Entergy Louisiana, Entergy New Orleans conduct hurricane training drill
Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans conducted a simulated hurricane storm drill for some 400 employees last week.
On day one of the drill, May 10, employees participated in various training and tabletop exercises that introduced them to new tools, technologies, and processes. The focus was on helping them restore power quickly and safely following severe weather events, while keeping customers informed.
On day two, May 11, the employees participated in a mock storm drill. During the exercise, employees responded to two Category 5 hurricanes, with one making landfall in Southwest Louisiana and another in Southeast Louisiana. Their knowledge and skills were tested on all facets of storm restoration including operations, logistics, communications, and customer service.
“We know that it’s not a matter of if but when Mother Nature decides to challenge us in Louisiana, and for that reason, we must be ready,” said Steven Benyard, vice president of reliability for Entergy in Louisiana. “The storm drill that we participate in every year is about continuous improvement; it’s about making sure that we’re readying ourselves and our workforce to be the best that we can be if we’re called to restore power following a major storm.”
The exercise involved storm roles for all levels — from incident commander to crew leads and supervisors, who will use new technologies to perform damage assessments quickly and safely. Further, Entergy’s drone experts were onsite with displays and equipment that is used by crews to assess damage to the electric system. This includes assessing hard-to-access locations like the marsh or heavily wooded areas with saturated ground. In addition, Disaster Resource Group, a local vendor, was onsite displaying components of a staging site like a bunk trailer, used by utility workers during rest time, and temporary tents that provide shelter.
“The storm drill we hold each year is a testament to the dedication of our workforce and their commitment to being there for the communities we serve,” Phillip May, who has served as Entergy Louisiana’s president and CEO through many weather events, said. “We can’t predict the future or when and where the next major storm will land, but we can certainly ready ourselves to do what we’ve always done — be there for our customers, even in the most challenging times.”
Also at the training exercise, Entergy showcased its new mobile command center. The vehicle will function as a field command center, providing an immediate communications platform during major system incident response, or mutual assistance events.
“We live in an area prone to some of the most severe weather in the country, and are facing stronger and more frequent storms,” Deanna Rodriguez, Entergy New Orleans president and CEO, said. “While we continue to invest in hardening the grid, today’s storm drill is an important exercise for our teams to prepare for anything Mother Nature may bring.”
