Hurricane season in the Atlantic begins today and will last through November 30. As the lead Federal agency responsible for coordinating the response to major energy disruptions, the Department of Energy works closely with other Federal agencies, State...
June 1, 2015
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Hurricane season in the Atlantic begins today and will last through November 30. As the lead Federal agency responsible for coordinating the response to major energy disruptions, the Department of Energy works closely with other Federal agencies, State, local and tribal governments, and our partners in the private sector to prepare for all types of disasters – including hurricanes and other severe weather.
If a major energy supply disruption occurs as the result of a hurricane, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is activated, the Department serves as the lead for Emergency Support Function 12 – also known as “ESF-12” – which is responsible for facilitating the restoration of damaged energy systems, such as oil pipelines or the electric grid. We do this by working with the private sector and State and local officials to assess the impact of a disaster on the local energy infrastructure and helping coordinate the delivery of assets that are needed to quickly repair the damaged infrastructure. In addition, we deploy responders who work directly with the affected utilities and local officials on the ground during a disaster. They provide expertise on a variety of energy issues, and have direct access to subject matter experts back here in Washington. And these experts can work with our Federal partners to coordinate the appropriate waivers, when needed and appropriate, to further speed restoration efforts.
The key to these efforts is communications and coordination, especially with our partners in the private sector. We work closely on an ongoing basis with the owners and operators of the energy infrastructure, and State energy officials collaborating with them to prepare for energy emergencies and conducting workshops and exercises to test our response plans. In fact, later this month, we will bring together leaders from the private sector, the Federal government, as well as State and local governments for our annual Clear Path energy sector hurricane preparedness exercise. This important event, and others like it, help ensure that we are ready to work together as a team when disasters strike.
Being prepared for severe weather is a shared responsibility. Our partnerships with the public and private sectors are critical to remaining vigilant during hurricane season and throughout the year. But it is also equally important for the public to be prepared. As the President noted last week, there are steps that all Americans can take to ensure that their families and their communities are prepared for disasters. Make plans for your family, build an emergency supply kit, and stay informed so you know what to do before, during, and after a disaster. By working together, we will be better prepared as a nation to respond and quickly recover from hurricanes, and all types of disasters.
For more information about hurricane preparedness, visit www.ready.gov, www.Hurricanes.gov/Prepare, and our community guidelines for energy emergencies.
Patricia A. Hoffman
Acting Assistant Secretary, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Electricity
Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Electricity (OE) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Ms. Patricia A. Hoffman also served as Acting Under Secretary for Science and Energy from January 2017 until November 2017 when the U.S. Senate confirmed Mark Menezes as Under Secretary of Energy. Ms. Hoffman served as Acting Assistant Secretary for OE from January 2017 until October 2017 when the OE Assistant Secretary was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Ms. Hoffman was named Assistant Secretary for OE from June 2010 to January 2017, after serving as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary since November 2007. The focus of her responsibility was to provide leadership on a national level to modernize the electric grid, enhance the security and reliability of the energy infrastructure and facilitate recovery from disruptions to the energy supply both domestically and internationally. This is critical to meeting the Nation’s growing demand for reliable electricity by overcoming the challenges of our Nation’s aging electricity transmission and distribution system and addressing the vulnerabilities in our energy supply chain.
Prior to her this position, Ms. Hoffman served in a dual capacity as Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Research and Development (R&D) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) within OE. During her tenure as the DAS for R&D, she developed the long-term research strategy and improved the management portfolio of research programs for modernizing and improving the resiliency of the electric grid. This included developing and implementing sensors and operational tools for wide-area monitoring, energy storage research and demonstration, and the development of advanced conductors to increase the capacity and flexibility of the grid. She also initiated a new research effort focused on integrating and distributing renewable energy through the electric grid, such as promoting plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and implementing smart grid technologies to maintain system reliability. As COO, she managed the OE business operations, including human resources, budget development, financial execution, and performance management.
Prior to joining OE, she was the Program Manager for the Federal Energy Management Program within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at DOE. This program guides the Federal government to “lead by example” promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy, and smart energy management. Complementing her building energy efficiency experience, she also was the Program Manager for the Distributed Energy Program, which conducted research on advanced natural gas power generation and combined heat and power systems. Her accomplishments included the successful completion of the Advanced Turbine System program resulting in a high-efficiency industrial gas turbine power generation product.
Ms. Hoffman holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Ceramic Science and Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.