Why Utilities Should Conduct a Missile Attack Drill

I recently read an article about missile attack preparedness, and it makes me think that the notion of conducting a missile attack drill isn’t as off-the-wall as it might seem on the surface.

Utility companies need to be prepared for anything.  It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about water, gas or electric utilities, preparations must be made for infrequent yet catastrophic incidents.  The list of worst-case scenarios is long; here are just 3 possibilities:

• A water system could be poisoned
• Natural gas infrastructure could be flooded under 6 feet of storm water
• A nuclear power plant could be hacked and repurposed into a weapon of mass destruction

And on and on, you get the idea.  This is why I applaud the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency’s recent launch of a plan to prepare for the possibility of a North Korea missile attack.  Now THAT is thinking out of the box!

Snapshot of Hawaii’s Missile Attack Drill

The plan is to conduct at least one missile attack drill in each school within the state.  The drills will be orchestrated similar to an active shooter drill, and will be accompanied by announcements urging people to stay inside and under cover, as well as a broader educational campaign.

Of course, the state’s tourism industry is not particularly pleased with what they view as ‘undue stress’ on potential tourists, but people within the industry need to get on board.  Sorry, guys – safety first.

To read more details about Hawaii’s plan, click here.

So back to the original question.  Should utility companies consider utilizing a missile attack drill scenario as part of their overall emergency preparedness efforts? No need for a drum roll, the answer is a resounding yes!