When an emergency hits, utilities don't really have the option of shutting down and waiting for things to get back to normal. In fact, that's when keeping the power on, the water flowing, and the wastewater systems operating becomes even more important. And that means your emergency preparation has to work in the real world, not just on paper. Host Erik Bjornstad looks at the questions you need to be considering: Is your backup fuel actually good? Can your generators handle a full load? Do you have enough fuel if deliveries can't get through for several days? Those are the kinds of questions utilities need to answer now—before the emergency arrives. All this and more on this episode of The Fuel Pulse Show Podcast. What You'll Learn Why backup fuel needs attention throughout the year, not just when an emergency is approaching What can happen to fuel that sits in storage for months at a time Why starting your generator isn't enough to know that it will actually do its job when you need it What utilities should be looking for when they test generators under a real load How to figure out how much fuel you really need to get through a multi-day outage Why remote substations, pump stations, lift stations, and other out-of-the-way sites are easy to overlook Some of the ways utilities can protect critical equipment from floods, storms, wildfires, and other emergencies Why you want your fuel suppliers and backup delivery plans lined up before an emergency happens How mutual-aid networks can help when your own resources aren't enough What tabletop drills can tell you about weaknesses you may not realize are in your emergency plan Why good documentation matters, both during an emergency and after it's over How mapping your fuel tanks, generators, and other critical equipment can make it easier for your people to respond when something goes wrong Ideas Worth Sharing: Here are three notable quotes from the podcast episode: "Your job doesn't stop when the power goes down. In fact, your job actually ramps up when the power goes out." "It's not just about whether the generator starts. It's about whether it will hold up under full load, whether it transfers cleanly, powers critical systems, and runs long enough to do its job." "When disaster hits, you need to know that your system's gonna run, your system needs to run, and your people need to know the plan." Resources Mentioned: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – Emergency preparedness and continuity planning resources Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Emergency preparedness information for water and wastewater utilities Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) – Mutual-aid resources for water and wastewater utilities North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) – Reliability and emergency preparedness standards for electric utilities NERC EOP-005 – System Restoration from Blackstart Resources NERC EOP-011 – Emergency Operations America's Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) – Requirements and guidance related to risk assessments and emergency response planning for water systems Utility mutual-assistance programs – Resources for obtaining personnel, equipment, and other assistance during major emergencies Show Notes 00:00 – Emergency Preparation Is About Keeping Critical Services Running When the power goes out or another emergency hits, the job of a utility doesn't stop. It actually becomes more important. Erik introduces eight practical areas utilities should be looking at now to make sure their fuel, backup power, equipment, and people are ready when they're needed most. 04:45 – Start With the Fuel Backup generators are only as reliable as the fuel feeding them. Erik discusses why stored diesel can become the weak link in an emergency plan, including water, sediment, microbial contamination, and fuel degradation, and why utilities should be testing fuel in main tanks, day tanks, and remote locations on a regular schedule. 08:45 – Don't Just Start the Generator—Test the Whole System A generator starting up doesn't necessarily tell you whether it's ready for an emergency. Erik explains the importance of testing generators under full load and making sure the entire system works together, including automatic transfer switches, critical equipment, SCADA and communications systems, pumps, lift stations, and other essential operations. 19:40 – Make Sure You Actually Have Enough Fuel How long can your generators run if the power stays out and fuel deliveries can't get through? Erik looks at calculating fuel needs based on actual generator loads and realistic burn rates, building in a safety margin, and planning for outages that may last several days rather than several hours. 28:35 – Find the Weak Spots Before the Emergency Does Hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other disasters can expose vulnerabilities that are easy to overlook during normal operations. Erik talks about hardening critical infrastructure, protecting tanks and generators, and identifying vulnerable equipment and locations before the next emergency makes those decisions for you. 32:40 – Have Your Fuel Delivery Plan in Place Ahead of Time During a widespread emergency, everybody may be trying to get fuel at the same time. Erik discusses why utilities should have primary and backup suppliers, emergency delivery arrangements, clear site information, and established relationships in place before an emergency happens—not while they're already in the middle of one. 37:25 – Use Tabletop Exercises to Find Problems With the Plan A plan can look great on paper and still fall apart when people actually have to use it. Erik explains how tabletop exercises can help utilities walk through realistic scenarios, find gaps and bad assumptions, clarify responsibilities, and turn what they learn into actual improvements. 47:05 – Document What You're Doing Good documentation isn't just about compliance. Erik discusses keeping accurate records of fuel testing, generator testing, maintenance, emergency exercises, corrective actions, and other preparedness activities so utilities know what has been done, what still needs attention, and what they can demonstrate afterward. 52:05 – Map Your Critical Fuel and Backup-Power Infrastructure When something goes wrong, people shouldn't have to rely on memory to figure out where critical equipment is located. Erik looks at digitally mapping fuel tanks, generators, shutoffs, transfer switches, and other important assets so employees, contractors, and emergency responders can quickly find what they need. 55:15 – Build the Plan Before You Need It Erik wraps up the eight recommendations with the larger point behind all of them: emergency preparation needs to happen before the emergency. You need to know the equipment will run, the fuel will be there, and your people understand the plan well enough to carry it out when things don't go the way you expected.
