Looking around the room, the secretary continued, “As you know, there are currently four nuclear power facilities in the state. Half of the state’s electricity is produced by hydroelectric installations, including the Colorado River, Owens Valley, and San Francisco aqueducts. In terms of total output, Mr. Secretary, the state of California has been the most productive of the fifty states for the past twenty-five years in both general economy and energy matters.

“Of this nation’s total capacity,” the secretary continued, “which is in excess of three trillion kilowatt hours of electricity, the states of California, Oregon, and Washington together account for more than one-third of our total production. Sixty percent of the energy being produced in this country is derived from coal. However, petroleum, natural gas, nuclear power, and hydroelectricity are also vital to current production levels. Even with an acceleration in the amounts of oil and gas we can bring in from international suppliers, the loss of the production capacities and particularly storage facilities in California will, quite frankly, cripple energy production capabilities in this country for the foreseeable future.”

Secretary Augustus shook his head with visible concern as he listened to the energy secretary’s report. “Secretary McGovern,” he asked, “what are we doing to limit the breakdown of systems in the states adjoining California?”

“Mr. Secretary,” she said, “as you know, we maintain a western power grid to provide systems within the region with the energy resources they need to cope with emergencies. However, I have ordered disconnects between all systems and California to block sudden surges of power that could knock out our other systems in that grid. What we don’t know is whether there has been time enough to get the job done.

“In addition,” she continued, “I have ordered all valves shut off in pipelines between California and other states. No one knows for sure if the valves will hold under extreme pressure. Neither do we want a flood of seawater heading into refineries up the lines, and we certainly don’t want fires and explosions from natural gas!”

The secretary of the interior broke in. “Please, what are the nuclear risks at this time?”

Secretary McGovern opened a thick briefing book lying in front of her. “Our principal concern must be the reactor units in southern and central California, Mr. Secretary. Diablo Canyon Number One is operated by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, twelve miles west-southwest of San Luis Obispo. It went on-stream about fifteen years ago and produces thirty-three hundred megawatts of power, on average.”

“The other is the San Onofre Two operated by Southern California Edison Company and the San Diego Gas Company four miles southeast of San Clemente. It went on-stream about seventeen years ago with essentially the same capacity as the Diablo Canyon Unit.

“Without question, both of these units will be swamped and may experience some type of meltdown. What we don’t know is how much radiation will escape into the atmosphere after the floodwaters recede.” She paused. “Nor do we know the extent that poisonous radiation will penetrate seawater or fresh water throughout the region. The much more serious problem for residents of the United States will be the radiation fallout from the meltdown of reactors in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and mainland China if earthquake activity of the estimated magnitude strikes the entire Pacific Rim.”