The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) hosted its annual Clear Path energy sector infrastructure systems tabletop and workshop exercise on May 3 in Herndon, Virginia to examine the challenges and related consequences to power and gas utilities following a hurricane in the Mid-Atlantic region that developed in late April, more than a month ahead of the official start to the 2018 hurricane season. Throughout the exercise participants from both the public and private sectors wrestled with how to respond to such an uncharacteristic storm. The exercise scenario focused on "Hurricane Cora" which traveled up Florida's coast as a Category 5 hurricane before making landfall in Hampton, Va., as a Category 4 with sustained winds of 135 mph and resulted in widespread power outages and natural gas disruptions. The exercise scenario was designed in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency as part of its biennial "National Level Exercise: and followed the same overarching scenario as the longer FEMA exercise. To download the exercise agenda and presentation materials, click here.