INTRODUCTION FUEL SUPPLY & DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TYPICAL DAY EMERGENCIES CASCADIA EVENT

Typical “Blue Sky” Day

On a typical day when no emergency is ongoing — also known as “blue sky days” — the Oregon Department of Energy routinely engages in preparedness activities including training, exercises, and plan reviews to ensure continual program readiness.

ODOE also monitors fuel markets and systems to stay informed on the region’s baseline supply and distribution system. Knowing the region’s typical fuel needs helps ODOE better anticipate problems that might disrupt the Pacific Northwest fuel infrastructure.

The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Energy Information Administration support Emergency Support Function 12 (ESF 12) lead agencies like ODOE by providing information-gathering and situational awareness tools for monitoring and/or responding to electricity, liquid fuels, and natural gas emergencies.

Training and Exercises

Through training and exercises, ODOE is able to test capabilities, practice procedures, and improve performance in a no-fault learning environment, so decision-makers and responders are ready to tackle energy supply disruptions. This includes the Oregon Fuel Action Plan and strategies to respond to liquid fuels supply and distribution problems affecting the state. Training and exercises also allow ODOE to identify strengths, planning and response gaps, and other areas for improvement in coordination and collaboration with emergency response partners.

ODOE participates in virtual and hybrid workshops, tabletop drills, and functional exercises to review, validate, and assess the effectiveness of energy response plans and procedures. This allows ODOE to ensure a coordinated response and rapid recovery of the fuel supply and distribution system from various designed scenarios. All lessons learned from responding to actual emergencies, exercises, and training will be incorporated as appropriate in forthcoming revisions to the state’s energy emergency response plans.

LEARN MORE about recent emergency exercises.

Coordination with State Agencies

To ensure the state is ready to respond to all-hazards emergencies affecting the health and safety of Oregonians, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management leads the Oregon Emergency Response (OERS) Council. OERS was established in 1972 by the Governor to improve communications and coordination between state government agencies responding to emergencies across the state. The OERS Council is made up of 33 state agencies, including ODOE. OERS council agencies meet every two months to collaborate on preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation strategies to all events threatening the health and safety of Oregonians. ODOE provides technical assistance, training, presentations, reports, and status updates on ESF 12 fuel program priorities, concerns, and planning strategies to OERS Council agencies. The Council promotes information sharing, collaboration, and training among state agencies.

Coordination with Counties

ODOE engages directly with all 36 of Oregon’s counties to promote collaboration and information sharing of state and local ESF 12 energy priorities, concerns, planning strategies, resources, and capabilities. ODOE provides technical assistance to counties and cities to develop procedures for responding to supply shortages in local emergency operations plans, and to coordinate with local governments to conduct workshops, training, and exercises to ensure state and local officials can effectively address fuel disruptions. This includes ensuring local fuel response protocols align with state strategies and procedures.   

During emergencies, ODOE works with county and city officials to assess fuel needs,  provide situational awareness, recommended protective actions, and allocate fuel to support local response and recovery activities as appropriate.

Coordination with Tribes

Engaging with Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes on the state’s fuel planning strategies is a priority of ODOE’s. One of the primary venues for collaboration and coordination with the Tribes is the Tribal Preparedness Coalition of Oregon. ODOE participates in the Tribal Coalitions monthly virtual coordination meetings and quarterly in-person meetings.

The Tribal Coalition promotes activities concerning disaster preparedness, planning, response and recovery, and continuity of operations. The Tribal Coalition coordinates with and among its member Tribes, federal agencies, state agencies, and local jurisdictions to enhance preparedness and resilience of Tribal communities in preparation for disasters and to support response activities during incidents.

ODOE seeks to learn more about the priorities, concerns, and emergency preparedness needs of Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes through this forum. ODOE also provides:

• Presentations, training, and workshops as requested on state ESF 12 plans and strategies for preparing for, responding to, and recovering from energy emergencies affecting the Tribes.

• Technical assistance on Tribal plans and strategies in response to energy emergencies as needed.

When responding to emergencies, ODOE works closely with the Tribes to:

• Provide situational awareness on the energy outlook.

• Assess energy impacts to the Tribes.

• Recommend protective actions as appropriate.

• Work with energy providers to address mission and resources requests from the Tribes.

ODOE recognizes Tribal nation sovereignty and respects the Tribal laws, authorities, and policies that govern the actions necessary to provide safety for all Tribal members and other residents on Tribal lands, property, and natural and cultural resources.

