The years 2011 and 2012 were unprecedented in the weather extremes and

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1 Security and Preparedness shannon spence, Column coordinator Jack moyer Moyer What the Water Sector Can Learn From Recent Weather Disasters The years 2011 and 2012 were unprecedented in the weather extremes and disasters they presented. Those weather patterns and incidents have provided strong lessons and reminders to the water sector and others about key preparedness actions that should be taken. These recent weather disasters provide an opportunity to review what the water sector can learn from them and underscores the need for disaster preparedness. During the latter half of the twentieth century, agencies at all levels across the United States refined their ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from relatively diverse natural disasters. The pendulum swung drastically following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, In the few years that followed, the preparedness focus was strongly centered on preparing for terrorist attacks. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 began to bring the pendulum back to an all-hazards perspective, and the weather-related disasters in 2011 and 2012 clearly brought the all-hazards perspective into focus DISASTERS IN REVIEW The worst year for natural disasters in US history was There were 14 disasters with damages of $1 billion or more, smashing the 2008 record of nine. There were 99 major disaster declarations, breaking the 2010 record of 81. The 12 largest disasters caused 646 deaths and $52 billion in damages and included The Groundhog Day Blizzard in late January and early February in numerous central, eastern, and northeastern states; Tornadoes in early April 46 tornadoes swept through 10 central and southern states; Tornadoes in mid-april approximately 59 tornadoes formed, hitting nine central and southern states; 26 SEPTEMBER 2013 JOURNAL AWWA

2 Approximately 160 tornadoes in 10 states in the central and southeast United States, also occurring in mid-april; Tornadoes in the Southeast, Ohio Valley, and Midwest in late April, when more than 300 tornadoes caused 321 deaths, with 240 of the fatalities occurring in Alabama, particularly around Tuscaloosa; Tornadoes in 15 states in the Midwest and Southeast in late May (The tornado that struck Joplin, Mo., May 22 was the deadliest single tornado to hit the United States in many years, causing 158 deaths. The Joplin tornado was rated EF5, the strongest classification for a tornado, according to the enhanced Fujita scale.); Tornadoes and severe weather in the Midwest and Southeast in mid-june, with 81 tornadoes hitting seven states; Drought, heat wave, and wildfires during the spring and summer (Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, southern Kansas, western Arkansas, and Louisiana were the states that were hardest hit by these conditions); Mississippi River and upper Midwest flooding in the spring and summer; Hurricane Irene (August 20 29) made landfall in North Carolina, caused major flooding in New Jersey, New York, and Vermont; Wildfires in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico during the spring through fall. In 2011 a highly unusual magnitude 5.8 earthquake, centered in Mineral, Va., occurred on August 23. Among recognized causes for these disasters and contributing factors for their financial magnitude were normal climatological patterns, climate change, greater property value and associated greater insurance coverage, and more intense development in high-risk areas. Figure 1 shows how many billion-dollar disasters affected each state between 1980 and All seven of the states that fall in the highest group are in the Southeast and Gulf Coast areas subject to hurricanes; however, no state has been exempt from billiondollar disasters. DEVASTATION CONTINUES IN 2012 The disasters in 2012 continued the trend, coming in second behind 2011 with 11 billion-dollar weather disasters. This was the second costliest year for weather disasters since Weather-related damage in 2012 totaled more than $110 billion, ranking second behind $160 billion in The most notable weather disasters in 2012 list were Superstorm Sandy, with damages estimated at $65 billion, and the year-long drought, with estimated damages of $30 billion. The left turn that Sandy took, causing it to strike New Jersey has been estimated by experts to occur once every 700 years. FIGURE 1 Billion-dollar weather disasters by state from 1980 through November 2011 Puerto Rico 4 Hawaii 1 Virgin Islands 3 Alaska 3 Number of Events Not to scale Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association JOURNAL AWWA SEPTEMBER

