1. EPAs Community-Based Water Resiliency Initiative: An Important New Tool for The Public Health Sector 1 CDC PHIN Partner Call June 1, 2011

2. Water: Critical for Public Health 2 Healthcare and Public Health Sector relies on Water Sector for:Healthcare and Public Health Sector relies on Water Sector for: –Sanitation –Drinking water –Cooling equipment –Manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment –Hospitals, dialysis centers, physicians offices, labs

3. Growing problem: Aging Infrastructure 3 Approximately 240,000 water main breaks each year in the US Breaks can allow contaminants to enter the drinking water supply -MMWR February 18, 2011 Vol.60 No.6

4. 4 Natural Disasters Failures in Interdependent Sectors Criminal and Terrorist Acts Many Other Causes of Failure

5. Community Health Impact of Extended Loss of Water Service * 2010 Freeze/thaw event in Alabama--water pipes break leading to systemic water loss for 18,000 residents for 12 days2010 Freeze/thaw event in Alabama--water pipes break leading to systemic water loss for 18,000 residents for 12 days Outbreak of Acute Gastrointestinal Illness in 12-15%* * of households most affected by service interruptionOutbreak of Acute Gastrointestinal Illness in 12-15%* * of households most affected by service interruption Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigation found:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigation found: –Lack of communication between water utilities, customers and public health department –Lack of preparedness for water emergencies CDC recommended:CDC recommended: –More communication between Water and Public Health Sectors –More public health agency involvement in water emergency preparedness 5 *MMWR February 18, 2011 Vol.60 No.6 **National background prevalence for one month is 5.1%

6. CDC findings from investigation Public health agencies might help to prevent or mitigate the health effects from future water emergencies by: Public health agencies might help to prevent or mitigate the health effects from future water emergencies by: IImproving community and household preparedness Developing and implementing effective communication strategies to reach diverse communities before and during such emergencies.Developing and implementing effective communication strategies to reach diverse communities before and during such emergencies. 6

7. Specific CDC recommendations for public health agency involvement in water emergency preparedness Develop: A water emergency response protocolA water emergency response protocol A water distribution planA water distribution plan A community communications toolkit for water emergenciesA community communications toolkit for water emergenciesProvide: Guidance for household preparednessGuidance for household preparedness Guidance for institutional preparednessGuidance for institutional preparedness 7

8. 8 Community-Based Water Resiliency Initiative Supports PHIN Mission and CDC Recommendations

9. CBWR addresses What If…? Increases community preparedness by:Increases community preparedness by: –Improving integration of the Water Sector into community emergency preparedness –Increasing understanding of critical interdependencies –Highlighting benefits of preparedness Fosters collaboration between utilities and all community members:Fosters collaboration between utilities and all community members: –Public health officials –City/county managers –Public works officials –Emergency responders –Business Community –Citizens Electronic tool gives communities over 350 resources to develop and implement water resiliency plansElectronic tool gives communities over 350 resources to develop and implement water resiliency plans 9

10. Products Products CBWR Electronic Tool Stakeholder specific modules (5)Stakeholder specific modules (5) o Healthcare and Public Health o Emergency Services o State/Tribal Primacy Agencies o Local Officials /Concerned Citizens o Water Utilities Toolbox >350 resourcesToolbox >350 resources User-specific, detailed summary reportsUser-specific, detailed summary reports Outreach Materials Interdependencies fact sheets (3)Interdependencies fact sheets (3) o Healthcare & Public Health o General Interdependencies o Emergency Services Tri-fold overview brochureTri-fold overview brochure Poster (hard copy & interactive web version)Poster (hard copy & interactive web version) 10

11. 11 Return users can go straight to the CBWR Toolbox!

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19. Next Steps/Opportunities for Collaboration Ground truth the conceptGround truth the concept Increased input/suggestions fromIncreased input/suggestions from Public Health sector Public Health sector Develop Water Roundtable WizardDevelop Water Roundtable Wizard 19

20. Water Emergency Roundtable Wizard Based on ASDWA/EPA Region 5 Water Emergency Roundtable Discussion Guide Planning and Logistics Suggested goals and objectivesSuggested goals and objectives List of potential partnersList of potential partners Suggested planning team membersSuggested planning team members List of major planning process steps and planning team rolesList of major planning process steps and planning team roles Sample emails to gauge interestSample emails to gauge interest Sample telephone scripts for recruiting participantsSample telephone scripts for recruiting participants Suggested meeting locations/tip sheetSuggested meeting locations/tip sheet Meeting Materials Invitation lettersInvitation letters Registration tracking toolsRegistration tracking tools Sample agendasSample agendas Sample presentationsSample presentations Required resources checklistRequired resources checklist Sign-in table tips and toolsSign-in table tips and tools Facilitators guideFacilitators guide Tabletop exercisesTabletop exercises Discussion questionsDiscussion questions Evaluation FormEvaluation Form Post-Roundtable Products Thank you lettersThank you letters Attendee list templateAttendee list template Action item tracking listAction item tracking list Tips for keeping momentum goingTips for keeping momentum going Sample final reports and templatesSample final reports and templates 20

21. Challenges Community-based resiliency = relatively new conceptCommunity-based resiliency = relatively new concept Global economic crisis means water security has lower priorityGlobal economic crisis means water security has lower priority Reliability of water services often taken for grantedReliability of water services often taken for granted Many do not recognize the importance of water preparednessMany do not recognize the importance of water preparedness 21

22. 22 EPAs Community-Based Water Resiliency Initiative: Communities, as a whole, are more resilient in the event of a water service interruption Website: http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/communities/index.cfm

23. California Department of Public Health EPA Region 9 grant provides for conducting an eight- hour training course in June 2011 on Water Sector Emergency Operations Center Train-the-Trainer CourseEPA Region 9 grant provides for conducting an eight- hour training course in June 2011 on Water Sector Emergency Operations Center Train-the-Trainer Course Now using GIS to map the service areas of California utilities which could:Now using GIS to map the service areas of California utilities which could: –Help improve emergency response times –Determine if disease outbreaks are due to water contamination Contact Craig Wolf, CA DPHContact Craig Wolf, CA DPH 23

24. WaterISAC WaterISAC=WaterISAC= Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center Public health officials and other state and federal partners from all sectors are encouraged to subscribe!Public health officials and other state and federal partners from all sectors are encouraged to subscribe! Secure, web-based networkSecure, web-based network All-hazards information to help water utility managers and staff make security and emergency management planning decisionsAll-hazards information to help water utility managers and staff make security and emergency management planning decisions How to Subscribe: To receive a free12-month WaterISAC Pro subscription visit http://www.waterisac.org.How to Subscribe: To receive a free12-month WaterISAC Pro subscription visit http://www.waterisac.org.http://www.waterisac.org 24 WaterISAC Water Security Network

25. 25 For More Information Nushat Thomas, CBWR Project Lead Thomas.Nushat@epa.gov Thomas.Nushat@epa.gov 202-564-4674 Gretchen Giannelli, MPH, ORISE Fellow Giannelli.Gretchen@epa.gov 202-564-0242 Laura Flynn, Team Leader Flynn.Laura@epa.gov 202-564-4611