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Incident Action Checklist - Volcanic Activity
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 volcanic activity. For on-the-go convenience, you
can also populate the "My Contacts" section with critical information that your utility may need during an incident.
Volcanic Activity Impacts on Water and Wastewater Utilities
More than 50 volcanoes in the United States have erupted one or more times in the past 200 years. Volcanic
activity such as the ejection or flow of materials following eruptions, volcanic ash and potential tsunamis from
eruptions near coastlines can endanger the lives of people and property. Volcanic activity can significantly
impact drinking water and wastewater utilities, causing impacts that may include, but are not limited to:
Utility infrastructure damage due to lava flow,
debris flow and landslides
Potential source water contamination by leachates
(Over 55 soluble components have been detected
in volcanic ash; those occurring at the highest
concentrations are sodium, calcium, magnesium,
chloride, sulphate and fluoride)
Impacts related to volcanic ash and smog, which
often covers a very large area following an
eruption, may include:
Increased turbidity and acidity in source water
and wastewater effluent (most water quality
changes occur over a one-week time period
following an eruption)
Damage to utility equipment, including pumping
stations and vehicles (which may result in
difficulty getting to work sites or customers)
Clogged or damaged filters that could disrupt
service and air-filtration systems, causing
engines to overheat and potentially fail
Reduced or halted oxidation process in
secondary treatment of wastewater systems
until the ash settles or is removed
Water shortages due to high usage for ash
removal and cleanup
Limited communication capabilities, due to
downed antennas or ash-covered satellite dishes
The following sections outline actions water and wastewater utilities can take to prepare for, respond to and
recover from volcanic activity.
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Example of Water Sector Impacts and Response to Volcanic Activity
1980 Mount St. Helens Eruption
The nine hour explosive eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State on May 18, 1980, spread
volcanic ash over an area of 22,000 miles. The following examples represent impacts to and responses
from drinking water and wastewater utilities in the area.
Drinking Water
The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens produced significant hydrologic and water quality effects in areas
affected by ash fall. Ash contamination produced problems for a number of communities with excessive pH
and turbidity levels reported in surface source water. Samples of ash were found to contain 0.25% water-
soluble salts, mainly as sulphates and chlorides in the form of sodium salts. In laboratory experiments,
distilled water became acidic when placed in contact with fresh ash but returned to normal pH within hours.
No excessive chemical concentrations were found in the finished water supply in the ash-affected areas.
Increased water demand for ash cleanup was experienced in many ash affected communities. For
example, in Ellensburg, Washington, demand during the first four days exceeded average demand 2.5
times.
Wastewater
Yakima, Washington, which is located 90 miles east of Mount St. Helens, received nearly half an inch of
volcanic ash from the eruption, causing the sewage treatment facility to remove about 15 times the usual
amount of solid matter in their pre-treatment processes. Ash was also observed in the raw sludge in the
primary clarifiers. Two days after the eruption, strains on facility equipment from treatment of excessive
ash were evident, such as vibrations in the grit classifier and in the gearbox of the mechanically cleaned
bar screen. Additionally, raw sludge lines began to plug and pumping operations became difficult. Three
days after the eruption, treatment facility equipment began to fail and shutdowns occurred.
In response, treatment facility personnel began conducting regular testing of the influent to determine
when ash content was low enough to be handled by the plant. During the shutdown, lines and equipment
were assessed, cleaned and readied for service. Primary treatment resumed one week following the
eruption. Total damages were estimated at $4 million.
Source: USGS, "Volcanic Ash: Effects & Mitigation Strategies."
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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:
Current Volcanic Ash Advisories (National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA])
U.S. Volcanoes and Current Activity Alerts (U.S.