3 In 2012 there were seven severe-weather/tornado events, two tropical cyclone events, a drought, and wildfires. July was the hottest month of any month in recorded history. Other billion-dollar weather events in 2012 included 75 tornadoes in the Southeast and Ohio Valley in early March, Texas tornadoes in early April, a Midwest tornado outbreak in mid-april, 38 tornadoes in the Midwest in late April and early May, 27 tornadoes in the southern plains, Midwest, and Northeast in late May, severe weather in the Rocky Mountains and Southwest in mid-june, including 25 tornadoes and other damaging weather, severe storms in the plains, East, and Northeast, in late June and early July. (This included the unusual derecho that hit the mid-atlantic states June 29 and 30. A derecho is a widespread, long-lived, straight-line windstorm that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms. This powerful storm affected a band across the Midwest and mid-atlantic states, causing 22 deaths and widespread power outages), western wildfires that burned throughout the summer and fall, and Hurricane Isaac that made its way along the northern Gulf Coast in August. The current year has also had its share of weatherrelated disasters. Thus far, 2013 has seen record-setting tornadoes in Oklahoma and record-setting wildfires in Colorado, Arizona, and other states. WATER SECTOR HASN T BEEN SPARED The water sector has not been excluded from these disasters, with impacts on water and wastewater systems in every region of the country. Hurricane Irene in 2011 alone triggered the need for boil-water notices in several states. Superstorm Sandy caused unprecedented effects on water and wastewater systems in the mid- Atlantic and northeastern states. Part of the phenomena in these disaster patterns that must not be overlooked is the recognition that weather records have been maintained for a very short time. FIGURE 2 Significant weather and climate events for 2012 SNOW PACK Third smallest winter snow cover extant; below-average snowpack was observed for much of the West. WARM This was the warmest year on record for the nation, with record warm temperatures in 19 states. The fourth warmest winter, warmest spring, and second warmest summer contributed to 2012 having an average temperature 3.2 F above average and 1.0 F above the previous record warm year of WILDFIRES More than 9.2 million acres burned nationwide during Colorado experienced its most costly fire on record (until the Black Forest fire of 2013) in June. The Whitewater-Baldy fire was the largest on record for New Mexico. COLD Coldest January on record in Alaska; the monthly average temperature in Bettles was 35.6 F; snowiest winter in Anchorage with inches. FLOOD Storms caused record flooding in and around Duluth, Minn., on June 20 with more than 8 inches of rainfall observed in 24 hours. Rivers in the area reached their highest levels on record. DROUGHT The 2012 drought peaked in July with more than 60% of the nation experiencing drought conditions, comparable to the drought episodes of the 1950s. Corn and soybean crops failed across a large portion of the Great Plains and Midwest. Water levels along the Mississippi River approached record lows and slowed commercial shipping. TORNADOES An early season tornado outbreak March 2 3 in Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky resulted in 42 fatalities. This was the deadliest tornado outbreak of HURRICANE ISAAC Isaac made landfall near the mouth of the Mississippi River in late August with winds of 80 mph, significant storm surge, and flooding rains along the Gulf Coast that resulted in nine fatalities. STORMS On March 9 a storm system brought severe weather to Hawaii; a rare tornado hit Oahu; largest hailstone on record for the state in Oahu. POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY Sandy made landfall near Atlantic City, N.J., with sustained winds of 80 mph in late October, bringing record storm surge along the New Jersey and New York coasts along with heavy rain and snow. More than 8 million people lost power, and there were 131 fatalities. STORMS A straight-line wind storm called a derecho caused significant damage from Indiana to Maryland. More than 250,000 customers lost power, including the densely populated Washington, D.C., area. WET Florida had its wettest summer on record, partially because of Hurricane Isaac and Tropical Storm Debby. Seasonal precipitation was 140% of average. Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association National Climate Data Center 28 SEPTEMBER 2013 JOURNAL AWWA

