TXWARN Tabletop Exercise: Hurricane Helen July 31, 2015 Administrative Details In-studio participants and remote participants Situation manual Evaluations Training hours 1
In Studio: Welcome and Introductions Name Agency Emergency Response Experience Poll Everywhere Participation Information Text your questions into the studio audience. Participate in polls throughout the event. 2
Poll Everywhere Question What city or state are you participating from? TTX Schedule* 9:00 9:15 A.M. Welcome & introductions 9:15 9:30 A.M. TTX objectives & ground rules 9:30 10:30 A.M. Discuss scenario 10:30 10:50 A.M. Break 10:50 A.M. 12:00 P.M. Discuss scenario 12:00 12:20 P.M. Lunch Break 12:20 1:40 P.M. Discuss scenario 1:40 2:00 P.M. Break 2:00 2:40 P.M. Improvement Planning 2:40 3:00 P.M. Hot Wash/Evaluations *Times in Central Time 3
Exercise Overview Bring together key personnel to discuss a hypothetical scenario Opportunity to assess plans, policies, and procedures Discuss the roles and responsibilities of response partners All-hazards perspective Exercise Objectives (1 of 2) 1. Define or refine roles and responsibilities of response partners in regards to resource management during an incident 2. Discuss the TXWARN Operational Plan and other preparedness elements currently in place or under development 3. Identify planning gaps 4
Exercise Objectives (2 of 2) 4. Encourage interagency cooperation between TXWARN, local, county, and state emergency management 5. Reinforce the basics of the TXWARN agreement and the WARN s realistic capabilities 6. Determine if processes, tracking systems, and data systems are robust enough to support the response to a regional incident affecting the water sector Poll Everywhere Question What are your expectations for this event? 5
Exercise Structure Facilitator-led discussion Minimal simulation Informal and stress-free Success hinges on your participation and feedback Post-TTX Improvement Planning and Hotwash Exercise Rules (1 of 2) There is no single solution Varying viewpoints, even disagreements, are expected Dialogue is encouraged within a safe, open, stress-free environment Respond based on your knowledge Your organization s positions or policies do not limit you Make your best decision based on the circumstances presented 6
Exercise Rules: (2 of 2) Assume cooperation and support from other responders and agencies Basis for discussion consists of scenario narrative, your experience, understanding, and intuition All information required to drive discussion during the TTX is contained in the exercise material Treat the scenario as if it might affect your area Don t fight the scenario Roles and Responsibilities Players Actively engage in response to the situation presented Facilitator Provide situation updates via exercise injects and moderate discussions Recorder Document participant discussions 7
Improvement Planning Large group discussion to identify key discussion issues raised during the TTX (e.g., communications, resource management) Participants are encouraged to identify next steps, actions, tasks, and other follow-up activities to strengthen community preparedness and response Identify additional collaborators (if needed) Hotwash Session Participants are encouraged to share their own lessons learned from the TTX, including next steps, actions, tasks, and other follow-up activities they plan to take back to their own department or agency Identify additional collaborators (if needed) 8
Poll Everywhere Question Is your utility/agency a WARN member? Y=Yes, N=No Hurricane Helen 9
Background It has been a fairly active hurricane season Tropical Storm Bill response and recovery There is a high probability that a hurricane will make landfall on the Gulf Coast during early August 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, August 5 th The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has been tracking an area of disturbed weather that is expected to become Tropical Storm Helen and affect Cancun and the western part of Cuba. The NHC is also predicting that this system could approach the gulf coast early next week. Its projected path is not well defined and there is a lot of uncertainty. 10
5:00 P.M. Friday, August 7 th Hurricane hunters continue to monitor Tropical Storm Helen as it passes over the western tip of Cuba. Most models are in agreement that this will continue toward the gulf coast states. 5:00 P.M. Saturday, August 8 th TS Helen has strengthened into a Category 4 Hurricane with winds of 135 mph. It is expected to weaken to a Category 3 Hurricane before making landfall near Corpus Christi on Monday evening. Major threats near the coast include: Heavy rainfall Wind Rip currents Isolated tornadoes 11
1:00 P.M. Sunday, August 9 th KZTV 10 is reporting that the governor is strongly encouraging an evacuation of all coastal communities from Brownsville to Galveston. The storm is forecast to bring hurricane force winds up to 115 mph along the coastline. 4:00 P.M. Sunday, August 9 th A TXWARN member makes a pre-landfall request for generators. They are concerned that their wastewater treatment plant could lose power. 12
