&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
WARN TABLETOP EXERCISE
LESSONS LEARNED
Sharing the Collective Wisdom
WARN TABLETOP EXERCISES
Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) tabletop exercises (TTXs) are discussion-based
exercises that bring WARN members together to address key issues and foster relationships between
WARN members and other emergency responders. In 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) began providing support to plan and facilitate tabletop exercises for WARNs across the United
States.
The exercises are an opportunity for individual state WARN
programs to evaluate their WARN agreement and test
operational procedures. The fundamental goal of the training
sessions is to enhance a WARN's capability to respond to any
type of incident requiring specialized water and wastewater
resources.
At the conclusion of each tabletop exercise, a facilitator leads a "hotwash" session, during which
participants identify lessons learned to improve their respective WARN programs and response
protocols.
KEY LESSONS LEARNED
Many of the tabletop exercises conducted since 2006 have identified similar lessons learned that can
benefit any WARN program. Key lessons from the exercises are summarized below (not in priority
order):
Develop and refine WARN operational plans - The tabletop exercises allow WARN members to
critically review and exercise operational plans. For WARNs without an operational plan, the
exercise often illustrates the necessity of an operational plan which outlines WARN response
protocols. Common improvements to enhance existing operational plans include better descriptions
of roles and responsibilities, updating contact information, and revising forms. To complement the
larger, more detailed operational plan, WARNs recognize the benefit of jobs aids such as a summary
sheet of the operational plan as well as forms, checklists, and other support tools to use during a
response. These job aids also help introduce new members to WARN protocols.
Strengthen the connection to the emergency management community - WARNs recognize the
benefit of promoting themselves within the local emergency management community in order to
increase awareness, encourage recognition and support for the ongoing efforts of WARN programs,
recruit new members, and improve integration with
the emergency services sector. After making contact
with the local emergency management agency, it is
essential that WARNs and emergency management
continue to communicate - maintaining a strong
working relationship is an ongoing effort.
"WARNs should make contact -with each county director of
Emergency Management to request a water/wastewater seat
in the county EOC; WARNs should consider making a
presentation to the annual state association conferences for
city managers and police chiefs " - LaWARN TTX
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&EPA
WARN TABLETOP EXERCISES LESSONS LEARNED
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Conduct training specific to the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) -
Although most WARN exercises focus on improving intrastate mutual aid procedures, there is
sometimes a discussion of interstate mutual aid which may be beneficial for utilities that border
another state, or during larger incidents. WARNs can integrate interstate mutual aid and assistance
capabilities into their programs by having a better understanding of the EMAC process, which can
be used to obtain resources from another state. Participating in EMAC training as well as working
with local emergency management agencies to foster relationships with state EMAC Coordinators
can help build interstate capabilities.
Continue Incident Command System (ICS) training -
Familiarity with ICS is a common lesson among the WARNs
because use of ICS increases the ability of a WARN to fit into the
local response structure and helps coordinate response activities
with other groups.
"For a future WARN training or
exercise -we should include some
hands-on training, completing
some of the ICS forms needed for
reimbursement" - OhWARNTTX
Implement accounting and documentation procedures - WARNs acknowledge the importance of
documenting activities and expenses associated with emergency response that may be eligible for
reimbursement. Member utilities need to implement procedures to
manage and document reimbursement expenses. Administrative
personnel from utilities, including human resources, procurement,
and general counsel, need to be actively involved in the
development of their WARN programs, as they will provide
support to operations personnel.
"Forms -will be filled out in offices,
not by operational personnel, and
those people need to be trained
according to these forms in the
operational plan " - NCR WARN TTX
"The exercise demonstrated need for
resource typing and documentation "
-ND WARN TTX
Incorporate resource management and resource typing
concepts - Resource typing is a vital component of mutual
aid/assistance. Exercise participants recognize the value of conducting
training and exercises to help member utilities meet this National
Incident Management System (NEVIS) requirement and ensure that a utility in need receives the
exact type of resources necessary to respond to an emergency.
Update member utilities' emergency response plans - WARN member utilities often identify the
need to update their emergency response plans to include details about how and when to ask for
mutual aid/assistance, the process and forms to use to request aid, and how best to integrate the
incoming resources. Updating emergency response plans also
provides the opportunity to inform all utility staff that their
facility is a WARN member.
"I -will go back and review the Operational
Plan and review our Emergency Response
Plan to tie it into my WARN" - NyWARN TTX
Conduct additional training and exercises - To sustain an effective program, WARN members
acknowledge the need to continue to develop and conduct training on the Operational Plan. As a
WARN continues to mature, WARN members recommend conducting additional exercises of all
types (discussion- and operations-based) in order to build on the
results of the tabletop exercises and continue to foster
relationships among participating organizations.
"It would be beneficial to have
mock type exercises that duplicate
an actual event" - OhWARN TTX
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
To learn more, please contact WSD-outreach@epa.gov. Additional information is also available at:
http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecuritv/mutualaid/index.cfm
Office of Water (4608-T) | EPA 817-F-11-004 | April 2011 | www.epa.qov/watersecuritv
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