&EPA
Incident Action Checklist - Tsunami
The actions in this checklist are divided up into three "rip & run" sections and are examples of activities that water and
wastewater utilities can take to: prepare for, respond to and recover from a tsunami. For on-the-go convenience, you can
also populate the "My Contacts" section with critical information that your utility may need during an incident.
Tsunami Impacts on Water and Wastewater Utilities
A tsunami is a series of water waves of extremely long length generated by undersea earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions or massive undersea landslides. A large tsunami can cause local devastation, as well as damage
thousands of miles away. Tsunamis can significantly impact coastal drinking water and wastewater utilities.
These impacts may include, but are not limited to:
Inundation of facilities due to high floodwaters, possibly
resulting in loss of service
Direct damage to facilities and equipment due to high
velocity waves, debris and coastal erosion
Loss of power and communication infrastructure
Restricted access to facility due to debris, flood waters and
damage to roadways
Potential saltwater intrusion into groundwater aquifers and
estuaries from high velocity waves
Possible backflows into wastewater systems if saltwater EPA
intrudes into a wastewater outfall
The following sections outline actions water and wastewater utilities can take to prepare for, respond to and
recover from a tsunami.
Example of Water Sector Impacts and Response to a Tsunami
The Great Alaskan Earthquake and Tsunami of 1964
The 1964 Alaska earthquake (also known as the Great Alaskan Earthquake, the Portage Earthquake and the Good
Friday Earthquake) was a megathrust earthquake that happened on Good Friday, March 27, 1964. Across south-
central Alaska, ground fissures, building collapses and coastal tsunamis resulting from the earthquake caused about
131 deaths.
Lasting nearly four minutes, the magnitude 9.2 earthquake was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in North
America, and the second largest earthquake in recorded history at the time.
In addition to liquefaction, the powerful earthquake produced ground fissures and failures which resulted in landslides
and major structural damage in several communities, including damage to water and sewer mains and electrical
systems in Anchorage. Post-earthquake tsunamis of up to 50 feet high destroyed several communities along Prince
William Sound and Kodiak Island, and affected areas as far away as Oregon and California. In total, the tsunamis
killed 119 people and caused nearly $400 million in damages in Alaska alone.
Source: The Watchers, "The Great Alaskan Earthquake 1964"
Source: University of Southern California Tsunami Research Group, "1964 Alaskan Tsunami"
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My Contacts and Resources
CONTACT NAME
UTILITY/ORGANIZATION NAME
PHONE NUMBER
Local EMA
State EMA
State Primacy Agency
WARN Chair
Power Utility
Planning
Incident monitoring:
Tsunami Alerts (National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration [NOAA])
National Tsunami Warning Center (NOAA/National
Weather Service [NWS])
TsunamiReadv (NOAA)
Recent Earthquakes: Implications for U.S. Water
Utilities (Water Research Foundation)
National Weather Service Weather Alerts (NOAA)
Planning for an Emergency Drinking Water Supply
(EPA)
All-Hazard Consequence Management Planning
for the Water Sector (Water Sector Emergency
Response Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory
Council [CIPAC] Workgroup)
Vulnerability Self Assessment Tool (VSAT) (EPA)
Tabletop Exercise Tool for Water Systems:
Emergency Preparedness. Response, and Climate
Resiliency (EPA)
How to Develop a Multi-Year Training and Exercise
(T&E1 Plan (EPA)
Make a Plan (Federal Emergency Management
Agency [FEMA])
Coordination
Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network
(WARN) (EPA)
Community Based Water Resiliency (EPA)
Facility and Service Area
Oregon Earthquake Resiliency Plan (see Chapter 8:
Water and Wastewater Systems) (Oregon Seismic
Safety Policy Advisory Commission)
Seismic Guidelines for Water Pipelines (American
Lifelines Alliance)
Power, Energy and Fuel
EPA Region 1 Water/Wastewater System Generator
Preparedness Brochure (EPA)
Documentation and Reporting
Federal Funding for Utilities In National Disasters
(Fed FUNDS') (EPA)
Mitigation
National Tsunami Mitigation Program (NWS)
Mitigation Ideas (FEMA)
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Actions to Prepare for a Tsunami
Planning
I I Review and update your utility's emergency
response plan (ERP), and ensure all emergency
contacts are current.
I I Conduct briefings, training and exercises to
ensure utility staff is aware of all preparedness,
response and recovery procedures.
I | Identify priority water customers (e.g., hospitals),
obtain their contact information, map their
locations and develop a plan to restore those
customers first.
I | Develop an emergency drinking water supply
plan and establish contacts (potentially through
your local emergency management agency
[EMA] or mutual aid network) to discuss
procedures, which may include bulk water
hauling, mobile treatment units or temporary
supply lines, as well as storage and distribution.
I | Conduct a hazard vulnerability analysis in which
you review historical records to understand the
past frequency and intensity of tsunami events
and how your utility may have been impacted.
Consider taking actions to mitigate tsunami
impacts to the utility, including those provided
in the "Actions to Recover from a Tsunami:
Mitigation" section.
