ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses risk assessment of power distribution poles subjected to hurricane hazards and various mitigation strategies. It aanlyses the economic viability of various mitigation strategies by conducting a life-cycle cost analysis. The chapter provides a tool to evaluate hurricane vulnerability and damage risk of distribution poles, and cost effectiveness of mitigation strategies. The power system includes three main components: generation, transmission, and distribution. Of these three components, the distribution systems are the most susceptible to wind damage. This is due to the fact that distribution lines and poles are more exposed to hurricane winds than the generation plants and the transmission systems. Distribution poles located in high vulnerability locations will be exposed to higher wind speeds than poles located further inland. The losses due to power outage and the high replacement costs of aging poles demands an investigation into the cost effectiveness of various mitigation strategies, which may reduce replacement costs and damage risks.
