Emergency Response Planning
Emergency Response Planning - Now With Additional Useful Tools
Emergency Response Planning
Varius believes that every AWIA mandated Risk and Resiliency Assessment (RRA) and Emergency Response Plan (ERP) is an opportunity to make a significant improvement in the ability of modern water and sewer utilities to improve their risk and resilience and minimize impacts to customers during and after an emergency. Recent technological advances can now be adapted to, and applied in, municipal utilities and they are a game-changer, resulting in meaningful improvements in preparedness and the ability to weather and adapt to a crisis.
Varius is uniquely qualified to complete your Risk and Resiliency Assessment (RRA) and Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and has, in fact, designed the entire company around utility emergency response planning and preparation. We are the only northwest consultant to offer an earthquake early warning system that is licensed by USGS. We are the only company that has the ability to leverage what we have learned from our earthquake early warning systems to be able to significantly reduce the cost (sometimes by more than half) of a Risk and Resiliency Assessment. And we are the only company offering a smart-phone application that brings your emergency response plan to your smart device or mobile phone and can automatically detect facility damage during and after an emergency… you will have the ability to get instantaneous updates on your mobile device regarding where your staff is and who needs help, which facilities are operational and which are damaged, and how you can most efficiently return the utility to an efficient operational status.
Varius has developed specialized software tools to complete your RRA efficiently and with accountability.
Varius believes that the most effective RRA and ERP updates are a collaboration between Varius (who has specialized knowledge regarding the threats and impacts of various emergencies) and your staff (who will have specialized knowledge about the operation and response of the utility to various situations and actions). “Reliability and Resilience” is a Mission/Goal driven function for nearly every water system. We understand that in order for your proposed project to be truly beneficial to the utility, a collaborative partnership approach is needed between Varius and the Utility staff.
The AWIA does not require water systems to use any specific or designated standards or methodologies for the completion of the work, however, the water system is responsible for ensuring that the RRA and ERP fully address all AWIA requirements. Varius recommends using AWWA J100 (Risk and Resilience Management for Water and Wastewater Systems), AWWA M19 (Emergency Planning for Water and Wastewater Utilities) and supplemental AWWA standards G430-14 and G440-17 for assistance and compliance. These standards have been developed by AWWA and, if followed, will ensure that the water system meets the requirements of AWIA.