on evacuation plans for the families so the emegenciey services folks will stay and work.
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I had a major FD HAZMAT chief tell me if they had a WMD attack in his city he expected less than 50% of his folks to report for duty. Many EMT, PD and FD have worked on evacuation plans for the families so the emegenciey services folks will stay and work.
That is about the smartest thing I've heard on this issue. If you want your guys (and gals) to show up, you need them to know their families are safe. Otherwise? Is a no brainer as to where there loyalties will be. Idiots may say its favoritism, but me, I'd say its just good sense. You don't ask a guy to take a bullet without good insurance and a pension plan. You don't ask him to show up for work unless his wife and kids are safe either.
FQ13
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Here's another thing, A disaster occurs, they call in all the emergency services people, how many of them will be stuck in those big parking lots ?
Even if they INTEND to do their jobs, they have to get there.
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Here's another thing, A disaster occurs, they call in all the emergency services people, how many of them will be stuck in those big parking lots ?
Even if they INTEND to do their jobs, they have to get there.
Tom, I've seen firemen and LEo respond to incedents on the subway in Tokyo, NYC and Washington rather then fight through gridlock.
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I had a major FD HAZMAT chief tell me if they had a WMD attack in his city he expected less than 50% of his folks to report for duty. Many EMT, PD and FD have worked on evacuation plans for the families so the emegenciey services folks will stay and work.
Smart plan. Our chiefs never figured it out.
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Tom, I've seen firemen and LEo respond to incedents on the subway in Tokyo, NYC and Washington rather then fight through gridlock.
No slight intended Ratcatcher, But look at when Aum released that Sarin, even the subways had to stop.
What I was trying to show is that some times no matter how good the intentions it comes down to what is possible.
As far as the dedication part, I actually think that what happened in New Orleans, with half the emergency people hauling azz was an aberration that would not happen in other US cities, individuals maybe, but not on that massive a scale.
Just look at NY on 9-11-01, they didn't run away.
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Tom,
The subway was the target in Tokyo. Surface streets carried evacuees, contaminated or not. They had 14,000+ moved to hospitals in a couple of hours so they did pretty well. They contaminated the ER's and swamped the system so not so good on that part.
In NYC this time of year the streets are jamed with shoppers. Once the initial equipment is onsite they just need manpower so the subway make the easiest and quickest form of transport.
9/11 was a response to a fire and plane crash. No one suspected the two towers to collapse. The chief of FDNY HAZMAT agreed with the 50% figure on call ins if they needed off duty extra bodies to a WMD event.
NOFD is not a bad bunch of folks but the city is so poorly organized and corrupt it harms the whole department. Lots of folks just could not get back into the city and after 72 hours the ones already there ran out of steam. The problems in New Orleans started people thinking about mass causilty events and how to handle emergency service personel issues.
Some cities are trying to deal with it and others have their heads up their a$$.
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Tom,
The subway was the target in Tokyo. Surface streets carried evacuees, contaminated or not. They had 14,000+ moved to hospitals in a couple of hours so they did pretty well. They contaminated the ER's and swamped the system so not so good on that part.
In NYC this time of year the streets are jamed with shoppers. Once the initial equipment is onsite they just need manpower so the subway make the easiest and quickest form of transport.
9/11 was a response to a fire and plane crash. No one suspected the two towers to collapse. The chief of FDNY HAZMAT agreed with the 50% figure on call ins if they needed off duty extra bodies to a WMD event.
NOFD is not a bad bunch of folks but the city is so poorly organized and corrupt it harms the whole department. Lots of folks just could not get back into the city and after 72 hours the ones already there ran out of steam. The problems in New Orleans started people thinking about mass causilty events and how to handle emergency service personel issues.
Some cities are trying to deal with it and others have their heads up their a$$.
Can't add to that.
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Can't add to that.
You could correct the spelling for me! ;D
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You could correct the spelling for me! ;D
It's better than FQ or TAB ;D