Making Critical Connections

State primacy agencies may recall that EPA and ASDWA worked together several years ago to develop a document called Bridging the Gap:  Coordination between State Primacy Agencies and State Emergency Management Agencies as a way to begin to have those critical conversations before an emergency takes place.

EPA’s Water Security Division has just published a new document to help water utilities and emergency management agencies make those same important connections and have those same important conversations.  Connecting Water Utilities and Emergency Management Agencies summarizes some best practices on how water utilities and emergency management agencies can increase their coordination. Through joint exercises, coordinated planning, and other activities, water utilities and emergency management agencies can more effectively respond to emergencies and improve their communication with the public.  This document also includes examples of cross-sector coordination.

Please share this information with your water utilities.