UGI Assists Operation Blue Flame ’24 and Keystone 6 Preparedness Exercises

UGI is helping prepare first responders and government agencies to respond to natural gas incidents, including a major natural gas outage during the winter.

Each year the PA Public Utility Commission (PUC) hosts its “Operation Blue Flame” exercise program that educates state and local agencies to the potential cascading effects of a large gas outage emergency.

The program facilitates discussion between agencies and the private sector to coordinate response and recovery operations. This year UGI served as the partner natural gas utility in the exercise.

Unique to this year’s Operation Blue Flame was its sequential pairing with — and serving as the basis for — the National Mass Care Exercise, called Keystone 6.

“Operation Blue Flame ’24 focused on testing Pennsylvania’s mass care capabilities. UGI was instrumental in helping to create the exercise scenario and educate the attendees on gas company operational response and restoration procedures,” PUC Lead Emergency Agency Rep. Derek Ruhl said. “We are grateful for partnerships with UGI and our other utilities to provide the industry expertise needed to make Operation Blue Flame successful.”

Operation Blue Flame and Keystone 6 were held in tandem in Shippensburg, Pa., from May 21 – 24. Over 550 participants representing 110 agencies and 16 states participated in the preparedness training.

In advance of the Blue Flame/Keystone 6 exercise, UGI led a webinar for mass care professionals and emergency managers to gain a better understanding of the natural gas distribution system.

During the webinar UGI discussed the widespread and growing use of natural gas, and how supply disruptions could affect not only residential users but many facets of the economy, including power generators, hospitals, schools, government buildings, and others. UGI briefed participants on the steps to restore natural gas service following an outage and important safety protocols.

Senior members of UGI next attended the in-person exercises in Shippensburg, helping facilitate Operation Blue Flame, and then provided subject matter expertise during the Keystone 6 portion.

For more information on this year’s Keystone 6, visit the PA Department of Human Services website at https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dhs/resources/for-residents/masscare.html.