On August 7, TDEC OEP, in collaboration with TEMA and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), conducted Mission Moon Pie: A Fuel Shortage Exercise and Workshop with 66 participants from 4 federal agencies, 6 state agencies, and 7 local governments, as well as 5 different private sector fuel partners and 3 non-governmental organizations. Representatives from State Energy Offices (SEOs) in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania attended to provide a regional perspective.
Throughout the day, attendees heard from experts regarding the following topics: U.S. DOE’s federal emergency response role and associated preparedness efforts; TVA’s electricity grid hardening projects; the TN Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s cybersecurity planning efforts; and OEP’s role in tracking Tennessee’s fuel supply chain during emergencies.
Participants also exercised complex, but plausible, disaster scenarios involving cyberattacks, power outages, severe weather, and a prolonged fuel shortage. (The scenarios were developed by OEP and NASEO and distributed to participants via a Situation Manual. The Situation Manual is available to other SEOs and also contains helpful references regarding the petroleum sector.) The exercise’s group report-outs and plenary discussions provided participants with the opportunity to learn about and share feedback regarding potential actions their federal, state, local, and industry colleagues may take during such emergencies. These valuable insights were captured in an After Action Report, which will continue to inform Tennessee’s preparedness and response efforts.
Please direct questions on the exercise and workshop to Ben Bolton, TDEC OEP Energy Programs Administrator, at Ben.Bolton@tn.gov or 615-306-5908.