The American Public Power Association recently held a public power Mutual Aid Committee Exercise that was sponsored by the Department of Energy.
More than 30 Committee Members from 17 states participated in the May 20 exercise, along with a representative from DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response.
Prior to the exercise, which was held in Arlington, Va., participants were briefed on the following:
• DOE support for energy sector response
• Overview of the mutual aid process
• Accounting and documentation best practices for mutual aid events
Following the briefings, the members participated in the exercise, which tested how the public power mutual aid network would respond to multiple major incidents occurring simultaneously in two separate regions of the country.
The exercise validated several key protocols used to respond to disasters. Members also identified lessons from the exercise that will improve how the mutual aid network supports utilities in the upcoming hurricane season and other major incidents.
Mutual Aid Committee Holds Spring Meeting
The following day, the Mutual Aid Committee held its spring meeting, which focused on several key topics related to emergency response and mutual aid.
Members discussed recent changes at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and reviewed recommendations to reform the agency that APPA sent to the President’s FEMA Review Council. If implemented, the recommendations would improve how the public power community works with FEMA before, during, and after major incidents. They were developed by APPA with a member working group as a response to the Council’s request for feedback on the agency.
The committee also discussed a survey that APPA sent to members to assess the potential impact of the administration’s reforms to FEMA. APPA is extending the deadline for members to respond to the survey until Friday, June 20. The responses to the survey will help inform APPA outreach to government officials on federal disaster assistance programs.
In addition, the committee reviewed members’ responses to APPA Emergency Action Plan survey that was designed to identify gaps in how members develop and use their emergency action plans. Based on the results of the survey, APPA and the MAC will develop resources that will fill the identified gaps.