4 They have been maintained only since 1895, about half of the lifetime to date of many cities and towns. As an example, Raleigh, N.C., experienced an all-time record-setting 20-inch snowfall Jan. 24, However, local history books report a snowfall of 25 inches in the years just prior to the regular official recording of such events. Tree-ring research and other techniques have indicated past disasters far worse than anything in recorded history, including a megadrought in the Southwest around A.D. 148 to A.D Since their formation, the Water/Was tewater Agency Response Networks (WARNs) have been deployed to more than a dozen disasters, including earthquakes, storms, fires, hurricanes, blizzards, ice storms, tornadoes, and a salmonella outbreak. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Climate Data Center has developed the Climate Extremes Index (CEI). The CEI considers various factors in the comparison of weather extremes. Their records show that 2012 has had the greatest climate extremes since 1910, the starting year for which the index has been developed. Figure 2 graphically shows the greatest weather extremes of 2012 across the United States. WHAT THE WATER SECTOR CAN LEARN In the face of the destruction that has occurred as a result of weather-related disasters, particularly since 2011, there are a number of lessons and reminders that can be applied to the water industry. The most relevant of these are Expect greater swings in climatological conditions and subsequent disasters. Cold weather will get colder, hot weather will get hotter, droughts will get drier, and floodwaters will get broader and deeper. Anticipate expanding flood plain areas and/or sea-level rise. Maintain an all-hazards perspective. Whether a water system component is disabled by extreme weather, a technological failure, an accident, or a malevolent act, the preparedness, response, and recovery are largely the same. Update emergency response plans (ERPs). All water systems serving 3,300 or more people were required by the 2002 Bioterrorism Act to prepare ERPs. Many of those plans have not been updated and would not work as needed in a current disaster. All water systems that have not already done so should update their ERPs. Prepare business continuity plans (BCPs) or continuity-of-operations plans (COOPs). Every water or wastewater utility should have a BCP or COOP to ensure that it can stay operating and in business following disasters. The Water Research Foundation has recently developed and posted on its website free guidance about developing a BCP for water and wastewater utilities (www. waterrf.org/pages/projects.aspx?pid=4319). Address critical interdependencies, particularly preparing for electrical power outages. Water and wastewater systems must have emergency electrical generators capable of powering their systems, with adequate initial fuel supplies and plans to be able to obtain additional fuel. They should also have emergency plans for chemicals and other critical resources. Develop crisis communications plans (CCPs). CCPs need to be prepared in advance for communications with employees, customers, and other external stakeholders. A good CCP designates a primary spokesperson for the utility, a public information officer for coordinating communications and prepared messages that may be needed. Join your state water/wastewater agency response network (WARN). WARN helps water and wastewater systems obtain help from or provide help to other water and wastewater systems in a disaster. WARN networks have been activated across the United States to provide mutual aid and assistance following several disasters. WARN information and guidance can be obtained at water-knowledge/emergency-preparedness/waterwastewater-agency-response-network.aspx. JOURNAL AWWA SEPTEMBER

5 Help utility employees and their families prepare. Employees are a utility s most valuable and most vulnerable resource. Their value to the utility and ability to perform in a disaster are directly proportional to the security of their families. By helping employees and their families prepare for disasters, utilities ensure that the employees will be more available and valuable when an incident strikes. Examples of support that can be provided for employees preparedness include 0 training and specialized equipment for their potential roles following disasters, 0 guidance for their preparations for their families, 0 emergency kits, 0 discounted emergency kits for families, 0 family shelters, 0 counseling following major disasters and incidents, and 0 assistance with insurance-claims coordination following damaging incidents. Training and exercise. Plans are only as good as the training and exercises provided for those plans. The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) identifies seven levels of exercises from relatively simple discussion-based exercises, such as seminars and workshops, to more sophisticated exercises, such as tabletop exercises and games, to operations-based exercises, such as full-scale exercises. All forms of exercises can be valuable to 0 train employees in plans and their roles in those plans, 0 exercise and refine the plans, 0 become familiar with available resources and identify gaps in resources, and 0 become familiar with the personnel and resources of other agencies. Additional guidance can be found in the AWWA Standard G430-09, Security Practices for Operation and Management ( aspx?productid=6929) and G440-11, Emergency Preparedness Practices ( aspx?productid=28052). Jack Moyer is national water security and preparedness technology director for URS Corp. in Raleigh, N.C. He specializes in emergency preparedness planning for water sector agencies and organizations. He can be contacted at jack.moyer@urs.com SEPTEMBER 2013 JOURNAL AWWA