I | Complete pre-disaster activities to help apply
for federal disaster funding (e.g., contact state/
local officials with connections to funding, set
up a system to document damage and costs,
take photographs of the facility for comparison to
post-damage photographs).
Coordination
Join your state's Water/Wastewater Agency
Response Network (WARN) or other local
mutual aid network.
Coordinate with WARN members and other
neighboring utilities to discuss:
Outlining response activities, roles and
responsibilities and mutual aid procedures
(e.g., how to request and offer assistance)
Conducting joint tabletop or full-scale
exercises
Obtaining resources and assistance, such as
equipment, personnel, technical support or
water
Establishing interconnections between
systems and agreements with necessary
approvals to activate this alternate source.
Equipment, pumping rates and demand on
the water sources need to be considered and
addressed in the design and operations
Establishing communication protocols and
equipment to reduce misunderstandings
during the incident
Coordinate with other key response partners,
such as your local EMA, to discuss:
How restoring system operations may
have higher priority than establishing an
alternative water source
Potential points of distribution for the delivery
of emergency water supply (e.g., bottled
water) to the public, as well as who is
responsible for distributing the water
Understand how the local and utility emergency
operations center (EOC) will be activated and
what your utility may be called on to do, as
well as how local emergency responders and
the local EOC can support your utility during a
response. If your utility has assets outside of the
county EMA's jurisdiction, consider coordination
or preparedness efforts that should be done in
those areas.
Ensure credentials to allow access will be valid
during an incident by checking with local law
enforcement.
Sign up for mobile and/or email alerts from your
local EMA, if available.
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Actions to Prepare for a Tsunami (continued)
Communication with Customers
I I Develop outreach materials to provide your
customers with information they will need
after a tsunami (e.g., clarification about water
advisories, instructions for private well and septic
system maintenance).
I Review public information protocols with local
EMA and public health/primacy agencies.
These protocols should include developing
water advisory messages (e.g., boil water) and
distributing them to customers using appropriate
mechanisms, such as reverse 911.
Facility and Service Area
Inventory and order extra equipment and
supplies, as needed:
Motors
Fuses
Chemicals (ensure at least a two week supply)
Cellular phones or other wireless
communications device
Emergency Supplies
Tarps/tape/rope
Cots/blankets
First aid kits
Foul weather gear
Plywood
Flashlights/flares
Sandbags (often, sand must be ordered as
well)
Bottled water
Batteries
Non-perishable food
I Ensure communication equipment (e.g., radios,
satellite phones) works and is fully charged.
I Develop a GIS map of all system components
and prepare a list of coordinates for each facility.
I Document pumping requirements and storage
capabilities, as well as critical treatment
components and parameters.
I Establish a water-tight or offsite facility to store
essential records and equipment.
Personnel
Identify essential personnel and ensure they are
trained to perform critical duties in an emergency
(and possibly without communication), including
the shut down and start up of the system.
Establish communication procedures with
essential and non-essential personnel. Ensure
all personnel are familiar with emergency
evacuation and shelter in place procedures.
Pre-identify emergency operations and clean-
up crews. Establish alternative transportation
strategies if roads are impassable.
Consider how evacuations or limited staffing
due to transportation issues (potentially all
utility personnel) will impact your response
procedures.
Identify possible staging areas for mutual
aid crews if needed in the response, and the
availability of local facilities to house the crews.
Encourage personnel, especially those that
may be on duty for extended periods of time, to
develop family emergency plans.
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Actions to Prepare for a Tsunami (continued)
Power, Energy and Fuel
Evaluate condition of electrical panels to accept
generators; inspect connections and switches.
Document power requirements of the facility;
options for doing this may include:
Placing a request with the US Army Corps
of Engineers 249th Engineer Battalion
(Prime Power): http://www.usace.army.
mil/249thEngineerBattalion.aspx
Using the US Army Corps of Engineers on-line
Emergency Power Facility Assessment Tool
(EPFAT): http://epfat.swf.usace.army.mil/
Confirm and document generator connection
type, capacity load and fuel consumption. Test
regularly, exercise under load and service
backup generators.
Fill fuel tanks to full capacity and ensure that
you have the ability to manually pump gas in the
event of a power outage. Ensure this equipment
and other hazardous materials are located in a
safe zone.
Contact fuel vendors and inform them of
estimated fuel volumes needed if utility is
impacted. Determine your ability to establish
emergency contract provisions with vendors
and your ability to transport fuel if re-fueling
contractors are not available. Develop a backup
fueling plan and a prioritization list of which
generators to fuel in case of a fuel shortage.
Collaborate with your local power provider and
EOC to ensure that your water utility is on the
critical facilities list for priority electrical power
restoration, generators and emergency fuel.
FEMA
r Notes:
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Actions to Respond to a Tsunami
Planning
Tsunamis often result from earthquakes; review
the Earthquake Incident Action Checklist for
more information on how to respond to an
earthquake.
Coordination
I I Notify your local EMA and state regulatory/
primacy agency of system status.
