Safety Takes Center Stage: Atlanta Gas Light, First Responders test emergency readiness at The Arena at Southlake

More than 50 Atlanta Gas Light team members and local first responders from the City of Morrow recently gathered at The Arena at Southlake to participate in a large-scale emergency response drill.

Joined by the City’s Fire Department and other community partners, Atlanta Gas Light simulated an emergency incident at the state-of-the-art entertainment and community venue, which can accommodate more than 8,000 guests.

“At Atlanta Gas Light, safety is our number one value for both our employees and the 1.8 million customers we serve,” said Dean Marianos, vice president of operations for Atlanta Gas Light. “We regularly conduct emergency drills throughout our service territory to help ensure we maintain a safe and reliable system.”

Located near major retail destinations, residential neighborhoods and a heavily traveled interstate, The Arena at Southlake provided a realistic training environment similar to other large-scale venues where Atlanta Gas Light has conducted emergency response exercises, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“Training at a large venue like this gives us the opportunity to test our response capabilities and strengthen the coordination needed to manage complex situations involving large crowds, multiple stakeholders and time-sensitive decisions,” he added. 

By bringing together first responders and community partners in a realistic setting, the exercise also reinforced the shared commitment of Atlanta Gas Light, the City of Morrow Fire Department and other community agencies to protecting residents, visitors and businesses while supporting the continued growth of the Southlake area and beyond.

For 170 years, Atlanta Gas Light has invested in safety, employee training, local relationships and innovative technologies to help protect customers, employees and the communities it serves.