Originally published Jan. 6, 2010
Being safe in 2010
The end of 2009 brought news we didn’t want to hear — another terrorism scare.
Although it was confined to the airlines, the threat does bring up concerns for other potential targets, including water systems.
Is your system prepared? Maybe your small town isn’t a target, but what if the town that supplies your water is a target? What if chemicals contaminate your wells, water table or surface water supply? While terrorism continues to be a threat, it’s not the only one. Natural disasters from violent storms to deep freezes like the one occurring this week also can put a water system in jeopardy. Do you have plans in case of emergency? How do you report potential problems? Is your emergency plan up to date?
In this edition of eBulletin, we’ll give you some resources to help prepare you in case of emergency. We’ll provide tips on making sure your emergency response plan is ready, and we’ll set you up with a way to report suspicious activity or concerns.
Safety 101
The events on Christmas Day 2009 showed us that terrorism is still a threat to this country. That means we should be prepared for any contingency, including a threat to our nation’s water systems, no matter how big or small.
But the events this week remind us that man isn’t the only threat. Mother Nature can be a bit dangerous as well. A deep Arctic blast is expected to cover most of the country this week, all the way into places like south Texas and Florida. Systems not made for such extreme weather may have problems with bursting pipes or equipment damage. What if the roads become icy and hard to traverse? Will you be able to get to damaged areas for repairs? Will you be able to get supplies in quickly?
Situations like this are why it’s important to have an emergency response plan in place, with all the parties involved aware of the plan and how to implement it quickly and efficiently.
Every water and wastewater system should have an emergency response plan. We all know to keep an updated list of contacts, make sure supplies are kept in safe, fire- and waterproof areas and be prepared for emergency repairs by keeping backup supplies or making arrangements to get such supplies quickly in emergencies. But there’s more to emergency planning than just those things. It’s important such plans cover areas outside the water and wastewater system.
Cooperation is another big key in security preparation. It’s important for water systems to plan for emergencies with other local agencies besides the city council or government. Emergency planning should include coordination with emergency responders such as police department, fire department, hospital or clinic staff, Red Cross or other emergency response agencies and those associated with emergency shelters, such as school officials.
But it’s also important to factor nearby communities in with your emergency plans. Those communities may be able to help in critical situations by providing needed supplies, chemicals, emergency office space and even emergency manpower during a major security breach or natural disaster. Systems such as the Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), National Incident Management System(NIMS) and the Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) can help you prepare cooperation agreements with other area municipalities. Links to information on these programs are provided below.
Additional Resources
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/ [1]
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/ [2]
Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN)
http://www.awwa.org/Government/content.cfm?ItemNumber=3837&showLogin=N [3]
Web Resources 101
You don’t have to do disaster planning alone. The fact is, there are several resources available online with a long list of tools to assist you, from links to training to step-by-step guides for emergency planning.
Several of those sites are provided by government agencies, from the EPA to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
DHS offers several resources for emergency preparedness, including links to the CERT and NIMS programs and test scenarios so you can practice your emergency response. The information can be found on the Training and Technical Assistance page. A link is provided below.
This year’s national exercise has not been posted yet, but the information should be provided soon on the web site.
The EPA provides information on emergency preparation on its web site as well. The site provides guides for everything from decontamination to reimbursement for emergency expenses. It also provides more information on the NIMS and WARN systems. A link to the site is provided below.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides tools, training and a preparedness library for disaster planning at all levels of public and private agencies. Local FEMA agencies may be able to provide on-site training for your city or municipality. More information on FEMA’s tools is provided at the link below.
The USDA provides tools and planning resources through its Rural Information Center, which is part of its National Agricultural Library.
This site is rich in articles, tools and resources to help you plan for emergencies. For example, one link leads to the National Environmental Training Center’s threat checklist for small water and wastewater systems. Another good tool is the Washington state Department of Health’s guide to emergency planning for small systems.That link is provided below, along with the USDA’s page, which provides good links for other resources.
The state of Washington provides another good resource for small water/wastewater systems, the Municipal Research and Service Center of Washington. The site provides tools to help local governments run more efficiently and meet state and federal requirements.
Part of the site is devoted to emergency management, and it includes a special page for water and wastewater systems. The page includes articles and guides on proper emergency planning. As with the others, a link is provided below.
Additional Resources
Department of Homeland Security: Training and Technical Assistance
http://www.dhs.gov/files/training/prepresprecovery.shtm [4]
FEMA Training
http://www.fema.gov/prepared/train.shtm [5]
EPA Emergency/Incident Planning
http://cfpub.epa.gov/safewater/watersecurity/home.cfm?program_id=8 [6]
USDA Rural Information Center
http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric/ricpubs/homeland_security.htm [7]
Washington Department of Health emergency guide for small systems
http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/Security/331-211_5-13-03_Emergency_Response_Planning_Guide.pdf [8]
Municipal Research and Service Center of Washington
http://www.mrsc.org/Subjects/PubSafe/Emergency/EM-WaterWaste.aspx [9]
WaterISAC 101
The government provides a way to report problems or concerns quickly with the WaterISAC security alert system.
WaterISAC may sound familiar. It was mentioned in a previous edition of eBulletin, when the EPA was looking for participants in a survey conducted on the WaterISAC web site. But we only scratched the surface of what a unique tool this is.
So what is WaterISAC? Technically, it’s an Information Sharing and Analysis Center created in the 1990s “as confidential venues for exchanging information on security vulnerabilities and solutions,” according to the WaterISAC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) found on their web site.
WaterISAC is designed to provide tools to help small water systems prepare for safety, security or emergency situations. It includes a newsletter and free tools and resources. This site also provides a form where you can report safety and security concerns. Has someone been walking your lines lately? Have you seen items or chemicals dumped into a water source? Have there been several break-ins at your system’s office or chemical storage facility? If so, these may be the things you’ll want to report.
The group is hoping to sign up as many water systems as possible, because the more systems use it, the better the system works. With this in mind, they are providing free WaterISAC Pro subscriptions for one year, potentially saving systems and agencies hundreds of dollars in subscription fees. The Pro subscription provides more features than the free Basic version. The Pro subscription includes information on threats and emergency responses.
To sign up for your free, 12-month subscription to WaterISAC Pro, click on the “Subscribe” button under the WaterISAC Pro logo on the WaterISAC home page (http://www.waterisac.org [10]). Complete the six-step registration process. When you get to Step 5 – Payment – you will notice that the charge amount will be $0.00. It will take two to five business days to receive your user name and password for your free 12-month subscription.
Whichever site works best for you, you’re sure to find the tools and guidance you need to help in your emergency planning. If none of these helps, there is one more resource that can be provided face to face — your local Rural Community Assistance Partnership representative. Just visit RCAP’s web site to find contact information on your local RCAP region. RCAP Technical Assistance Providers can help you plan for emergencies and evaluate your security plans step by step. A link is provided below.
Additional Resources
WaterISAC
http://www.waterisac.org [10]