Emergency Management Basics
What are the four phases of emergency management?
Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
What contaminant caused the Walkerton outbreak?
E. Coli (by way of fertilizer runoff)
Which 2 natural disaster is especially important for California water systems to prepare for?
Earthquakes, fires, floods, drought
What does ICS stand for?
Incident Command System
What public notice may be required during contamination or low-pressure events?
A Boil Water Advisory/Order
What is the primary mission of a water system during an emergency?
To provide safe drinking water and protect public health
How many people died during the Walkerton outbreak?
7 people
What man-made hazard could involve contamination from pipelines, trains, or vehicles?
Hazardous chemical release
Which ICS section is responsible for obtaining supplies and resources?
Logistics
What should be done immediately if sabotage or a chlorine gas leak is suspected?
Contact law enforcement and emergency responders
What does ERP stand for?
Emergency Response Plan
What weather event contributed to contamination of Well #5?
Heavy rainfall
What wildfire-related issue can affect source water quality?
Watershed damage or contamination. Runoff from ash etc
Who serves as the main leader during an incident in ICS?
The Incident Commander
During disaster recovery, what important activity must utilities do for possible reimbursement?
Document all damages, repairs, labor, and expenses
What organization regulates drinking water systems in California?
California State Water Resources Control Board
What unsafe practice did operators use instead of proper field sampling?
Taking coliform samples at the PUC office instead of in the field
What is one major risk associated with low pressure in a water distribution system?
Backflow contamination
What county-level agency should water systems build relationships with before disasters?
County OES (Office of Emergency Services)
What rapid assessment should operators conduct within 4 hours after an emergency to scope damages?
A windshield survey (Rapid Needs Assessment)
According to the training, when should ERPs be updated?
When info changes, or by time-annually and overhaul at 5 years
Name one consequence faced by Stan and Frank Koebel after the outbreak.
Prison/house arrest, lawsuits, criminal charges, or public duty violations
Name two hazards that SWRCB says every water system must consider.
contamination, leaks, low pressure/service interruption, power outage, sabotage
What national system standardizes emergency response across agencies in California?
SEMS (Standardized Emergency Management System)
All ___BLANK___ (widespread and lasting more than eight hours) or ___BLANK___ will be reported to the SWRCB- DWW or LPA by telephone or equally rapid means
Significant water outages & disinfection failures