8:00 A.M. Monday, August 10 th Approximately 3 inches of rain has already fallen overnight from the outer bands of the hurricane. Utility personnel have called into work saying that are having problems getting around due to flooded roads. Poll Everywhere Question What types of incidents are you worried about affecting your community? 13
6:00 P.M. Monday, August 10 th Hurricane Helen, now a Category 3, makes landfall near Corpus Christi with sustained winds of 125 mph. A storm surge of 8 15 feet is expected with up to 10 inches of rain possible in coastal areas. Major Issues in the Aftermath of the Storm Emergency Management officials along the coast are reporting the following: Cell phone towers are down Landlines are unreliable Roads are washed out There are large numbers of displaced residents Widespread power outages 14
6:00 A.M. Tuesday, August 11 th Phone call from the City of Corpus Christi into TXWARN: Flooding is impacting three of our wastewater treatment plants. We may need assistance and have no internet access. 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, August 11 th The State EOC in Austin and county EOCs continue to monitor and fill requests for assistance from across the state. They want to know what resources have been provided through mutual aid, as they have been receiving requests for utility resources and do not want to duplicate efforts. 15
5:00 P.M. Tuesday, August 11 th The City of Portland has sustained major flooding and requests the following: Heavy equipment (e.g., bulldozers, backhoes) to remove debris around pump stations Repair and Startup Team Type III Wastewater Lift and Pump Station Damage Assessment Team 6:00 P.M. Tuesday, August 11 th Hurricane Helen is expected to weaken into a tropical storm before affecting the San Antonio Metro Area tomorrow. Expect heavy rain, flooding, and high winds to last throughout the night. 16
3:30 P.M. Wednesday, August 12 th Phone call to TXWARN from a member utility: Resources traveling to the coast to provide requested assistance have been stopped at a police road block. What should we do? Poll Everywhere Question What resources might your utility/community need from others during an incident? 17
6:00 A.M. Thursday, August 13 th Suppliers are telling utilities that treatment chemical and fuel deliveries will be delayed for several days due to impassable roads. Many utilities are worried that they may run out of critical resources. 7:00 A.M. Thursday, August 13 th The National Weather Service issues the following report: Tropical Depression Helen is currently affecting the Texas Hill Country Tornado watches have been issued from Austin to Dallas Rainfall totals of 15 inches are expected in some areas 18
9:00 A.M. Thursday, August 13 th The city of Alamo Heights requests 1000 feet of HDPE pipe and sampling assistance, as flooding has ruptured a water main and service is out in parts of the city. 5:00 P.M. Thursday, August 13 th FEMA has established a Joint Field Office to coordinate the federal response 19
7:00 A.M. Friday, August 14 th The SCADA system at the City of Devine wastewater treatment plant was knocked offline during a power outage. The system will not fully reboot (e.g., can t see remote stations, readings appear wrong). 8:15 A.M. Friday, August 14 th A utility must recall the resources (personnel and equipment) that they loaned out due to unrelated incidents in their jurisdiction. In some cases, those resources are still needed at the requesting utility. 20
2:00 P.M. Friday, August 14 th The Governor's office requests a detailed preliminary assessment of water sector critical infrastructure in the affected area and the likely needs of water sector utilities in the next 48 hours. How are costs being tracked at your utility? Long Term Issue Water and wastewater utilities have restored safe distribution and have lifted advisories, but there are renewed public concerns about the safety of their water supply. 21
Poll Everywhere Question What resources has your utility/community shared during an incident? Improvement Planning Session During the improvement planning session, we will discuss several questions as a large group. 22
Hotwash Session Participants are encouraged to share their own lessons learned from the TTX, including next steps, actions, tasks, and other follow-up activities they plan to take back to their own department or agency Identify additional collaborators (if needed) Poll Everywhere Question Do you have any final comments about the scenario or the event? 23
Conclusion Please fill out your online participant evaluation The information we have collected today will be used to develop an After Action Report Closing Remarks Thank you for participating 24