In the early 1970s, a small pond was expanded to a 160 acre lake to serve as an emergency backup water supply for the station.

Lithium-ion batteries in the nose of each pod will provide power during take off and an emergency backup for landing.

The permanent replacement was built with a second (shorter) tower as an emergency backup.

Although he insisted on remaining on the sideline as an emergency backup, ultimately he was placed on injured reserve to undergo his 3rd shoulder surgery.

At one point, an estimated 25,000 telephones were knocked out of service, with half of the central telephone exchange operating on emergency backup power.