Inside OPPD’s Response to a Once-in-500-Year Ice Storm

Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) received the Gold Emergency Management Award for its response to a rare, once-in-500-year ice event in 2025. OPPD executed a comprehensive, safety-first emergency management response grounded in “one-voice” communications, disciplined incident command, and organizational agility. The storm brought hurricane force winds and three to five inches of ice to energized infrastructure, impacting 132,000 customers. While addressing the most significant infrastructure damage in the utility’s history, OPPD remained steadfast in its commitment to honest and frequent outage communications, consistent prioritization of safety, and an unwavering pledge to work continuously until full restoration was achieved.

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Presenter: Jacob Babb, Senior Emergency Preparedness Specialist, Omaha Public Power District

Jacob Babb is an emergency management professional with more than 16 years of experience in disaster preparedness, operational planning, continuity of operations, and training. He currently serves as Senior Emergency Preparedness Specialist at Omaha Public Power District, supporting programs that strengthen organizational readiness and resilience. Previously, Jacob served in the United States Air Force as an Emergency Management Director, EOC Manager, and CBRN subject matter expert, leading preparedness and response efforts across major installations. He also served with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, where he managed nuclear accident response training and exercises for federal and international partners. He holds a master’s degree in Emergency Management and is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM).

 

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