4>EPA                                                                           u

                  Incident Action Checklist - Tornado

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


Tornado Impacts on  Water and Wastewater Utilities
Tornadoes can occur in any location with little to no notice. Tornadoes can have wind gusts from 65 to over 200
miles per hour (mph) and are often accompanied by floods, high straight-line winds up to 140 mph, hail and
lightning. About 1,200 tornadoes occur in the United States each year, and they can have devastating impacts
to water and wastewater utilities. Impacts may include, but are not limited to:


   •  Damage to infrastructure  (e.g., storage tanks, hydrants,
      residential plumbing fixtures, distribution system) due to
      hail, wind, debris and flash flooding, resulting in loss of
      service and/or reduced pressure throughout the system
   •  Restricted access to the facility due to debris and damaged
      roads
   •  Loss of power and communication lines
   •  Potential contamination due to chemical leaks from
      ruptured containers
   •  Severe water and pressure loss due to ruptured service                                        NOAA
      lines in damaged buildings and broken fire hydrants from airborne debris


The following sections outline actions water and wastewater utilities can take to prepare for, respond to and
recover from a tornado.



  Example of Water Sector Impacts and Response to a Tornado
  Smithville, Mississippi  2011 Tornado
  An EF-5 tornado with estimated  winds of 205 mph and a half-mile wide base hit Smithville, Mississippi in April 2011,
  destroying 150 homes and several businesses and city facilities, including the water system. The utility's elevated
  storage tank was damaged and  several pipes were bent due to a car striking the structure. The tornado also tore out
  appliances and plumbing fixtures from homes and destroyed at least three fire hydrants.

  Both the drinking water and waste water systems lost power immediately after the tornado hit, and half of the town
  was without water due to damage to infrastructure and the power outage. Generators were coordinated through
  the Mississippi Rural Water Association to provide temporary power. The drinking water and  wastewater utilities
  conducted damage assessments and teams were quickly deployed to fix leaks, turn off meters in destroyed homes
  and restore service throughout the systems.

                                                    Source: NRWA's "Rural Water assists tornado-ravaged Mississippi"
                                             1 of 8

-------
                       My Contacts and Resources
                                         LI
         CONTACT NAME
                                         UTILITY/ORGANIZATION NAME
                                                                              PHONE NUMBER










Local EMA
State EMA
State Primacy Agency
WARN Chair
Power Utility















Planning
•   Incident monitoring:
   •  Storm Prediction Center (National Oceanic and
     Atmospheric Administration [NOAA])
•   U.S. Tornado Climatology (NOAA)
•   Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage (NOAA)
•   Severe Weather 101: Tornado Basics (NOAA)
•   National Weather Service Weather Alerts (NOAA)
•   Planning for an Emergency Drinking Water Supply
   (EPA)
•   All-Hazard Conseguence 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
   (T&E) 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)
•   Water Agencies Respond to Tornadoes (Florida Rural
   Water Association and Florida WARN)
Documentation and Reporting
•   Federal Funding for Utilities In National Disasters
   (Fed FUNDS')  (EPA)
Power, Energy and Fuel
•   EPA Region 1  Water/Wastewater System Generator
   Preparedness Brochure (EPA)
Mitigation
•   Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool
   (GREAT) (EPA)
•   Adaptation Strategies Guide (EPA)
                                             2of8

-------
                      Actions to Prepare for a Tornado
                                      LI
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 tornado events
   and how your utility may  have been impacted.
   Consider taking actions to mitigate tornado
   impacts to the utility, including those provided
   in the "Actions to Recover from a Tornado:
   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.
                                               3 of 8

-------
                Actions to Prepare for a Tornado (continued)
                                        LI
Communication with Customers	

I	I Develop outreach materials to provide your
   customers with information they will need
   after a tornado (e.g., clarification about water
   advisories, instructions for private well and septic
   system maintenance and information about
   tornado 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) 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.

   Encourage personnel, especially those that
   may be on duty for extended periods of time,  to
   develop family emergency plans.
                                              4of8

-------
                Actions to Prepare for a Tornado  (continued)
                                     LI
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:
                                               5 of 8

-------
                    Actions to Respond to a Tornado
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

\	I Conduct damage assessments of the utility to
   prioritize repairs and other actions.

I	I 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

\	I 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.

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.

Notify regulatory/primacy agency of any changes
to the operations or required testing parameters.
r Notes:
                                                6 of 8

-------
               Actions to Respond to a Tornado (continued)
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.
Personnel
   Account for all personnel and provide emergency
   care, if needed. Caution personnel about known
   hazards resulting from tornadoes.
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.

Ensure personnel are aware of potential hazards
and delays while traveling within the affected
service area (i.e., flat tires caused by debris,
navigation issues caused by uprooted/missing
street signs).
                                                  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:
                                               7 of 8

-------
                   Actions to Recover from  a Tornado
                                          LI
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 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 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 and intensity
      of tornadoes when planning for system upgrades
      (e.g., ensure adequate backup power supply
      for key assets, pursue interconnections with
      neighboring utilities).
 Notes:
                               Office of Water (4608-T)
EPA 817-F-15-007 January 2015
 8 of 8

-------