Emergency Preparedness Planning

Emergency preparedness ensures that water systems can respond quickly and recover from emergencies such as natural disasters and spills. An up-to-date Emergency Response Plan, also known as an ERP, is essential and should be reviewed every five to ten years, with regular training and practice. Water systems are also encouraged to build strong partnerships and participate in mutual aid networks like ORWARN, which help coordinate resources and support during emergencies.

Steps to creating and updating an emergency response plan

Step 1: Perform a risk and resilience assessment for your water system.

• Review risks presented in DEQ/OHA Source Water Assessments and use local information to enhance the identified risks.
• Use tools like the EPA Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool or EPA's Small System Risk and Resilience Assessment Checklist

Step 2: Review other emergency response plans for your community.

Step 3: Coordinate with your Local Emergency Planning Committee.

• Visit the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal to access contact information, training opportunities, and programs like the Community Right to Know

Step 4: Inventory resources your community already owns or can use.

Step 5: Become familiar with the National Incident Management System.

• FEMA's National Incident Management System
• National Preparedness System

Step 6: Develop or update an emergency response plan

• Resources from EPA's Emergency Response for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities and Oregon Health Authority's Emergency Preparedness and Planning
• Flow Chart: Oregon Public Water System Emergency Communications

Step 7: Plan additional resilience

• Generate a Resilient Strategies Guide and access climate-related risks with the Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool
• Consider joining a mutual aid and assistance network