vvEPA

                  Incident Action  Checklist-  Flooding

  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 flooding. For on-the-go convenience, you can
  also populate the "My Contacts" section with critical information that your utility may need during an incident.

Flooding Impacts  on Water and Wastewater Utilities
Flooding is common throughout much of the United States and can be caused by heavy precipitation events,
storm surge, levee or dam failures or inadequate drainage. These events  often occur with little or no notice,
and can cause extensive damage to drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. Flooding impacts to utilities
often include, but are not limited to:
   • Infrastructure damage, possibly resulting in service interruptions
   • Pipe breaks due to washouts, which could result in sewage spills or low water pressure throughout the
     service area
   • Debris blockage at an intake or unearthed water and wastewater lines due to falling trees
   • Loss of power and communication lines
   • Combined sewer overflows (CSOs)
   • Water quality changes to source waters and treated effluents, including increased turbidity, increased
     nutrients and other potential contaminants
   • Restricted access to the facility due to debris, flood waters and damage to roadways from  washouts and
     sinkholes
   • Loss of water quality testing capability due to restricted facility and laboratory access and damage to
     utility equipment
The following sections outline actions water and wastewater utilities can take to prepare for, respond to and
recover from floods.

  Example  of Water Sector Impacts and Response to a  Flood
  Warwick, Rhode Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Flooding
  In March of 2010, a  monthly record of nearly 16 inches of rain caused extreme flooding along the Pawtuxet River
  in the  City of Warwick, Rhode Island, and  left the Warwick Wastewater Treatment Plant completely flooded. Staff
  members were forced to move critical mobile equipment to higher ground as flood waters rose and threatened
  electrical equipment. The flood took the facility and six pumping stations along the Pawtuxet River offline. The
  Warwick Sewer Authority was forced to purchase five large portable pumps  to keep up capacity.
  Although the levees in Warwick were built three feet higher than the 100-year flood level, the river reached three
  feet above the levees during the 2010 flood. Rhode Island Department of Emergency Management  (RIDEM)
  personnel recommended that the wastewater treatment plant be designed to higher flood levels (e.g., 500-year
  flood)  to mitigate future damage from flooding events. Since the flood, the utility moved its Supervisory Control
  and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to the second floor from the ground floor of the operations building. The
  utility has also purchased several new generators and other energy efficient equipment.
                               Source: Brown University Center for Environmental Studies, "Emergency Management in Rhode Island:
    A Look at the State's Level of Preparedness and Management of Resources. Communication,  and Infrastructure During the March 2010 Floods."
                                                      Source: Treatment Plant Operator Magazine, January 2011 Issue,
     "Managers and operators at two Rhode Island treatment plants report experiences and lessons learned from the severe floods of March 2010."
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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:
   .  Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (National
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA])
   .  Excessive Rainfall Forecasts (NOAA)
   .  River Observations. Forecasts, and Experimental
     Lona-Ranae Flood Risk (NOAA)
   •  U.S. Spring Flood Risk (NOAA)
   .  Flood Inundation Mapper (United States
     Geological Survey [USGS])
   .  WaterNow (USGS)

   .  WaterAlert (USGS1
   .  WaterWatch (USGS1
•   Map Service Center to find flood map by address
   (Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA])
•   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)
•   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)
•   Make a  Plan (FEMA)

Coordination
•   Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network
   (WARN1 (EPA)
•   Community Based Water Resiliency (EPA)

Facility and Service Area
•   Emergency Response and Preparedness Florida
   WARN Best Management Practices for Water and
   Wastewater Systems (University of Florida Center for
   Training)
•   What to Do After the Flood (EPA)

Mitigation
•   Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool
   (GREAT) (EPA)
•   Adaptation Strategies Guide (EPA)
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                       Actions to Prepare for a Flood
Planning
   Monitor weather and stream/river flow conditions
   to anticipate potential flooding conditions.
   Sign up for US Geological Survey's (USGS)
   WaterAlert service to receive an email or text
   message alert when the river gauges that you
   have identified surpass specified parameters.

   Review and update your utility's emergency
   response plan (ERP), and ensure all emergency
   contacts are current.

   Conduct briefings, training and exercises to
   ensure utility staff is aware of all preparedness,
   response and recovery procedures.

   Identify priority water customers (e.g., hospitals),
   obtain their contact information, map their
   locations and develop a plan to restore those
   customers first, in case of water service
   disruptions.

