Dear Fellow Energy and Facility Professionals:

The U.S. General Services Administration has developed continuity of operations plans to ensure that fundamental agency missions continue during emergencies. These plans entail moving to alternate sites if an existing location becomes inoperable or uninhabitable.

But recent events tell us that we cannot merely assume that an alternative location will provide the continuity we seek. As energy professionals and facility managers we need to ask the question:

Are these alternative sites really less susceptible to major disruptions in the energy infrastructure than the buildings from which we are moving?

This workshop can help you answer that critical question. It was designed by--and for--those responsible for continuity of operations in the event of an emergency. At the end of this workshop, you will have a much better understanding of the feasibility of obtaining reliable energy services during and after a crisis.

The General Services Administration (GSA) was directed to develop plans for the continuity of public utility services by Executive Order 12656. And we responded by creating a handbook entitled GSA National Security Guidance for Federal Agencies and Federal Building Operators . We would like to share this guidance with you at series of nationwide workshops. Our objective is to raise awareness -- in your organization -- of energy security planning.

In addition to helping you to identify important issues related to successful energy contingency planning, the workshop features expert speakers who have experienced disasters first-hand or have valuable knowledge of the energy infrastructure in your region. And they have agreed to share their experiences with you at this workshop.

I encourage you to join me in New York City on November 4 to learn more about the critical issue of continuity of operations.

Sincerely,

Mark Ewing
Director
GSA Energy Center of Expertise