Utilities Share Lessons Learned At Conference

Jun 1, 2006 12:00 PM, Erin Semple

The concept of a mobile command center for use in emergency response — which includes a conference room, video cameras for filming the scene and worktables — came out of the experience of Sept. 11, 2001, says Michael J. Spall, program manager of emergency management for Con Edison Company of New York.

“In order to have a successful emergency program, a company must work with government agencies, because the emergency affects the city's infrastructure,” he adds.

Spall told attendees at the Emergency Preparedness and Service Restoration for Utilities conference at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta that the relevant need for a corporate emergency response center and fuel resources caused the company to create the concept of a mobile command post.

“We also learned that training is necessary, and there should be a single point of contact for environment health and safety operations,” Spall says. “One should also have more than one way to communicate, such as a radio system as well as Blackberries and cell phones.”

Spall recommends that companies build relationships with local companies before emergencies occur, keep a business continuity consultant on staff, and have a comprehensive hurricane and crisis management plan available.

“We must protect people, responders and the environment,” he says. “We are in the people business now.”

“This conference offered an exchange of ideas about the best practices in emergency restoration,” chairman Dan O'Neill said.

The conference aimed to focus on five main topics: how to assess a company's emergency response plans; how to communicate with media and customers; how to learn critical practices for incident command systems; how to execute emergency response plans; and how to apply lessons learned in recent hurricane, storm and ice-storm incidents.

A pre-conference workshop focused on assessing a company's readiness for an emergency, including community continuity, working with the media and the public, and working with regulators and government officials. Other sessions focused on preparing for future incidents, maximizing resources during emergences, employee accountability, and mobile command centers.

Later sessions focused on case studies from recent disasters and disruptions. The session featured case studies related to Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis and Katrina, storms and ice and snowstorms.

“People must be put first,” says Tom Murphy, emergency coordinator for New England Region for National Grid. “I plan to take what I learned here and apply it to our emergency planning infrastructure.”

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