Last year the Lab was faced with several Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) which provided unique challenges to a large scientific community such as the Lab.
Myrna Gutierrez is a Facilities Area Manager covering multiple buildings, including FlexLab and Energy Technologies Area (ETA). Myrna is new to the Emergency Operations Center team this year. While she recently completed her training and a drill, she hasn’t had a chance to experience the ‘real thing’.
Elements: How did you end up on the EOC team, and what area of the team will you be supporting?
Myrna: I am on the EOC team because as a Facilities Area Manager, I have a good understanding of what activities are happening in the various buildings I support and potential needs during PSPS. I will be supporting Operations and Facilities.
Elements: You were part of an emergency response team at a previous job. How does your training for that help you prepare for supporting the EOC?
Myrna: I was previously a radiological control technician and trained as part of a radiological emergency response team. That experience helps me understand how to properly respond to emergencies. This includes stopping to assess and understand the scope of the issue, identifying hazards, and developing a safe work plan to control the situation. The lessons learned from an emergency can then help when developing new procedures/controls to prevent or minimize impacts from a future incident.
Elements: If the EOC needs to be activated this year, where do you hope to make a contribution?
Myrna: I hope that I will be able to contribute by understanding programmatic needs and what is on back-up power so that I can provide clear information to and from the EOC.