June 20, 1997                         W/OS032:LHH

TO:             All Holders of Weather Service Operations Manual (WSOM)

SUBJECT:     Transmittal Memorandum for Operations Manual Issuance 97-7

1.    Material Transmitted:

WSOM Chapter H-12, "Emergency Power Program."

2.    Summary:

This directive provides National Weather Service (NWS) wide emergency power support policy and guidance to be applied for each new initiative, upgrade or modification, and replacement of emergency power equipment for all NWS programs. This guidance is intended to ensure consideration and coordination of all relevant factors when emergency power changes are planned.

3.    Effect on Other Instructions:

This chapter replaces the material acquisition and implementation requirements contained in WSOM Chapter H-12, dated December 9, 1981.

Elbert W. Friday, Jr.
Assistant Administrator
   for Weather Service

Issue Date    Org. Code         NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE     Part    Chap.
6-20-97        W/0S032                Operations Manual                            H          12

Table of Contents:

1.    Purpose

2.    Policy
        2.1    Priorities
        2.2    Equipment Requiring Emergency Power
        2.3    Establishment, Relocation, or Major Rehabilitation of Operating Facilities
        2.4    Replacement Criteria for Engine Generator Set

3.    Responsibility
        3.1    National Weather Service Headquarters (WSH)
        3.2    Regional Headquarters
        3.3    Field Offices

4.    Operation of Standby Power Equipment
        4.1    Operation of Uninterruptible Power System
        4.2    Response Time for Emergency Service, as Requested by the Meteorologist in Charge (MIC)

5.    Review of Agreements

6.    Maintenance of Engine Generator Sets

1. Purpose. This manual chapter outlines policy on provision of emergency power to Weather Service activities, defines management responsibilities under the program, and prescribes operating procedures for personnel at field offices. The proper maintenance of emergency power systems is important to the operation of a complete and timely warning service. Commercial power systems are subject to failure during severe weather, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms, heavy snows, ice storms, floods, and/or other environmental or man-made hazards. Adequate emergency power is needed to enable continuous collection of weather information and dissemination of warnings during these hazardous periods.

2. Policy. It is the policy of the Weather Service to provide emergency power at all operating locations where loss of power could adversely affect:

    a.     the taking and transmitting of essential observations: and

    b.     the issuance of vital forecasts and warnings.

Whenever possible, emergency generator power systems shall have adequate capacity to meet 100 percent of station operational requirements including power for essential heating and cooling units.

Emergency Power as a secondary source can be provided by either:

2.1    Priorities. The emergency power requirements of operating facilities are ranked in the following order of priority.

        a.    Priority No. 1. Major Weather Service Guidance Centers such as the National Centers for Environmental Prediction;

        b.    Priority No. 2. Weather Forecast Offices (WFO) and River Forecast Centers (RFC);

        c.    Priority No. 3. Data Collection Offices (DCO). Includes WSMO's and WSCMO's.

        d.    Priority No. 4. NOAA Weather Radio Transmitter

2.2    Equipment Requiring Emergency Power. The emergency power system is needed for the following equipment:

        a.    lighting;

        b.    air conditioning for computers, radar, communications, and observer-forecaster operation areas;

        c.    heating for certain northerly latitudes where loss of normal power would cause human or instrumental problems;

        d.    radar (includes all equipment at modulator and console);

        e.    radar adjuncts, such as radar remote by microwave or telephone transmission equipment and photo repeaters;

        f.    minimum instrumental equipment needed to continue surface observations (does not include sensors, such as field wind or end of runway equipment which are powered from remote sources):

        g.    rawinsonde equipment;

        h.    NOAA Weather Radio;

        i.    single side band emergency communications equipment;

        j.    other radio and video equipment used for receipt or dissemination of observations and warnings;

        k.    computers used for forecasting;

        l.    ASOS; and

        m.    AFOS and its replacement equipment (AWIPS).

2.3 Establishment Relocation or Major Rehabilitation of Operating Facilities. Plans for the establishment, relocation, or major rehabilitation of any operating facility included in the priorities noted in paragraph 2.1 above should include installation of emergency power as part of the project.

2.4 Replacement Criteria for Engine Generator Set. The following cases are established as criteria for replacement of existing engine generator sets with new units. Priorities are established for the different cases and in addition will be weighed by the station priority defined in paragraph 2.1. The final decision will be made by National Weather Service Headquarters (WSH).

Priority Case

1 a. FORCED REPLACEMENT. Engine generator set is totally destroyed by fire, tornado, etc.

b. NOT REPAIRABLE. Replacement parts for the engine generator set are no longer manufactured or available from alternate sources.

c. BEYOND ECONOMICAL REPAIR. The cost to repair the engine generator set exceeds the cost of a new engine generator set or the cost to repair the engine generator set is expensive when compared to the age and overall condition of the engine generator set.

d. NO LONGER AVAILABLE. Emergency power was furnished by others; i.e., FAA, city, etc., and is no longer available to the NWS.

2 CAPACITY IS TOO SMALL. The station power loads have grown beyond the capacity of            the engine generator set.

3. Responsibility. Responsibilities for the administration of the Emergency Power Program are as indicated below.

3.1    National Weather Service Headquarters (WSH). The WSH establishes policies and standards for the Emergency Power Program and provides support in matters of engineering, training, consultation, and administration.

3.2    Regional Headquarters. Regional headquarters execute WSH policy on emergency power and are responsible for the installation and maintenance of emergency power systems within the region.

3.3    Field Offices. Regional headquarters assign responsibility to field offices to assure that equipment at a station is fully operational and is properly serviced for immediate use at all times.

4.    Operation of Standby Power Equipment. NWS stations require standby power in the event severe weather threatens continuous operation. Surges of power on commercial lines caused by storms affect the operation of the equipment. Upon the decision of the MIC, the secondary source shall be activated and the load shall be switched to this source. The load switching to the secondary source by means of an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) assures uninterrupted operation of equipment. There is a benefit in reviewing operating procedures and in checking the operation of the standby power even if commercial power does not fail. At a minimum, generators should be exercised at least monthly.

Procedures for operation of the standby emergency power equipment should be posted near the power generating equipment. Emergency procedures should be posted nearby and contained in the station duty manual.

4.1    Operation of Uninterruptible Power System. In the event of a power failure, an uninterruptible power system (UPS) provides a continuous source of precise AC power to selected loads. Power is maintained to the load regardless of the condition of the commercial power source. The load is protected from instantaneous and subcycle power losses and line disturbances as well as from short-term power outages. Interruption of incoming AC power will not cause disruption in the output of the UPS.

4.2     Response Time for Emergency Service. As Requested by the Meteorologist in Charge (MIC). The response time for emergency service depends upon the priority assigned by the MIC. Engineering Handbook No. 3 (EHB-3), Facilities, Appendix G discusses the various response times.

5.    Review of Agreements. An annual review of any agreement on the cooperative use of standby power or UPS is recommended. The review can disclose shortcomings in the agreement which can be corrected before an emergency occurs which requires the use of emergency power.

6. Maintenance of Engine Generators. Instructions for the maintenance of engine generators and technical specifications on the emergency power supplies are contained in Engineering Division Instruction Manual No. 3-103A, Maintenance of Engine Generator Plants for National Weather Service Regional and Field Offices. The Engine Generator Plant manual is included as Appendix G in EHB-3. Appendix G provides engine generator maintenance procedures.