For many people, 5:00 p.m. signals the end of the workday. For SDG&E’s Emergency Services Manager, Zoraya Griffin, it’s just another hour on the clock.
Emergencies don’t clock-in or clock-out and neither does SDG&E’s Emergency Services Department. It is responsible for monitoring, managing and facilitating the company’s emergency response and preparedness efforts with Griffin playing a pivotal role.
So how does Griffin and the team keep the utility that spans a 4,100 square-mile service area across two counties and 25 communities prepared for an emergency? By remaining in a constant state of awareness and assessment—monitoring everything 24/7, 365 days a year.
“A member of our team is always on duty,” said Griffin. “Once we hear about an issue in the field that may compromise our operational stability and possibly impact our customers, we get ready to implement an appropriate response.”
If an issue escalates into an emergency, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) may be activated to support crews out in the field dealing with the emergency on the front lines, employees managing the system behind the scenes, regulatory agencies and public officials—to ensure everyone is in the loop.
Most importantly, the EOC is the communications hub to help keep SDG&E customers informed and safe during any kind of emergency.
Safety is a year-round effort
Preparing for any emergency to enhance safety and promote a reliable flow of energy to our customers is one of our highest priorities. Knowing how to respond to an emergency is critical and Griffin’s typical work day consists of helping various departments develop and implement the plans they need to be effective in an emergency.
“We have the responsibility to ensure SDG&E is always at the highest level of emergency preparedness and able to safely and swiftly respond,” said Griffin. “It’s a responsibility I take very seriously.”
The work doesn’t end once a plan is in place. Griffin’s department designs and leads comprehensive quarterly training exercises to test responses and mitigate vulnerabilities.
“We are constantly evaluating our emergency preparedness efforts through test scenarios and responding to real emergencies,” she said. “At the end of the day, our priority is to be able to respond quickly and be there for our customers when they need us the most.”