Our infrastructure is interconnected and interdependent. A major incident in one location can cascade rapidly and have an impact on critical infrastructure systems elsewhere, affecting their ability to function, to connect communities, provide essential services, or to protect society.

A ‘black sky hazard’ is defined by the Electric Infrastructure Security Council (EIS Council) as “a catastrophic event that severely disrupts the normal functioning of our critical infrastructures in multiple regions for long durations”. How well prepared are we for such an event?

The impacts of a major loss of electricity supply would rapidly expand into water, communications, food supply, finance, and beyond. A simulated catastrophic scenario can be a powerful way to raise awareness and strengthen individual, organisational and societal resilience to be better prepared for such an event.

Following the success of the EARTH EX exercises held in London and Glasgow in 2019, the Resilience Shift is pleased to continue its partnership with the pioneers at the EIS Council by supporting its unique all-nation, all-sector online resilience exercise.

A key element of our suite of activities dedicated to sharing learning across sectors, EARTH EX is a cross-sector tool promoting whole systems thinking, building knowledge of how to prepare for disruptions to energy supply and consequently increasing the resilience of all sectors to a black sky event.

We are delighted to have supported this year’s exercise and to share its findings through this report.

Publication date: 5 December, 2019
Authors: Avi Schnurr, John Heltzel, of Electric Infrastructure Security Council