Returning now to the timeline of events. It is now late in the afternoon of Friday. Manning the control rooms of the units are probably some 5 to 10 operators. In reactor #1 we most likely have a Control Room Supervisor, Senior Control Room Operator, Control Room Operator, and perhaps some four Plant Operators who roam around the plant making observations, checking equipment operation, etc. In units 3 & 4 and also 5 & 6, we most likely have central control rooms which might employ a second Control Room Operator.
Throughout the nuclear plant facilities, I would imagine many of the structures have been destroyed by the flooding waters, and many of the workers lost. Roads are filled with debris. The relief crew most likely lost their homes and/or lives, or were recovering their senses, gathering their bearing, or looking for family members.
All local fire stations and their crews may well have been lost. Those stations and crews surviving, had their hands full responding to emergency calls.
Within the control room, they have lighting, some instrumentation monitoring and control functions, all taking power from the station batteries.
There most immediate concern was the maintenance of emergency cooling water flow to the reactor vessels. This was being accomplished by the High Pressure Cooling Water System. However, the batteries are depleated just before 3 AM Saturday morning.
The plant operators are now, completely in the dark. We've water, water, everywhere, but no way to get any into the reactors.
The possibility existed that the local fire protection system was operable, but this seems unlikely, as the pumps provided were either damaged by the Tsunami, or without emergency electric power. Any diesel driven fire pumps would also most likely inoperable due to flooding.
How long before relief help arrived and headquarters was able to assemble their response team is unknown. It wouldn't have been easy!
In the meantime, water in the reactor vessels and spent fuel pools began to rise in the absence of the addition of water. There was no way, the operators could have accomplished a jury rigged supply.
They were now, totally in the blind, without the means to alleviate the situation.
