KUA Stages Mock Disaster Ahead of Hurricane Season

Kissimmee Utility Authority staff members took part in a mock disaster drill on Wednesday, April 12 to test the readiness of the utility for this year’s hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30.

The four-hour drill involved a wide range of activities, including both live-action training and table top exercises. Activities includes pre- and post-hurricane scenarios and other threats that are handled with the same intensity as real-life incidents. The drill also exposed employees to other non-hurricane related emergency situation activities, such as cybersecurity threats and equipment malfunctions. The drill did not impact normal utility operations.

A team of observers will evaluate the drill to identify potential vulnerabilities and make recommendations for improvements. These observations will be shared with utility management in a drill debriefing.

“Disaster drills play a vital role in the overall development and testing of an emergency plan,” said Jef Gray, KUA’s Vice President of Information Technology and the utility’s Drill Coordinator. “With heightened active shooter concerns across the nation, this training also presents a great opportunity to test our evacuation procedures, identify any potential shortfalls and address them immediately.”

Founded in 1901, KUA is Florida’s sixth largest community-owned utility powering 90,000 customers in Osceola County, Florida. For more information, visit www.kua.com.