Have we learned anything since Irene?

Last Tuesday afternoon, Tropical Storm Isaias swept through Connecticut, causing the worst damage since Hurricane Irene in 2011. More than a week later, some of the hardest hit areas of the state are just beginning to regain power. Still, with over a million out of power at the storm’s peak and potentially billions of dollars in recovery spending, the question is: Have we learned anything since Hurricane Irene?

The largest utility company in the state has cited misclassification of Isaias’ potential strength as the reason for its poor response and gross underpreparedness. However, this seems to be a habitual excuse to detract from the real problem: Connecticut desperately needs to take steps towards a more resilient power grid.

Of course, talks to revamp Connecticut’s power infrastructure have become widespread in recent days — the same conversations that filled halls of power after Irene. But without clear goals and long-term vision, there is no guarantee that the next big storm will not decimate Connecticut once again. More than short-lived talks and small-scale bills, we need a detailed energy plan that ensures First World storm response.

A crucial aspect of this plan must be grid hardening: strengthening infrastructure to protect utility customers and withstand greater impacts. Connecticut streets are littered with rotting wooden poles and sagging power lines. Unsurprisingly, these are easy targets for strong winds and fallen trees like those of Isaias. Investing in upgrades to these systems along with an active tree management program can reduce their susceptibility to future storms, as well as make post-storm cleanup easier.

Similarly, all main power lines that connect towns to key transmission points must be strengthened and moved underground. By moving central lines underground, the possibility of widespread power outages is cut dramatically. Also important in grid hardening is the introduction of smart monitoring devices already employed by other states like Florida. This technology can allow technicians to easily locate problems and fix them faster.

Another vital step towards grid resiliency is ensuring the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and other state agencies are doing more than just regulating utility companies. PURA must be more involved in pushing grid hardening and utility storm preparation. It is more than obvious that major utility companies wrongly estimated the impact Isaias would have on the grid — an estimate that created chaos throughout Connecticut. If PURA had been more involved in the shaping of these estimates, perhaps utilities would have been better prepared. In the future, public and private entities must have a stake in these decisions to minimize grid damage.

Finally, the way we analyze potential storm damage must change in order to fully protect the grid. Correctly estimating the number of people a storm will impact is simply not enough. Connecticut needs to implement thorough scenario analysis in order to be better prepared for any surprises a storm produces. These state-level ‘wargaming’ committees can help us to be overprepared in times when Connecticut has shown fatal oversights in judgment.

The answer to the question posed earlier is yes, we have learned from Irene. We know exactly what steps to take to prevent widespread damage from future disasters like Isaias; now we just need to take them. With most Connecticut residents already in the recovery process, there is hope. Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement this week that, “We’re continuing to work with our federal and local counterparts to assess the damage and may seek additional federal support during the response, recovery and rebuilding process.” Hopefully next time, the second two R’s are unnecessary.