Preparing for Natural Disasters During a Climate Crisis | CESER 2020 Exercises Recap

The climate crisis is one of the biggest challenges facing our nation and the planet today. With climate change intensifying, we see more intense hurricanes, storms, and uncontrolled wildfires. That’s why the Biden Administration has laid out a bold climate agenda to combat the climate emergency with plans to procure carbon pollution-free electricity by 2050 and leverage DOE’s labs to produce cutting-edge R&D solutions.

In the meantime, we are left with the aftermath of natural disasters. More natural disasters are ravaging our communities in recent years, causing extensive infrastructure damage and impacting society’s most vulnerable members. Today, it’s critical to prepare to respond to these disasters.

During a disaster, DOE emergency responders are prepared to work with their partners to restore power to those impacted. To mitigate the impact of energy disruptions, DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) coordinates the Department’s response and recovery to hazards in the energy sector and facilities incident coordination across government and the private sector. 

CESER sponsors and participates in exercises that are critical to planning a coordinated response and helping the nation effectively mitigate any threat to reliable energy that may come – cyber or physical, natural or manmade. CESER exercises, including Clear Path and Liberty Eclipse, enable intergovernmental and private sector discussions for participants to share information and agree on roles and responsibilities for future incidents. 

Despite the pandemic, in 2020, DOE’s Energy Sector Exercises Program hosted several virtual exercises to continue learning and offering a critical opportunity to strengthen community resilience. From March 2020, CESER organized discussions about processes, plans, and areas for improvement that were typically in-person. Liberty Eclipse, a biennial event, was conducted in three parts and included over 200 participants. 

While it’s uncertain when exercises will be conducted in person again, DOE understands that that climate change is increasingly creating hazards, and preparation is key to minimizing damage. In 2021, DOE will continue to invest in exercises like Clear Path and Liberty Eclipse to bring together industry and government partners. When an emergency happens, the Department will be ready to maintain a reliable energy infrastructure for our nation. 

Read a recap of CESER’s 2020 exercises and what’s to come in 2021.