OPPD’s Response to Winter Storm Gerri Highlights the Value of Preparation
In January 2024, the Midwest braced for dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills, affecting the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) and OPPD’s service territory. SPP issued a Weather Advisory and Resource Advisory, prompting OPPD to mobilize and create action plans. With anticipated high loads, there was a risk of planned outages, including for OPPD. Proactive discussions began days before the event to prepare internal teams and customers. OPPD’s efforts to coordinate and prepare earned it Chartwell’s Silver Best Practices Award in Emergency Management for its strategic response to the impending weather event and its potential impact on the service territory.
Speaker: Jacob Babb, Senior Emergency Preparedness Specialist, OPPD
Jacob joined the OPPD team in May of 2023 after 22 years in United States Air Force, retiring as a Senior Emergency Manager. His prior experience spans across response to flooding in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a National Security event near Las Vegas, Nevada, planning for various military airshows and organizing domestic and international exercises. He is currently the Emergency Operations Center Manager, organizes emergency communications and coordinates emergency response efforts with local communities.
