What to Do After the Storm: Maintenance and Restoration Planning for Natural Disaster Recovery

Petroleum and chemical production facilities are often concentrated along coastal regions, where they are especially vulnerable to hurricanes or typhoons. Electric motors, switchgear, and related equipment are sensitive to damage from flooding, and replacements often have long lead times. This article offers practical methods for restoring electrical equipment as well as guidance for repair-replace decisions with a focus on getting the plant back in operation as soon as possible. It also offers advice about expected life reduction for electrical equipment that is not properly handled after such an event. Since similar production facilities are regionally concentrated, multiple facilities impacted by the same disaster will be competing for limited repair and replacement resources. Having a proactive recovery plan before a storm can significantly reduce the time required to restore production. Understanding the long-term effects of saltwater on electric motors and generators is vital to capital expense forecasting for the years following a major storm.