Protecting our nation’s energy supply in the Gulf of Mexico is critical. This area supplies about 25 percent of oil and 15 percent of natural gas. The Gulf also houses approximately 46 percent of U.S. refining capacity.  The oil and natural gas industry is committed to preserving a high standard of safety, reliable supply and environmental consciousness during natural disasters.

America’s oil and natural gas industry actively plans responses to potential extreme weather scenarios. As a result of companies’ collaboration and resourcefulness, the industry experienced no oil spills in its offshore operations and no major disruption to delivery of domestic supplies during hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

Years later, the industry continues to organize solutions for dealing with hurricanes and other hazardous conditions that endanger its operations, including:

• Continuous review of and updates to emergency response plans;
• Establishing redundant communication paths; and
• Making pre-arrangements with suppliers to insure adequate resources during an emergency.

For example, one company crafted a robust emergency preparedness plan to maintain fuel supply. The company committed to filling as many tanker trucks as possible before shutting down terminals and will make stations located along evacuation routes a priority (as well as any other strategic supply points identified by local authorities). In addition, stations located along evacuation routes will be a priority for deliveries, along with strategic locations identified by emergency response activities, local authorities and densely populated areas.

Above all, the industry is dedicated to ensuring the safety of its employees. Evacuations are provided from offshore facilities the minute a hurricane comes into radar. Employees are given the most up-to-date reports on storm status and its path of movement.

During Katrina and Rita, the industry’s emergency preparedness enabled them to endure the storms without a single safety incident or loss of life.