disaster recovery: how to recover from the worst-case scenario

MSA PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Disaster RecoveryHOW TO RECOVER FROM THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO


NICK WAGNER, PE GREG CROWE, AICPOFFICE MANAGER CLIENT SERVICE MANAGER


Outline• What is a Disaster?

• Disaster – Lake Delton, WI

• Disaster – Elkader, IA

• Disaster – Gifford, IL

• Disaster – Eureka, IL

• Operator’s Role in:◦ Preparation and Immediate Response◦ Recovery and Prevention

• Key Takeaways


What is a Disaster?Per Merriam-Webster:

◦ Something that happens suddenly and causes much suffering or loss to many people

◦ Something that has a very bad effect or result

◦ A complete or terrible failure


What is a Disaster?• Tornado

• Flood

• Earthquake

• Snow/Ice Storm

• Fire

• Gas Leak

• Terrorism

• Social Unrest

• Chemical, Biological or Radiological threat

• Data Loss

• Computer System Failure

• Cyber Attack

• Injury or Loss of Life


What is a Disaster?• To think like a water/wastewater operator:

◦ You are the keeper of the most important infrastructure your community owns

◦ Your infrastructure is critical to any and all other types of recovery efforts

◦ Your systems should be a top priority in any disaster

◦ All of this means that you should have a plan and contingencies for your system


The Lake Delton Flood


Lake Delton - The areaWHERE IS IT? WHAT IS IT LIKE?

• TripAdvisors Ranks the Dells - #3 Family Destination in the World! (May 2010)

• Wisconsin Dells/Lake Delton serves 3.1 million tourists a year

• “The Waterpark Capital of the World!®”

• Over $1 billion in tourism revenue annually


Lake Delton - The areaLake Delton prior to the flood


Lake Delton - The storm 13 inches of rain fell in three days


Lake Delton - The storm


The situation


Lake Delton - The situation



• State Trunk Highway A Breached

• Lake Drained

• Failed sewer main

• Failed water main



• Sewage Pump Station #1 isolated

• Natural Gas turned off

• Diesel Generator◦ Keeping it full


The situation• Prompt Response

temporary sewer bypass

• Water System Isolation


Lake Delton - Help!• Federal Highway Administration

• Nature Resources Conservation Service

• Federal Emergency Management Agency

• Community Development Block Grant

• Local TIF/TID amendments

• Local and State Politian's

• Governor's Office

• State agencies, Engineers and Contractors


Elkader - The areaWHERE IS IT? WHAT IS IT LIKE?

• County Seat

• Turkey River◦ One of three trout streams in the

state

• Historic Riverfront


The Elkader Flood


Elkader - The stormRecurring rainfall events in sequence


The situation


Elkader - The situation Lost water and sewer service for the entire community

Required to install water main under river

◦ Within one week◦ Allowed direct

procurement

Lost sewer service for 3 months; Got an exception permit while reestablished sewer service


Elkader – The situation◦ Was able to get reimbursed from FEMA for City’s own time and materials –

NEED GOOD DOCUMENTATION!

◦ City had a Hazard Mitigation Plan in place, which qualified them for additional funding – GET YOURS STARTED!


Elkader - Help!• Iowa Department Nature Resources

• Rural Development

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• Community Development Block Grant

• Local TIF Funding

• Local and State Politian's

• Governor's Office



The Gifford Tornado

GIFFORD TORNADO - Photo courtesy of the News-Gazette.


Gifford - The areaWHERE IS IT? WHAT IS IT LIKE?

• “America’s Hometown”

• Bedroom community of Rantoul and Champaign/Urbana

• Agriculture based community


Gifford - The situationWater Treatment Plant

Water TowerVillage Hall


Gifford - The situation

GIFFORD TORNADO – Photos are courtesy of the News-Gazette.


Gifford - The situation


Gifford - The situation• Damage to existing water

tower◦ Needed temporary

repairs, then complete replacement

• Water plant completely destroyed

• Insurance played a large role in addition to aid


Gifford - Help!• USDA – Emergency Community Water

Assistance

• AmeriCares

• Illinois DOT

• IL Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

• Federal Emergency Management Agency

• Insurance – IML Risk Management Association

• Local and State Politician's



Eureka Flooding – Hurricane Ike


Eureka- The areaWHERE IS IT? WHAT IS IT LIKE?

• Independent inviting community of 5,000 plus residents

• Bedroom community of Peoria and Bloomington/Normal

• County seat of Woodford County

• Home to Eureka College – Ronald Reagan Alumnus


Eureka- The situation


Eureka- Help!• Federal Emergency Management Agency

• Insurance – IML Risk Management Association

• Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity


Eureka – Prevention


Eureka – PreventionStormwater Utility – Revenue Source for Needed Improvements


Operator’s Role – Preparation and Prevention• No one knows the system like you do

• Have key contact list – local staff, community leaders, neighboring operators, contractors, suppliers, IEPA/IDOT local reps

• Have a plan:◦ Emergency Response Plan◦ Hazard Mitigation Plan◦ Do you have the proper safety equipment?◦ Many online resources

• Practice the plan, and review it regularly

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help


Operator’s Role – Preparation and Prevention• Keep your documents in order

• GPS Mapping/GIS System

• Infrastructure Plans◦ Capital Improvement Plan◦ Stormwater Management Planning◦ Inflow and Infiltration Studies◦ Capacity, Management, Operation, and Maintenance (CMOM)◦ Wastewater and Water Plant Operations Manuals (and pump stations, wells,

water tower)

• A good first step: List emergency contacts, and the first 3-5 steps for ‘typical’ disasters in your region.


Operator’s Role –Immediate Response• Use the plan

• Take time to stop and think

• Keep your community leaders informed

• Who is your scribe? Notes, photos, invoices, timesheets, etc.◦ This is very important!◦ Immediate and long-term

needs (think decades)

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help


Operator’s Role Response – Recovery• Document, Document, Document

• Engage funding experts to navigate all the funding options:◦ Federal programs◦ State and Local programs◦ Insurance

• Consider hiring contractors or additional staff to help with either the emergency recovery, or the other daily items that are being neglected

• Review your plan: What worked? What didn’t?


Key TakeawaysA disaster can strike at any time: are you ready?

You are the keeper of the most important infrastructure your community owns

Have a plan and practice the plan

Document everything!

Ask for help


Questions?

Greg Crowe, AICPClient Service [email protected]

(217) 531-4970

Nick Wagner, PEOffice Manager

[email protected](563) 424-3693

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

disaster recovery: how to recover from the worst-case scenario

Engineering