vvEPA
Incident Action Checklist- Hurricane
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 hurricanes. For on-the-go convenience, you can
also populate the "My Contacts" section with critical information that your utility may need during an incident.
Hurricane Impacts on Water and Wastewater Utilities
A hurricane is a severe tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or greater. Hurricanes and
tropical storms have the potential to cause a great deal of damage to drinking water and wastewater utilities
due to heavy rainfall and inland flooding, coastal storm surge, and high winds. Typical impacts that may lead to
service interruptions include, but are not limited to:
• Pipe breaks due to washouts, up-rooted trees, etc.,
which could result in sewage spills or low water pressure
throughout the service area
• Loss of power and communication infrastructure due to
high winds
• Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) due to flooding
• Restricted access to facilities and collection and
distribution system assets due to debris and flood waters
• Loss of water quality testing capability during the storm
due to restricted facility and laboratory access and
damage to utility equipment
NOAA
The following sections outline actions water and wastewater utilities can take to prepare for, respond to and
recover from hurricanes.
Examples of Hurricane and Water Sector Impacts and Response
Superstorm Sandy Response
Utilities from Florida to Maine were very active in monitoring and preparing for landfall of Superstorm Sandy
in October 2012. More than 690 drinking water and wastewater utilities across 11 states and Washington,
D.C., experienced impacts from the storm. Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) responses
included significant communication with utilities to assess operational conditions and fulfill resource requests,
such as the following:
MAWARN—West Boylston Water District
provided generator support to Northboro
Department of Public Works for a sewer
pump station.
NJWARN—Coordination of generator
needs with New Jersey Office of
Emergency Management (NJOEM) and
the Emergency Management Assistance
Compact (EMAC), and notice of need
to surrounding WARNs of anticipated
resource requests.
NYWARN—Beth page Water District provided Mill Neck
Estates Water Supply with chlorination equipment via rowboat,
as no other means of delivery was possible. Onondaga
County Wastewater Agency provided a chainsawcrew
to support New York City Department of Environmental
Protection (NYCDEP) facility access. NYWARN provided
informational support to the US Army Corp of Engineers
(USAGE), Brooklyn Joint Field Office.
PAWARN—Erie Water Works responded to generator request
from Lehigh County Authority within 13 minutes of request and
unit was operating onsite in less than 24 hours.
Source: AWWA "Suoerstorm Sandv After Action Report. 2013."
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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:
. National Hurricane Center (National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration [NOAA])
. Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (NOAA)
. Excessive Rainfall Forecasts (NOAA)
. River Observations. Forecasts, and Experimental
Long-Range Flook Risk (NOAA)
. Flood Inundation Mapper (United States
Geological Survey [USGS])
. WaterNow (USGS)
. WaterAlert (USGS)
. WaterWatch (USGS)
• Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (NOAA)
• Tropical Cyclones: A Preparedness Guide (NOAA)
• 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
(WARN) (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)
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
• Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool
(GREAT) (EPA)
• Adaptation Strategies Guide (EPA)
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Actions to Prepare for Hurricane Season
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 hurricanes
and how your utility may have been impacted.
Consider taking actions to mitigate hurricane
impacts to the utility, including those provided
in the "Actions to Recover from a Hurricane:
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 resource
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 Hurricane Season (continued)
Communication with Customers
I I Develop outreach materials to provide your
customers with information they will need during
a hurricane (e.g., clarification about water
advisories, instructions for private well and septic
system maintenance and information about
hurricane mitigation).
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 calling. Keep
in mind that the notice may need to be delivered
prior to the storm to be effective.
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.
Power, Energy and Fuel
Ask the local power utility to trim tree branches
near power lines.
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 Hurricane: Pre-landfall Activities
Planning
J Actively monitor hurricane activity.
Facility and Service Area
Personnel
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.
I Protect exposed lines or pipes that may become
vulnerable due to streambank erosion.
I 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.
I 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.
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
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
stored materials are located in a safe zone.
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Actions to Respond to a Hurricane: Post-landfall Activities
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 EOC for the
community.
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
due to debris, downed trees and flood waters.
Identify facility components (e.g., valve boxes)
and fire hydrants that have been buried or are
inaccessible.
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.
Notes:
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Actions to Respond to a Hurricane: Post-landfall Activities
(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.
Inspect all manholes and pipelines in flood-prone
areas for inflow and infiltration after water recedes.
Consider suspending solid waste processing
during periods of high flow to conserve bacteria
and prevent it from washing out of the plant.
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 hurricanes.
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 Hurricane
Coordination
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
Complete damage assessments.
Complete permanent repairs, replace depleted
supplies and return to normal service.
Documentation and Reporting
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
Identify mitigation and long-term adaptation
measures that can prevent damage and
increase utility resilience. Consider impacts
related to the increased frequency of intense
hurricanes when planning for system upgrades.
Examples of successful mitigation projects by
water and wastewater utilities include:
Provide protection to electrical substation
and transformers that would be in danger of
failing during a floods, storm surges and high
winds
Retrofit sanitary sewer lift stations with
electrical connections for portable generators
to maintain operations during power outages
Elevate generators, fuel tanks, critical
controls, motors and blowers to protect
against coastal storm surges
Replace existing entry doors with heavy-duty,
impact-resistant doors and install electric
roll-down storm window shutters to protect
against flying debris that is associated with
hurricane force winds
- Notes:
Office of Water (4608-T) EPA 817-F-15-006 January 2015
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