We rely so much on electricity in our daily lives and it is for this reason that maintaining or restoring electricity as quickly as possible during emergency situations is important to the community. Recovery levels after an emergency vary depending on the number of power companies operating in the area and the level of service provided. Since electricity is an integral part of emergency response, it is important that emergency management offices work collaboratively with local power companies when establishing a mitigation plan so that In the event of an emergency, electricity can be restored within a reasonable time. It is also important that power companies work with local authorities to ensure they are prepared to deal with any emergencies that may arise without prior warning. In 2012, when the Derecho passed through the region without prior warning, the storm knocked out power to half a million people in the region for more than a week during the sweltering summer month. This unexpected and fast-moving storm revealed that power companies were not as prepared as they should have been for unexpected emergencies. The electric companies serving the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia are Alleghany Power, Dominion, Baltimore General Electric (BGE), Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) and Pepco, the largest and leading electricity server in the region. On its website, Pepco says it has nearly 800,000 employees dedicated to serving the Maryland, Virginia and District of Columbia region. (PEPCO.COM) Before the Derecho, Pepco always declared its preparedness for weather storms before they approached. There were a lot of storms before the Derecho of 2012, Pepco and all the other utilities...... middle of paper...... AC and Mary Pat Flaherty. (July 30, 2012). Pepco defends its response to the Derecho storm, saying it "mobilized quickly." Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pepco-defends-its-response-to-derecho-storm-saying-it-mobilized-quickly/2012/07/30/gJQAmxuVLX_story.htmlDerecho Storm Response. (Ned). Retrieved from http://www.pepco.com/home/emergency/junestorm.aspxInfrastructure Security and Energy Restoration Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability U. (2012, August). A review of power outages and recovery following the June 2012 Derecho. Retrieved from http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/Derecho%202012_%20Review_0.pdfVictor Zapana. (July 19, 2012). Pepco takes heat to recover from storm in Montgomery. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/pepco-takes-heat-for-storm-recovery-in-montgomery/2012/07/19/gJQArKPlwW_story.html