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When preparing for extreme weather events such as the recent Hurricane Dorian, it is a good time for utilities to review their emergency plans and mutual aid agreements. APGA recently launched its own Mutual Aid Program to connect natural gas systems on the national level in the event of a disaster or emergency situation, in case your utility needs resources beyond your state or regional aid programs.

It is simple to sign up! To participate, a utility must designate a point of contact to sign the Mutual Aid Agreement form and return to APGA. Once signed, this will induct your system into the program. In the event of an emergency, a utility can call for aid by sending a Request for Aid (RFA) form to APGA staff to find and connect you with other natural gas systems. After the match has been made, the requesting and responding systems coordinate the logistics of the relief until completion. Participation in the Mutual Aid Program is voluntary, but APGA encourages as many members as possible to sign the Mutual Aid Agreement form in order to create a robust and effective Mutual Aid Program.

The APGA Mutual Aid program was developed with input from the APGA Operations & Safety Committee and APGA's Mutual Aid Task Group to address concerns specific to the municipal natural gas industry, including indemnification, workers compensation, and Operator Qualification. To learn more about the program, please visit www.apga.org/mutual-aid.