Geological Survey [USGS])
Lahar Detection Systems (USGS)
National Geophysical Data Center Volcano Data and
Information (NOAA)
Volcanic Ash Fall -A "Hard Rain" of Abrasive
Particles (USGS)
What are Volcano Hazards? Fact Sheet (USGS)
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 (VSAD (EPA)
Preparing for Extreme Weather Events: Workshop
Planner for the Water Sector (EPA)
Tabletop Exercise Tool for Water Systems:
Emergency Preparedness. Response, and Climate
Resiliency (EPA)
How to Develop a Multi-Year Training and Exercise
fT&B Plan (EPA)
Coordination
Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network
(WARN) (EPA)
Community Based Water Resiliency (EPA)
Facility and Service Area
Volcanic Ash: Effects and Mitigation Strategies for
Water Supply (USGS)
Volcanic Ash: Effects and Mitigation Strategies for
Wastewater (USGS)
Volcanic Ash Impacts on Critical Infrastructure
(Wilson, 2011)
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)
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Actions to Prepare for Volcanic Activity
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 volcanic activity
and how your utility may have been impacted.
Consider taking actions to mitigate volcano
impacts to the utility, including those provided in
the "Actions to Recover from Volcanic Activity:
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 Volcanic Activity (continued)
Communication with Customers
I I Develop outreach materials to provide your
customers with information they will need
during and following a volcanic eruption (e.g.,
clarification about water advisories, instructions
on how to properly clear their property of ash).
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.
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.
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Actions to Prepare for Volcanic Activity (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.
r Notes:
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Actions to Respond to Volcanic Activity: Pre-Eruption Activities
Planning
Facility and Service Area
I I Volcanic activity is known to trigger earthquakes;
review the Earthquake Incident Action Checklist
for more information on how to respond to an
earthquake.
Communication with Customers
I I Instruct customers to disconnect stormwater
gutters and downspouts until ash is removed
from roofs of homes and buildings to reduce
adverse effects on the stormwater system.
Cover all critical external equipment with plastic.
Shut down all equipment not absolutely required,
such as biofilters and ventilation equipment.
Grease everything subject to a dusty atmosphere
and used to pump gritty material.
FEMA
Notes:
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Actions to Respond to Volcanic Activity: Post-Eruption Activities
Coordination
I I Notify your local EMA and state regulatory/
primacy agency of system status.
I I Identify lab capacity for increased sampling
requirements, due to suspected maximum
contaminant level exceedance.
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
I I 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.
I I Wastewater utilities should alert the public about
the potential consequences to the treatment
plant should ash be introduced into the sewer
system; instruct customers where to deposit ash
cleared from their property.
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.
Monitor source water and wastewater effluent
quality (e.g., pH, turbidity; suspended solids),
develop a sampling plan and adjust treatment as
necessary.
Monitor all processes for introduction of grit and
ash; ensure an adequate supply of extra parts
and filters due to potential clogging and damage
from ash.
Use dry methods, like hand sweeping, to clear
streets and parking areas of ash prior to cleaning
with water.
When possible, disconnect downspouts from
residential and commercial building roofs until ash
is removed in order to minimize ash discharge
into the stormwater system.
Drinking Water Utilities:
Surface Water Systems
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.
Wastewater Utilities
Pump all grit and ash into one digester until
conditions improve (i.e., ash settles or is
removed), then properly dispose of in accordance
with state requirements.
Place all pre-treatment equipment into operation
and adjust for maximum removal rates.
Place all primary clarifiers into operation and
increase pumping rates.
Monitor torque or current on all motor-driven
devices, as volcanic ash and grit accumulations
can cause equipment and operational failures.
Filter or change out gear, lube weekly and flush
with solvents recommended by the manufacturer.
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Actions to Respond to Volcanic Activity: Post-Eruption Activities
(continued)
\ Place sandbags around or over manhole covers
when hosing streets to clear ash and prevent it
from entering the collection system.
I Notify regulatory/primacy agency of any changes
to the operations or required testing parameters.
Personnel
Documentation and Reporting
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 volcanic activity.
Deploy emergency operations and clean-up
crews. 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.
r Notes:
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Actions to Recover from Volcanic Activity
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.
USGS
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 to volcanoes (e.g.,
identify areas where lava flows could impact
your area, inquire about lahar detection systems
[More information about lahar detection systems
can be found in the USGS references]).
Notes:
Office of Water (4608-T) EPA 817-F-15-009 January 2015
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