New Water Security Division Opportunities
EPA Water Security Division has shared several new opportunities to assist state primacy agencies in improving resiliency.
Training and Exercises
Nebraska Water Emergency Functional Exercise
On November 20, 2019, in Lincoln, Nebraska, EPA is bringing together drinking water stakeholders including utilities, local health departments, state regulatory agencies, and emergency response agencies for a combination workshop/exercise to discuss ways to improve water infrastructure preparedness, response and recovery before and during a major flooding event. For more information email Kevin Letterly (kletterly@asdwa.org).
Oregon WARN Functional Exercise
On November 7, 2019, in Eugene, Oregon, EPA is sponsoring a functional exercise (FE) with the Oregon Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network (ORWARN). The event will serve as an opportunity for participants to simulate an ORWARN resource request and activation, coordinate between water sector utilities and emergency management agencies, as well as identify resource needs and availability during an incident affecting the water sector. The FE will also introduce ORWARN to non-member utilities. Participants will work through their roles, responsibilities and means of coordination during a winter weather event that has cascading impacts on the water sector. For more information email Kevin Letterly (kletterly@asdwa.org).
Incident Command System (ICS) Training
EPA teaches various courses in ICS for water and wastewater utilities, primacy agencies, and EPA Regions. The next courses include ICS 300/400 Training on October 15-18, 2019 in Lansing, Michigan and Basic ICS Training on November 13, 2019 in Liberty, New York.
Flood Resilience Training for Water and Wastewater Utilities
On October 24, 2019, from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm in Milford, Delaware, the Delaware Rural Water Association (DRWA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are hosting Flood Resilience for Water and Wastewater Utilities, a training designed for the water sector in Delaware. This one-day training will provide guidance and information for drinking water and wastewater utilities to enhance their ability to withstand a flooding event, minimize damage, and rapidly recover from disruptions to service. Click here to register.
Webinars
EPA’s Updated Power Resilience Guide and Amateur Radio Emergency Service Webinar
DATE: Wednesday, October 16 1:00-2:00 pm (Eastern)
REGISTER: Click here
This webinar will provide an overview of some of the new additions to EPA’s Power Resilience Guide, including forms to type and request generators and information on planning for long duration power outages. It will also provide an in-depth overview of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), a communication resource that can be a valuable resource to water utilities during a power outage.
EPA’s Power Outage Incident Action Checklist and Utility Case Study Webinar
DATE: Wednesday, November 6 1:00-2:00 pm (Eastern)
REGISTER: Click here
This webinar will provide an overview of EPA’s new Power Outage Incident Action Checklist, which includes actions utilities can take to prepare for, respond to, and recover from power outages. It covers a range of activities including coordination, generators, fuel, operations, notifications, and documentation. The webinar will also include a presentation from Cape Fear Public Utility Authority on some of its best practices and lessons learned from responding to Hurricane Florence in 2018 and Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
Adapting to Extreme Weather Events Webinar
DATE: Wednesday, November 13 1:00-2:00 pm (Eastern)
REGISTER: Click here
The webinar will provide drinking water, wastewater and stormwater utilities with practical tools, training and technical assistance needed to increase resilience to extreme weather events. The speakers will share information about EPA Water Security Division’s free adaptation resources for water utilities including resources to plan for extreme weather, tools to assess risks of extreme weather, and provide a utility testimonial.
