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b. Power Failure — Hazard Identification. Power failure can <br />result from a variety of related causes, including sagging lines <br />due to hot weather, flashovers from transmission lines to <br />nearby trees, and incorrect relay settings. According to the <br />electric utility industry's trade association, the potential for such <br />disturbances is expected to increase with the profound <br />changes now sweeping the electric utility industry. <br />To address times when generating capacity is tight, or falls <br />below consumer demand due to State or local emergencies, <br />the Florida Electrical Emergency Contingency Plan was <br />developed. Alerts have been created to give early warning of <br />potential electricity shortfalls and bring utilities, emergency <br />management officials, and the general public to a state of <br />preparedness. The Contingency Plan consists of four <br />separate phases and procedures for each phase. (Florida <br />Reliability Coordinating Council, 2011). The four phases are: <br />Generating Capacity Advisory — A Generating Capacity <br />Advisory is primarily for information purposes. It starts <br />utility tracking activities, and it initiates inter -utility and inter- <br />agency communication. No action by the public is required. <br />General information may be distributed to consumers to <br />forewarn them of conditions if necessary. <br />Generating Capacity Alert — A Generating Capacity Alert <br />starts actions to increase reserves. Available emergency <br />supply options will be explored. When reserves fall below <br />the size of the largest generating unit in the state, loss of <br />that size unit to an unexpected mechanical failure could <br />lead to blackouts somewhere since insufficient backup is <br />available. <br />Generating Capacity Emergency — A Generating <br />Capacity Emergency occurs when blackouts are inevitable <br />somewhere in Florida. Every available means of balancing <br />supply and demand will be exhausted. Rolling blackouts, <br />manually activated by utilities, are a last resort to avoid <br />system overload and possible equipment damage. <br />Frequent status reports are provided to agencies and the <br />media. The Division of Emergency Management will <br />consider using the Emergency Broadcast System to inform <br />citizens of events and to direct them to available shelters if <br />conditions warranted. Recognizing the consequences of a <br />Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 62 <br />