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WV Water/Wastewater
Agency
Response
Network in the Works
West Virginia is joining
the ranks of other states across the country in implementing WARN (Water
(and) Wastewater Agency Response Network). A fundamental Steering
Committee (which is open for expansion) has been meeting to develop the
WV WARN program. WV WARN will provide a way for public and private water
and wastewater utilities to quickly receive and provide aid and
assistance to one another during times of a disaster or emergency.
Membership in WARN is voluntary, free, and provides for making help
available to the participants in all kinds of emergency situations or
disasters.
Utilities can be
proactive in emergency and disaster recovery planning by signing a Mutual
Aid and Assistance agreement that defines the terms and conditions under
which assistance can be requested and provided. By having a signed
agreement in place to reduce administrative conflict, utilities in the
network will be better prepared for handling situations rapidly and
efficiently while sharing resources.
Participants will be able
to access a database of personnel, equipment, materials and other
associated service that can potentially be made available to them in
their time of need. According to WV WARN Steering Committee Chairperson
Bonnie Serrett, “WV WARN is for all water and wastewater utilities no
matter what size, large or small. Every system has something they can
contribute in an emergency.”
The initiative supporting
the development of WARNs is based on a joint policy statement by 8 major
water organizations (AWWA, NRWA, AMWA, NACWA, NAWC, ASIWPCA, ASDWA, WEF)
endorsing the AWWA white paper
Utilities Helping Utilities: An Action Plan for Mutual Aid and Assistance
Networks for Water and Wastewater Utilities. This white
paper provides the framework and guidance to start a mutual aid and
assistance network.
Several states now have
an active WARN. Check out other state WARN initiatives such as
FlaWARN,
CalWARN, and TXWARN. (Watch for our
WV WARN website now being developed.)
To learn more about WV
WARN click on the link below.
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