   Develop an emergency drinking water supply
   plan and establish response partner 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.

   Consult Federal Emergency Management
   Agency (FEMA) flood maps  (link provided in
   the Resources section of this document) to
   determine which locations in your service area
   are most vulnerable to flooding.

   Conduct a hazard vulnerability analysis in which
   you review historical records to understand the
   past frequency and intensity of flood events
   and how your utility may have been impacted;
   consult USGS's WaterWatch (link provided in
   the Resources section of this document) to
   review archived streamflow maps. Consider
   taking actions to mitigate flood impacts to the
   utility, including those provided in the "Actions to
   Recover from a Flood: Mitigation" section.
I	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).
   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
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                  Actions to Prepare for a  Flood (continued)
\	| 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.

I	| Ensure credentials to allow access will be valid
   during an incident  by checking with local law
   enforcement.

I	| Sign up for mobile and/or email alerts from your
   local EMA, if available.

Communication  with Customers	
Facility and Service Area
   I Develop outreach materials to provide your
   customers with information they will need during
   a flood (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,
   warnings that service disruptions are likely) and
   distributing them to customers using appropriate
   mechanisms, such as reverse 911. Keep in mind
   that the notice may need to be delivered prior to
   the storm to be effective.
   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

   Ensure communication equipment (e.g., radios,
   satellite phones) works and is fully charged.

   Develop a GIS map of all system components
   and prepare a list of coordinates for each facility.

   Document pumping requirements and storage
   capabilities, as well  as critical treatment
   components and parameters.
r Notes:
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                  Actions to Prepare  for a  Flood (continued)
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.
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.

   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.
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     Actions to Respond to a  Flood:  With Advance Notice
Facility and Service Area
  I Secure equipment; move electronics, equipment
   and important data to a water-tight facility or out
   of flood-prone areas. Determine areas outside of
   the floodplain where vehicles/equipment can be
   moved.

  I Clear storm drains and set up sandbags to protect
   facilities in flood-prone areas. Place sandbags
   on the top of tanks so that backwash water is
   directed away from plant structures.

  I Check that back-up equipment and facility
   systems, such as controls and pumps, are in
   working order, and ensure that the utility has a
   two week supply of all chemicals on hand.
   Protect exposed lines or pipes that may become
   vulnerable due to streambank erosion.

   Fill storage tanks to full capacity to maximize
   storage and fill empty chemical storage tanks with
   water if a heavy precipitation event is anticipated,
   to prevent floating.

   Wastewater utilities should empty holding tanks,
   ponds and/or lagoons to prepare for an increase
   in flow and to minimize the chance of a release
   during heavy weather incidents.
Power, Energy and Fuel
   Fuel vehicles and 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.
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                      Actions to Respond to a Flood
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.,
   equipment, personnel) 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.
Facility and Service Area

   Overall
 _l Conduct damage assessments of the utility to
   prioritize repairs and other actions.

 _l 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.

 _l If necessary and possible, turn off all utilities
   associated with your facilities to prevent further
   damage and minimize electrical and explosive
   hazards.
Drinking Water Utilities

Inspect the utility and service area for damage
due to debris, downed trees and floodwaters.
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.

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.

Wastewater Utilities

Inspect the utility and service area, including
lift stations, for damage 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.
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                Actions to Respond to a Flood (continued)
  \ Inspect all manholes and pipelines in flood-prone
   areas for inflow and infiltration after the flood
   waters recede.

  I Consider suspending solid waste processing
   during periods of high flow to conserve bacteria
   and prevent it from washing out of the plant.

  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 floods.

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 generators.

Maintain contact with electric provider for power
outage duration estimates.
r Notes:
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                     Actions to Recover from a Flood
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.
   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 Utilities—Water/Wastewater—in 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 (AAR) 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
 Notes:
                                                     Identify mitigation and long-term adaptation
                                                     measures that can prevent damage and increase
                                                     utility resilience. Consider impacts related to the
                                                     increased frequency of intense flooding when
                                                     planning for system upgrades (e.g., elevating
                                                     critical utility assets above projected flood levels,
                                                     waterproofing building access areas, using flood
                                                     control methods to modify runoff, managing
                                                     stormwater through green infrastructure).
                               Office of Water (4608-T) EPA 817-F-15-005 January 2015
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