Regional Collaboration

Western States Petroleum Collaborative

In March 2020, the Western States Petroleum Collaborative (WSPC) was created to facilitate the coordination and development of a regional fuel response framework with 11 state energy offices and emergency management agencies. The western states recognized the need to work together and share resources to address regional petroleum shortage preparedness and response needs. This effort was built off the existing EEAC Program originally established in 1996 to encourage information sharing in energy disruptions. The WSPC expands the coordination beyond information sharing to include coordinated response actions. This effort was sponsored by USDOE-CESER, NASEO, and NEMA.

Staff from ODOE and Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) co-chaired the 18-month effort sponsored by the USDOE, NASEO, and NEMA to establish the framework for the WSPC. As co-chairs, ODOE and OEM provided guidance and worked to ensure project goals and objectives reflected the need for regional coordination to manage fuel disruptions affecting multiple states.

The WSPC Framework was finalized in September 2021 and establishes a multi-state coordinated response structure for the western states in response to liquid fuel emergencies affecting multiple states. The purpose of the WSPC Regional Framework is to codify guidance for coordinated response, prioritize response actions and measures, standardize information flows, and pre-identify tools and templates that are necessary to respond to a liquid fuels shortage.

Multi-State Coordinated Response

The multi-state coordinated response structure developed by the WSPC:

• Identifies a set of petroleum shortage response actions, decision-making protocols, and priorities for regional coordination when triggers and thresholds are met;

• dentifies data sources and essential information required for states to establish a common operating picture during petroleum disruptions to determine whether coordinated response actions are warranted;

• Identifies triggers and thresholds to allow states to determine the level of response and collaboration required to reflect the severity of the disruption; and

• Creates consistency and streamlines the response process for fuel providers operating in multiple states.

ODOE’s implementation of coordinated regional response actions is voluntary, and coordinated actions typically occur when two or more states in the region face a petroleum shortage and those states agree that a coordinated regional approach is mutually beneficial. When regional coordination is warranted, ODOE uses existing pre-established decision-making authorities and processes described in the Oregon Fuel Action Plan.

When there is a disruption of liquid fuels supply, ODOE and other states in the region consider the following questions when assessing the situation and determining whether to conduct a coordinated response:

WSPC Role During Steady-State Conditions

To foster collaboration and facilitate collective maintenance of response capabilities, WSPC states conduct quarterly virtual coordination meetings. States discuss common issues, concerns, and goals for preparedness, as well as raise potential solutions to strengthen resilience in the region. WSPC states also share information on relevant training and exercises that other member states may support or participate in. This allows states to integrate regional coordination elements into liquid fuels exercises. USDOE and NASEO participate in the WSPC coordination meetings to provide federal reports on training opportunities, regional exercises, and upcoming webinars and workshops that may interest the WSPC member states.

States rotate hosting the quarterly WSPC meetings on an annual schedule.

National Collaboration

Energy Security Committee

The National Association of State Energy Officials’ (NASEO) Energy Security Committee provides a forum for State Energy Officials to discuss, learn, and collaborate on energy emergency preparedness and response. The committee seeks to address all natural and manmade hazards as part of its energy assurance efforts. It supports state efforts in the areas of energy data and analysis, intra-state and inter-state communications and training, and public-private sector coordination.

The committee collaborates with relevant federal partners and industry stakeholders to promote comprehensive energy sector security. The committee leverages its network to assist states in carrying out their responsibilities as state energy data repositories, providing technical assistance to other state government agencies, and conducting energy assurance planning and preparedness activities. The committee structure is designed as a conduit to solicit diverse state perspectives on a variety of subjects in order to inform future activities and resource requests, and to guide NASEO advocacy.

ODOE participates in NASEO’s monthly Energy Security Committee virtual meetings to discuss, learn, and collaborate in the areas of energy data and analysis, intra-state and inter-state communications and training, and public-private sector coordination. The committee collaborates with relevant federal partners and industry stakeholders to promote the roles, responsibilities, and capabilities of State Energy Offices’ comprehensive energy sector security. 

ODOE also participates in the committee’s monthly State Hazards and Operations Rundown Call. During regional or national emergencies, these meetings allow states to share information pertaining to potential, anticipated, and ongoing hazards; response actions and updates; outstanding needs; and ongoing tactics and strategies concerning the event. During “blue sky days,” states discuss ongoing preparedness efforts, best practices, and lessons learned from responding to energy events advancing regional coordination and collaboration.

INTRODUCTION FUEL SUPPLY & DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TYPICAL DAY EMERGENCIES CASCADIA EVENT