The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit March 22, 2012 Nashville, TN

Name Organization Welcome & Introductions The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 2

Review exercise materials and rules Review background scenario Facilitated discussion period Hot wash Review and conclusion Agenda The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 3

Location of emergency exits Location of restrooms Cell phone management Administrative Details The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 4

Exercise Benefits Increase readiness to respond to an actual emergency Assess effectiveness of response plans and response capabilities Practice skills and improve performance in a non-threatening environment Develop a better understanding of roles and responsibilities Identify resource needs and opportunities for resource sharing The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 5

Exercise Objectives At the conclusion of this exercise, participants should be able to do the following: Describe key elements of the Water Laboratory Alliance Response Plan (WLA-RP) and how the WLA-RP fits into other laboratory response networks Describe the role that laboratories and others play in an emergency response Identify EPA Water Security tools Build relationships between water utilities, state laboratories and stakeholders The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 6

Participants respond to the situation presented based on expert knowledge of response procedures, current plans and procedures, and insights derived from training and experience Facilitators lead the exercise by presenting the background scenario and facilitating the discussion period and hot wash Roles & Responsibilities The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 7

Highlighted Tools and Resources The following EPA Water Security Tools and Resources will be highlighted during the Tabletop: Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT) Lab Compendium (CETL) Sampling Guidance for Unknown Contaminants Standardized Analytical Methods (SAM) Reimbursement Tips for Emergency Laboratory Support Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) Web-based Electronic Data Review (WebEDR) The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 8

There is no single solution Varying viewpoints are expected Dialogue encouraged within a safe, open, stress-free environment Respond based on your knowledge All information required to drive discussion during tabletop is contained in exercise material Treat the scenario as if it might affect your area - don’t “fight” the scenario Exercise Rules The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 9

Hot Wash Session Following the facilitated discussion period, there will be a “hot wash” or review session Participants are encouraged to identify the areas or issues that were of greatest interest to them Identify what additional support is needed for laboratory emergency response The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 10

Day 1, 10:00 PM A tornado devastates the communities of Wynette and Nelsonville In Nelsonville, the tornado derails six tanker cars containing mevinphos and sodium thiosulfate, depositing them into the Conway River just upstream of the main source water intake for Nelsonville In Wynette, the tornado destroys a large poultry processing plant, discharging two million gallons of untreated wastewater into Haggard Creek Water from the Haggard Creek (downstream of poultry plant) and the Conway River (downstream of tanker cars) are combined and stored in the H. Williams Sr. Reservoir which provides water to the town of Wynette Background Scenario The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 11

Day 1, night and Day 2, morning The tornado knocks out power to the region and causes several large industrial fires Emergency response efforts for the first 18 hours focus on fire fighting and rescue activities The Carter-Cash Water Cooperative (CCWC), which provides drinking water to Nelsonville and Wynette, struggles to connect backup generators and provide sufficient water pressure to support fire fighting efforts Both cities’ public health departments issue “do not drink” notices. There are problems notifying residents due to power outages Background Scenario (cont) The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 12

Scenario Part 1 Day 2, morning and afternoon Normal distribution, on-line monitoring, and treatment of drinking water are severely compromised The main distribution system supplying Nelsonville is contaminated with mevinphos and sodium thiosulfate The reservoir supplying Wynette is contaminated with mevinphos, sodium thiosulfate, and untreated waste from the poultry processing plant Fire fighting drains the distribution system of treated pre-incident water, rapidly replacing the supply with contaminated water The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 13

Scenario Part 2 Day 2, morning: State HazMat crews detect organophosphate contamination in the river water engulfing the ruptured rail tankers. The HazMat team notifies the state emergency manager and the Carter-Cash Water Cooperative (CCWC) of the threat. Field testing of finished water indicates decreased chlorine residuals and increased turbidity and conductivity. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 14

Scenario Part 3 Day 2, morning: The CCWC emergency manager receives the following information from his lab manager: 1) The utility lab has no power 2) They are working on obtaining generators 3) Key lab staff’s homes were destroyed and they are not available for work. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 15

Day 2, morning: CCWC and HazMat continue field testing and sampling at the Wynette and Nelsonville sites. The state drinking water authorities have been contacted. CCWC contacts the State Environmental Lab to determine if they can provide analytical support. Scenario Part 4 The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 16

Scenario Part 5 Day 2, early afternoon: The State Environmental Lab (PRL) agrees to provide analytical support to CCWC. The CCWC utility emergency manager (ASR) provides an overview of the situation to the State Lab. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 17

Scenario Part 6 Day 2, afternoon: The State Environmental Lab (PRL) rallies their staff to prepare for the arrival of the Nelsonville and Wynette samples. The lab discusses what steps can be taken to facilitate communication and coordination during the response. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 18

