U.S. Department of Energy 
Clear Path VI Exercise

Thursday, May 3, 2018

Dominion Energy NorthWest Operating Center
3072 Centreville Rd., Herndon, VA 20127

Purpose:

Series Goal: Strengthen cooperation between industry and government energy sector partners.

Exercise Goal: Explore and address the challenges that the energy sector may face during a major hurricane impacting the Mid-Atlantic Region (focusing on the collaboration of cross-industry sectors, government, and industry communications and coordination) and incorporate lessons learned from recent storm response and recovery activities. Link with the National Level Exercise 2018 by using a common scenario and the goal of incorporating recent hurricane response lessons learned into the exercise.
Objectives:
  1. Examine the energy sector’s response processes, challenges, and related consequences, resulting from the landfall of a major hurricane in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
  2. Identify interdependencies and align priorities across critical partner sectors (energy and communication) in the preparation for and response to the impact of a major hurricane in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
  3. Establish and reinforce relationships across the sectors and their partners, to facilitate future preparedness and emergency response operations.
Method/
Roadmap:
  1. Participants will define the hurricane response structures of the public and private sectors identifying organizational structures, preparation processes and priorities, and other issues associated with the pre-landfall phase of a hurricane impacting the Mid-Atlantic Region.
  2. Participants will identify interdependencies and challenges for the public and private sectors when preparing to respond to a hurricane in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
  3. Participants will identify response processes and priorities of the public and private sectors in the post-landfall phase of a hurricane in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
  4. Participants will identify post-landfall interdependencies and challenges for coordinating public and private sector recovery efforts following a hurricane affecting the Mid-Atlantic Region.
  5. Participants will establish and reinforce relationships across government and industry and across the energy and communications sectors to facilitate future preparedness and emergency response operations.

Agenda

7:00 a.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
Welcome Devon Streit, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Infrastructure Security and Energy Restoration (ISER), Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE), 
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

Opening Remarks, Purpose, and Objectives Patricia Hoffman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, DOE/OE
8:20 a.m. Facilitator Kick-Off; Participant Introductions
Overview of facilitated session, desired outcomes, rules of play, facility safety brief Mike Fry, Ascenttra
9:00 a.m. Sector Briefs
Overview of supply lines, priorities for hurricane preparation and response:
  • Electricity
  • Oil and Natural Gas
  • Communications
  • FEMA Region III
  • DOE Energy Information Administration
    • 10:00 a.m.–10:15 a.m. Break
    10:15 a.m.
–12:00 p.m. Module One (Hurricane—Pre-Landfall)

    Desired Outcome: Review responsibilities and identify possible gaps and obstacles for better preparedness, coordination, and communication across the sectors with the government and the public.
    10:15 a.m. Pre-Landfall Scenario
    Presentation and Video Mike Fry
    10:25 a.m. Interactive Activity: Key Activity Timeline: Pre-Landfall
    Each sector will be asked to identify key actions they would implement in the pre-landfall phase. All Participants
    11:10 a.m. Facilitated Discussion
    Review results of Key Activity Timeline and facilitated discussion among plenary participants of initial thoughts to the scenario, preparation actions, and key issues. Mike Fry
    12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. Lunch
    Luncheon Speaker, 12:15 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Robert “Bob” Blue, Executive Vice President, President & Chief Executive Officer, Dominion Energy Power Delivery Group
    1:00 p.m.
–3:30 p.m. Module Two (Hurricane—Post-Landfall)

    Desired Outcome: Review responsibilities and identify possible gaps and obstacles to a more coordinated response and better recover and restoration.
    1:00p.m. Post-Landfall Scenario
    Present Scenario Mike Fry
    1:20 p.m. Concurrent Interactive Activities Post-Landfall: 
Key Activity Timeline and Identifying Interdependencies
    Key Activity Timeline

    Interactive Group Activity

    Each sector will be asked to identify Key Activities they would implement in the post-landfall phase.
    		All Participants
    Identifying Interdependencies

    Interactive Group Activity

    Interdependency 1:
    
Port closure in Hampton Roads

    Interdependency 2: 

    Damage to communications infrastructure in the National Capital Region

    Interdependency 3:
    Power outages that shut down majority of retail gasoline stations in the Mid-Atlantic Region; majority without backup power
    		All Participants
    2:45 p.m. Facilitated Discussion
    Review results of Key Activity Timeline and mapping of Interdependencies. Facilitated discussion among plenary participants. Mike Fry
    3:30 p.m.–3:45 p.m. Break
    3:45 p.m. Summary of Major Findings and Recommendations
    Facilitated discussion to identify the major findings and recommendations discussed over the course of the exercise. Mike Fry
    5:00 p.m. Adjourn