Lessons Learned from a Basic Vulnerability Assessment and Emergency Response Plan Update Project in Greensboro

Transcription

1 Lessons Learned from a Basic Vulnerability Assessment and Emergency Response Plan Update Project in Greensboro Steve Drew, Director, Greensboro Water Resources Department Jack Moyer, Carolinas / Tennessee Water Security and Preparedness Area Market Sector Leader, AECOM April 13, 2015

2 Overview Overview of the Greensboro Water and Reclaimed Water Systems Historical Perspective Other Plans in Place o Original VA o Water Supply Division Emergency Operations Manual Project Methodology Lessons Learned

3 Greensboro Systems Overview 2 Water treatment plants - 30 mgd each 3 Raw water lakes and 2 raw water pump stations 1 Pumped open raw water reservoir Multiple finished water interconnections

4 Systems Overview - Continued 2 Water reclamation plants - 40 and 16 mgd 20 Booster pump stations,1 remote finished water reservoir, and 11 elevated storage tanks 48 Wastewater lift stations 1,500 and 1,140 miles of water and wastewater mains Stormwater program About 350 employees

5 Historical Perspective Other Plans in Place Original Vulnerability Assessment (VA) As required by Bioterrorism Act of 2002, not updated Water Supply Division Emergency Operations Manual As required by Bioterrorism Act of 2002, updated regularly, but Water Supply only Others o Pandemic Plan o Divisional COOP Plans o Dam EAPs

6 Project Focus Update the VA and ERP Incorporate other divisions of the department Focus on employee safety Include an all-hazards perspective

7 Project Methodology Reviewed existing plans Conducted detailed site assessment visits to all major facilities and sampling of remote facilities Identified critical assets and credible threats Assessed existing and potential mitigation measures

8 Project Methodology - Continued Conducted periodic stakeholder workshops Prepared VA Report, ERP, including 16 hazardspecific plans, and Fast-action Binders for each major hazard Conducted training for all employees and tabletop exercise for middle and upper management WRD developing work station posters

9 Credible Threats Weather events including flooding, large rain events resulting in high wastewater flows, high winds, lightning, ice storms, and tornados Major equipment or operational failure Power outages On-site chemical spills Nearby HAZMAT releases Fire

10 Credible Threats - Continued Casual, accidental, and recreational trespassers, vandals, and criminals (theft) Disgruntled persons, up to and including armed intruders/ active shooters Raw water contamination Finished water contamination SCADA system failure Influent contamination Personnel illness

11 Lessons Learned Over-arching VA ERP

12 Over-arching Lessons No current regulatory requirements Water preparedness projects have recently been undertaken only by select, progressive clients Visible commitment of upper management is critically important Understanding larger organizational plans, such as a city when the utility is a city department, is needed Engagement of internal stakeholders is imperative

13 VA Lessons Focus has shifted much more to all-hazards Prevailing methodology has evolved from RAM-W to J100 RAMCAP - Risk Analysis and Management for Critical Asset Protection Standard for Risk and Resilience Management of Water and Wastewater Systems Opportunities for varying levels of J100 assessment and analysis

14 VA Lessons - Continued There are always opportunities to address lowhanging fruit in security improvements It is continually challenging to maintain security systems, from fences to cameras

15 Provide Active Shooter Training Attacks in the workplace and elsewhere are increasing (FBI) Most incidents last only minutes Training and personal preparation is key Run, Hide, Fight Have a personal plan Help identify at-risk employees Hear something / Say something

16 Growing Cyber Security Concerns Rapidly evolving threats Stuxnet / Heartbleed Presidential Executive Order February 2013 AWWA Process Control (Cyber) System Security Guidance Document /0/files/legreg/documents/ awwacybersecurityguide.pdf

17 ERP Lessons It is always challenging to keep plans up to date, particularly contact information should be structured to optimize updates Use annexes and appendices There is a real need for succession plans for key positions - many utility managers avoid them Ensure that employees are empowered to call 911 Need for emergency procurement and contracting provisions

18 NIMS and ICS Need Designees and Back-ups

19 Importance of Engaging other Agencies

20 Address Power Failures Greatest water sector interdependency Generators, maintenance, and provisions for fueling

21 Need to Help Employees and their Families Prepare Promote a culture of preparedness and security Establish special work shifts / avoid excessively long work periods Provide training, specialized equipment, and PPE for their potential roles following disasters Develop guidance for the preparation of their families Discourage heroes

22 Develop Crisis Communications Plans Designate an organization spokesperson and Public Information Officer (PIO) Establish a Joint Information Center (JIC) Prepare critical media messages in advance Utilize message mapping Increase use of social media

23 Value of WARN - NC Water WARN Water / Wastewater Agency Response Networks Standardized mutual aid agreements Mutual aid procedures, guidance and established lines of communications NC Water WARN has a seat in the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center Sample Operational Plan Resource Typing Manual

24 Value of Training and Exercises Meet representatives of other units and organizations Refine plans and procedures Clarify roles, responsibilities, and lines of communications Learn available resources, shortcomings, and opportunities for improvement

25 Questions? Steve Drew - steve.drew@greensboro-nc.gov (336) Jack Moyer jack.moyer@aecom.com (919)