By Gregory Korte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati is less susceptible to and more prepared for a major power outage than was Cleveland last week, city officials and utility representatives told a City Council committee Thursday.

Cincinnati's water system doesn't have backup power - it would take 67 diesel generators to produce the electricity necessary to power the pumps - but it does have one natural advantage not found in many other cities, said Greater Cincinnati Water Works Director David Rager.

Since around 1900, Cincinnati's water system has relied on high-altitude water tanks like the Mt. Airy tower. Cincinnati has 148 million gallons ready to be fed by gravity - without the help of pumps - in the case of a power outage.

"That's one of the advantages we have that Cleveland didn't have, that Indianapolis doesn't have, that Toledo doesn't have," Rager said. In Cleveland, many residents went without water for two days.

A lack of water also raises problems for firefighters, especially in high-altitude and outlying areas. District Fire Chief Edward J. Dadosky said firefighters could adapt by doing what rural fire departments do: take water from tanker trucks and nearby rivers, ponds and swimming pools.

Cincinnati's police dispatch center in the West End has backup generators and fuel on site, as does each of the city's five district stations.

An emergency call-in system could bring the city's complement of on-duty police officers up to more than 700 almost immediately, said Lt. Col. Richard Janke.

All hospitals and most nursing homes also have backup power, said Van Needham, manager of regulatory governmental affairs for the Cinergy Corp.

Even with a more stable local distribution system, the utility said it couldn't guarantee Cincinnati wouldn't face a blackout crisis. But Needham said the company was working to make that likelihood "as close to zero as possible."

On a related issue, Mayor Charlie Luken asked the Fire Department Thursday to report to City Council on the necessity of bulletproof vests for firefighters. There are some situations, like the 2001 riots, in which firefighters have been in danger, Luken said.

E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com