I I If needed, request or offer assistance (e.g.,
water buffalos, water sampling teams,
generators) through mutual aid networks, such
as WARN.
I I Assign a representative of the utility to the
incident command post or the community's EOC.
Communication with Customers
Notify customers of any water advisories
and consider collaborating with local media
(television, radio, newspaper, etc.) to distribute
the message. If emergency water is being
supplied, provide information on the distribution
locations.
Facility and Service Area
Overall
Conduct damage assessments of the utility to
prioritize repairs and other actions.
Check that back-up equipment and facility
systems, such as controls and pumps, are
in working order, and ensure that chemical
containers and feeders are intact.
Drinking Water Utilities
Inspect the utility and service area for damage.
Identify facility components (e.g., valve boxes)
and fire hydrants that have been buried, are
inaccessible or have been destroyed.
Ensure pressure is maintained throughout the
system and isolate those sections where it is not.
Isolate and control leaks in water transmission
and distribution piping.
Turn off water meters at destroyed homes and
buildings.
Monitor water quality, develop a sampling plan
and adjust treatment as necessary.
Notify regulatory/primacy agency if operations
and/or water quality or quantity are affected.
Utilize pre-established emergency connections
or setup temporary connections to nearby
communities, as needed. Alternatively, implement
plans to draw emergency water from pre-
determined tanks or hydrants. Notify employees
of the activated sites.
r Notes:
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Actions to Respond to a Tsunami (continued)
Wastewater Utilities
\ Inspect the utility and service area, including lift
stations, for damage, downed trees and power
availability. Inspect the sewer system for debris
and assess the operational status of the
mechanical bar screen. If necessary, run system
in manual operation.
I Notify regulatory/primacy agency of any changes
to the operations or required testing parameters.
Documentation and Reporting
Personnel
Document all damage assessments, mutual aid
requests, emergency repair work, equipment
used, purchases made, staff hours worked and
contractors used during the response to assist in
requesting reimbursement and applying for federal
disaster funds. When possible, take photographs
of damage at each work site (with time and
date stamp). Proper documentation is critical to
requesting reimbursement.
Work with your local EMA on the required
paperwork for public assistance requests.
Account for all personnel and provide emergency
care, if needed. Caution personnel about known
hazards resulting from tsunamis.
Deploy emergency operations and clean-up
crews (e.g., securing heavy equipment). Identify
key access points and roads for employees
to enter the utility and critical infrastructure;
coordinate the need for debris clearance with
local emergency management or prioritize it for
employee operations.
Power, Energy and Fuel
Use backup generators, as needed, to supply
power to system components.
Monitor and plan for additional fuel needs
in advance; coordinate fuel deliveries to the
generators.
Maintain contact with electric provider for power
outage duration estimates.
Example of Water Sector Impacts and Response to a Tsunami
Tohoku, Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011
A magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit the northeastern part of Japan on March 11, 2011, triggering multiple tsunami events.
While drinking water systems in the region suffered little to no tsunami damage, they did experience moderate to
major earthquake damage. For example, earthquake liquefaction effects contributed to hundreds of broken water
distribution pipes.
The tsunamis did have major effects on several wastewater treatment plants. For example, the primary treatment
plant of the Miyagi Prefecture was impacted by two tsunamis. The first caused little damage because most facility
components were constructed at a height above the 5 meter wave. The second tsunami, however, was approximately
10-15 meters high and eroded building structural foundations, overtopped treatment tanks, destroyed electrical
controls and wiped out power supplies and emergency generators.
Source: American Society of Civil Engineers and Technical Council on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering
"Report on the 11 March 2011 9.0 Tohoku. Japan Earthquake and Tsunami"
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Actions to Recover from a Tsunami
Coordination
Documentation and Reporting
I I Continue work with response partners to obtain
funding, equipment, etc.
Communication with Customers
Assign a utility representative to continue
to communicate with customers concerning
a timeline for recovery and other pertinent
information.
Facility and Service Area
I I Complete damage assessments.
I I Complete permanent repairs, replace depleted
supplies and return to normal service.
FEMA
Compile damage assessment forms and cost
documentation into a single report to facilitate
the sharing of information and the completion
of state and federal funding applications.
Visit EPA's web-based tool, Federal Funding
for UtilitiesWater/Wastewaterin National
Disasters (Fed FUNDS), for tailored information
and application forms for various federal
disaster funding programs: http://water.epa.gov/
infrastructure/watersecurity/funding/fedfunds/
Develop a lessons learned document and/or
an after action report to keep a record of your
response activities. Update your vulnerability
assessment, ERP and contingency plans.
Revise budget and asset management plans to
address increased costs from response-related
activities.
Mitigation
Identify mitigation and long-term adaptation
measures that can prevent damage and
increase utility resilience. Consider impacts
related to earthquakes when planning for system
upgrades (e.g., replacing pipes, wellheads and
water tanks to address seismic weaknesses).
Notes:
Office of Water (4608-T) EPA 817-F-15-008 January 2015
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