for Water and Wastewater Systems - - FlaWARN

1 Version 2 FlaWARN Emergency Response & Preparedness best management practices for Water & Wastewater Systems 1 Emergency Response and Preparedness FlaWARN best management practices for Water and Wastewater Systems Version 2, Updated May 2008 Version 2 FlaWARN Emergency Response & Preparedness best management practices for Water & Wastewater Systems 2 2007 University of Florida Center for Training, Research and Education for Environmental Occupations (UF/TREEO) for Florida Water / Wastewater Agency Response Network 3900 SW 63 Blvd Gainesville, FL 32608 Permission granted for use by any State or Federal agency or any WARN organization to use as part of their emergency operations plan.

2 Version 2 FlaWARN Emergency Response & Preparedness best management practices for Water & Wastewater Systems 3 Acknowledgements Editor s Note: Florida Water / Wastewater Agency Response Network ( FlaWARN ) is a Water and Wastewater utility organization dedicated to assisting member utilities in restoration activities in the aftermath of a disaster. The organization, through its member networks, coordinates emergency response activities in Florida, and if needed outside of Florida. This document includes best management practices (BMPs) for Water / Wastewater Emergency Response that have been prepared by FlaWARN members and compiled to more effectively meet the approaching hurricane season. As with all good emergency response plans, this compilation is a living document and we welcome further input as more lessons are learned.

3 FlaWARN members are encouraged to provide comments via email to We would like to acknowledge the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Environmental Protection for the grant that has made FlaWARN possible and to the many utility organizations and individuals that have provided assistance with the preparation of this document. We would also like to recognize the following for their contributions. FlaWARN Steering Committee 2007 Scott Kelly, Chairman, JEA At Large Gary Williams, Vice-Chairman, Florida Rural Water Association FRWA Brad Jewell FSAWWA Ray Hanson, Orange County FWEA Tim McVeigh FWPCOA Ken Carter Florida Department Environmental Protection FDEP Brian Matthews, City of Palm Coast SEDA Richard Griswold, Destin Water Users At Large Brian Wheeler, TOHO At Large Special Thanks to Florida Rural Water Association Staff Gary Williams Bob McVay Version 2 FlaWARN Emergency Response & Preparedness best management practices for Water & Wastewater Systems 4 TREEO Staff Carol Hinton.

4 Associate Director Chris Roeder, Senior Training Specialist Ed Toby, CET, Senior Training Specialist Mari Kearl, Coordinator Laurie Brown, Coordinator BMP Committee Gary Williams Scott Kelly Richard Griswold Ed Toby BMP Authors Gary Williams Richard Griswold Blane Collier Danny Ashburn Pat Henderson Brian Matthews Robert McVay William Brandon Kenny Williams Sterling Carroll Ed Cordova Brian Wheeler Craig West Ray Gagnon Patty DiPiero BMP Editors Carol Hinton, Associate Director, TREEO Robert McVay , Florida Rural Water Association Center for Training, Research and Education for Environmental Occupations (UF/TREEO) The mission of UF/TREEO, Excellence in Environmental Education & Training, ensures that Water and Wastewater operators receive up-to-date information that can be applied and used directly in their jobs.

5 Version 2 FlaWARN Emergency Response & Preparedness best management practices for Water & Wastewater Systems 5 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Membership in the FlaWARN Disaster Recovery Organization ..7 Chapter 2: Emergency Preparedness Planning Overview ..10 Chapter 3: Detailed Emergency Hurricane Procedures for Water and Wastewater Facilities ..28 Chapter 4: Preparing Lift Stations for Hurricanes .. 32 Chapter 5: Guidelines for Response and Restoration of Water and Wastewater Utility Services ..36 Chapter 6: Conducting Post Hurricane and Tornado Assessments ..43 Chapter 7: Contamination in Restoration of Utility Services.

6 53 Chapter 8: Procedures for Response and Receiving Agencies for Restoration Activities ..56 Chapter 9: Organizing Work for First Responders ..61 Chapter 10: Loaning and Receiving Equipment in Responder Operations ..74 Chapter 11: Operating Agreement for Loaning and Receiving Equipment ..79 Chapter 12: Transport of Equipment, Materials and Personnel to Staging Areas ..83 Chapter 13: Effective Staging Area Set Up ..100 Chapter 14: Dealing with Post-Hurricane Shock, Stress and Trauma ..102 Chapter 15: Power Outages and Procedures for Emergency Generator Installations ..105 Chapter 16: Guidelines for Effective Rotation of Pumps, Generators and Tankers ..127 Chapter 17: Development of Exit Strategies for Responders.

7 139 Chapter 18: Flood Preparation and Response ..142 A1: Weather/Hurricane Terms and Acronyms .. 153 A2: Glossary & Related Links .. 156 A3: FlaWARN Water Security .. 157 A4: Florida Division of Emergency management .. 162 A5: FlaWARN Mutual Aid Agreement .. 164 A6: Work management Documentation .. 168 A7: Forms for Loaning and Receiving Equipment .. 174 A8: Sample Press Releases .. 179 A9: Sample Employee Assistance Plans .. 190 A10: Boil Water Notice Guidelines .. 192 A11: best management practices for Water Main Breaks and Repairs .. 200 A 12: Disinfecting Flooded Wells .. 202 A13: best management practices for Bacteriological Disinfection of Water Mains .. 211 A 14: Restoring Electric Motors Flooded by Saltwater.

8 215 References ..224 Version 2 FlaWARN Emergency Response & Preparedness best management practices for Water & Wastewater Systems 6 Version 2 FlaWARN Emergency Response & Preparedness best management practices for Water & Wastewater Systems 7 Chapter 1: Membership in the FlaWARN Disaster Recovery Organization FlaWARN and Storm Tracker Systems Florida s Water / Wastewater Agency Response Network, referred to as FlaWARN is a program funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) with a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). FlaWARN includes a formalized system of utilities helping utilities to address mutual aid during emergency situations such as hurricanes.

9 The goal of FlaWARN is to provide immediate relief for member utilities during emergencies. FlaWARN works by matching personnel with the necessary tools and equipment to both assess and assist impacted Water and Wastewater Systems as quickly as possible until permanent solutions to the devastation may be implemented. This method of assistance is analogous to triage at a hospital. FlaWARN assists its members with the following issues: Recovery coordination Resource inventory and availability status Information exchange Vulnerability assessment tools Preparation protocols Emergency Response Plan updates and checklists Updated best management practices reference library Up-to-date status reports Pertinent legislation briefings FlaWARN Database of Water & Wastewater Systems FlaWARN is made up of volunteers from member utilities that coordinate with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to obtain updated contact information for those facilities not a member of FlaWARN .

10 FlaWARN maintains and continuously updates information on all its member utilities. FDEP sources for obtaining this information are the FDEP representative on the steering committee and the FlaWARN grant administrator in Tallahassee. Generally, the individual FDEP districts maintain emergency contact spreadsheets that may include more extensive information than Systems want to have posted on the FDEP database (such as personal cell phone numbers). This information can be requested from FDEP representatives on an as-needed basis. Version 2 FlaWARN Emergency Response & Preparedness best management practices for Water & Wastewater Systems 8 FlaWARN will send messages to members 60 days prior to hurricane season, requesting all members update their emergency contact information on the FlaWARN website.