GridEx II.
Power Grid Down Drill To Be Conducted By US Government.
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An electrical grid joint drill simulation is being planned in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Thousands of utility workers, FBI agents, anti-terrorism experts, governmental agencies, and more than 150 private businesses are involved in the November power grid drill.
The downed power grid simulation will reportedly focus on both physical and cyber attacks. The antiquated electrical system in the United States has been one of the most neglected pieces of integral infrastructure.
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The disaster drill is being described as a crisis practice unlike anything the real power grid has ever experienced. The GridEX II drill Nov. 13-14 will focus primarily on how governments will react if the electrical grid fails and, for instance, the food supply chain collapses.
American utility companies are responsible for running approximately 5,800 power plants and about 450,000 high-voltage transmission lines, controlled by various devices which have been put into place over the past decades. Some of the utility companies which oversee the power grid reportedly use “antique computer protocols” which are “probably” safe from cyber hackers,” The New York Times reported. .
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link:
GridExII

Sounds like a waste of money

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/17/us/as-worries-over-the-power-grid-rise-a-drill-will-simulate-a-knockout-blow.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Looks like its still in the planning phases?  Not a whole lot of info about it other then it sounds like some want to make this drill a big deal, while others don't want to waste their time...  That's my opinion after searching the net and finding very limited (though well put together) information.

I think the government SHOULD plan for catastrophe.

I wonder if this exercise / drill will be run concurrently with a real life downing of the grid ?

I'm having trouble envisioning just exactly how a grid-down simulation would play out. Too many variables to simulate accurately; seems like a waste of time and money.

I wouldnt be surprised if there were a "real" terror attack on the grid at the same time as the drill!  Seems that the .gov is always on a training exercise the same day that a real event happens.  9-11, Boston, Newtown....

Just thinking: don't you get the same training from storms/hurricanes/tornadoes and such??

Just like everything else theyll just wait until its too late to update the grid and infr.

We will continue researching lesbian obesity, gay awareness in africa, and other stupid shit while we crumble.

This is something that always baffles me.  A LOT of things are seriously out dated and downright dangerous and yet no major catastrophes seem to happen.  Look at bridges, skyscrapers, roads, etc...especially in the major cities.  How are these things not killing massive amounts of people on a daily basis??

-Emt1581