Scenario Part 7 Day 2, afternoon: Raw and finished water samples are collected from sites in Nelsonville and Wynette. The State Environmental Lab (PRL) works with the CCWC utility manager (ASR) to develop a strategy for sample analysis. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 19

Scenario Part 8 Day 2, afternoon: The CCWC utility emergency manager (ASR) has already contacted their state regulatory authorities. What additional notifications should be made? The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 20

Scenario Part 9 Day 3, morning: Cases of gastrointestinal illness that may be related to drinking water contamination have been reported by the local hospital. The CCWC needs analytical results as soon as possible to make decisions on additional treatment, boil water notices, etc. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 21

Scenario Part 10 Day 4, morning: CCWC and HazMat continue to collect samples from the rivers, the reservoir, and the drinking water distribution systems of both towns. The State Environmental Lab (PRL) is overwhelmed with incident and routine samples and requests additional laboratory support. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 22

Scenario Part 11 Day 4, morning: The CCWC is overwhelmed trying to get their system back online and address multiple contamination issues. Local and state resources are stretched thin. The Incident Commander contacts EPA Region 4 for assistance. EPA Region 4 provides assistance to the Environmental Unit set up by the Incident Command. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 23

Laboratory coordination within the Incident Command System (ICS) OperationsLogisticsPlanningFinance MSL Environmental Unit Incident Commander (IC) MSL PRL ASR Transfer of Coordination Initial Coordination Structure Expanded Coordination Structure 24 Laboratory Coordination

Scenario Part 12 Day 4, morning: Due to capacity concerns, the EU makes arrangements with the Jennings (MSL), Cline (MSL), and McEntire Labs (MSL) to receive and analyze samples. Samples are shipped to the appropriate labs. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 25

Scenario Part 13 Day 4, morning: The State Environmental Lab (MSL) reports total coliform positive results from the initial incident samples from the reservoir. Results also confirm the presence of mevinphos. Sodium thiosulfate is identified as the cause of the reduced chlorine residual in the distribution system, thus creating a growth environment for bacteria. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 26

Scenario Part 14 Day 4, afternoon: The State Public Health Lab detects Salmonella in all clinical specimens received from sick patients. The State Public Health Lab contacts the State Environmental Lab (MSL) to inform them of their findings and to obtain any information relevant to patient care. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 27

Scenario Part 15 Day 4, afternoon: The State Environmental Lab (MSL) does not have the ability to test for Salmonella. The State Public Health Lab doesn’t have experience analyzing water samples, and they are overwhelmed with patient samples. As part of the WLA, the State Public Health Lab wonders if other ERLN/WLA labs can provide support. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 28 Volker Brinkmann Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology Berlin, Germany

Scenario Part 16 Day 4, afternoon: Using the Laboratory Compendium, the EU has identified several WLA laboratories that could potentially provide analytical support. The EU contacts the laboratories to determine if they can provide the support required. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 29

Scenario Part 17 Day 5, morning: Samples shipped via priority overnight arrive at Cline Laboratories (MSL). The lab discovers there are several problems. Not all samples are listed on the chain-of- custody form and some samples exceed the method-specified sample shipping and storage temperatures. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 30

Scenario Part 18 Day 5: An environmental group called the American Noodlers Association is concerned about an apparent fish kill on the Conway River. Calls are also being received from drinking water utilities downstream about potential risk to their systems. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 31

Scenario Part 19 Day 5: The Jennings Lab (MSL) has run out of the required calibration standard. They will not be able to obtain additional standard from the supplier for three days. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 32

Scenario Part 20 Day 5: The McEntire Lab (MSL) has completed their analyses and would like reimbursement. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 33

Scenario Part 21 Day 6: Cline Labs (MSL) has completed their sample analyses for mevinphos and Salmonella and would like to dispose of the remaining sample volumes. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 34

Scenario Part 22 Wynette and Nelsonville have initiated additional chlorination at their treatment plants and flushed their distribution systems. Additional testing finds no contamination. The incident is over, the ICS resources are demobilized, and the laboratories have reported data to all of the required parties and disposed of their samples as instructed. The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 35

What new insights did you gain from our session? Based on this session, what actions do you plan on taking to refine your own plans, policies, or procedures? What did you find most useful about this session? How could we have improved today’s session? Hot wash The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 36

The WLA-RP provides guidance for large and small incidents for the following key areas: WLA Plan Highlights The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 37 Roles and responsibilities Communications and logistics QA/QC Sample collection and transport Sample analysis Data review and reporting

The following are available to assist with laboratory response during a water contamination incident: Water Sector Tools and Resources The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 38 WCIT Lab Compendium (CETL) SAM WARN Sampling Guidance for Unknown Contaminants Reimbursement Tips for Emergency Laboratory Support WebEDR