Every day across New Jersey, utility crews and first responders respond to emergencies that help protect people and the communities they call home. What many may not know is that long before those calls happen, they’re training together so they’re ready when their communities need them most.
As National Preparedness Month reminds us each September, emergencies don’t begin with the first 911 call — they begin with the preparation that happens long before an incident. For Basking Ridge Fire Department Third Fire Captain and PSE&G Gas Associate Engineer Brian F., that preparation is part of everyday life.
As both a fire captain and a gas worker, people rely on your ability to show up when they need you, and they trust that responders are prepared for the task at hand. We live up to that every day when we expand our skills and participate in drills and other training. How we show up matters for the community.”
-Brian F., PSE&G Gas Associate Engineer and Basking Ridge Fire Department Third Fire Captain
Whether he’s serving our customers at work or answering a fire call in his community, Brian knows that those moments are shaped by the hours spent training long before an emergency begins.
Why do utility crews train before emergencies happen?
Safety is our number one priority. Throughout the year, our gas employees participate in realistic training exercises that simulate gas leaks, infrastructure damage, severe weather and other emergency situations.
These drills give our employees the opportunity to strengthen critical skills, improve communication and decision-making, and work together in a safe learning environment before responding to real emergencies. Every exercise helps ensure utility crews and first responders are prepared to respond safely together when communities need them most.
Training alongside our local first responder partners helps to reinforce the coordination, communication and safety practices that are critical during real-world events that protect our neighbors, strengthen partnerships and continuously improve our collective readiness. The communities we serve are often the same communities where our employees and emergency response partners live, work and raise their families, making preparedness deeply personal.”
-Brian Clark, Senior Vice President of Gas Operations at PSE&G
Why do first responders and utilities train together?
Fire Chief Joseph Cunningham of the Delran Fire Department, shared his thoughts after one of the scheduled gas drills this year, “I want to thank PSE&G for bringing this to my department so we can see and experience it first-hand. All of my members here are volunteers and they took time off from work to be here and learn; that is a testament to their pride and commitment to safety for this community.”
That collective preparation and focus on public safety matters. We work closely with local first responders whenever emergency response is needed. Every one of those responses relies on the preparation, communication and teamwork built long before the call comes in.
Preparedness takes different forms, but everyone has a role to play — from the crews responding in the field to families preparing at home.
How can families prepare before an emergency?
Emergency preparedness isn’t only for utility crews and first responders. National Preparedness Month is a reminder that every household can take simple steps to prepare before an emergency or severe weather occurs.
Helping children understand those moments is one reason the PSEG Foundation partnered with Sesame Workshop to create resources that make emergency preparedness accessible for families.
Through the initiative, children and caregivers can explore age-appropriate resources, including the new Storm on Sesame Street special, where Elmo and his friends prepare for an approaching storm, support one another afterward and learn that even small acts of kindness help communities recover together.
The program reinforces an important lesson for children and adults alike: preparation, teamwork and helping one another can make difficult moments easier to navigate.
How can you start preparing today?
Preparedness looks different for everyone. For utility crews and first responders, it means training together before emergencies happen. Whether you live alone, have young children or care for older family members, taking a few simple steps before an emergency happens can make a stressful situation easier to navigate.
Start by talking with your household about what to do during severe weather, creating an emergency plan or putting together an emergency kit. These small steps can help you feel more prepared before an emergency ever happens.
That’s the spirit of National Preparedness Month. When utilities, emergency responders and families each take steps to prepare, our communities become safer and more resilient together.
For more ways to prepare for severe weather, visit PSE&G’s Storm Safety Center, where you’ll find safety information, outage resources and tips to help your household stay ready throughout the year.
Hurricane season continues through the fall, making National Preparedness Month a good time to check out our article on hurricane preparedness for practical steps to take before, during and after a storm. For non-storm emergencies, additional safety information and resources are also available on our website.
