Region 6 Critical Infrastructure Working Group: CME Long-term Power Workshop 

At the workshop you will gain more insight into the Impacts from a CME and potential effects to several critical infrastructure sectors.

Power systems: Widespread voltage control problems and protective system problems can occur, some grid systems may experience complete collapse or blackouts. Transformers may experience damage.

Communications and other systems: Pipeline currents can reach hundreds of amps, HF (high frequency) radio  propagation may be impossible in many areas for one to two days, satellite navigation may be degraded for days, low-frequency radio navigation can be out for hours, and aurora has been seen as low as Florida and southern Texas (typically 40° geomagnetic lat.).

The goals of the workshop are:

• To educate individuals and organizations who operate our lifeline and other infrastructure systems as to the impacts of a CME event.
• Understand the consequences of a long-term power outage to our systems and their functioning
• Assess the level of planning by government and the private sector specifically for CME events.
• Look for opportunities for infrastructures to incorporate mitigation and prevention measures into their planning and funding to minimize the impacts of a CME event.
• Prepare a report of the findings coming from the workshop