the perfect storm: tabletop exercise for the water laboratory alliance security summit

The Perfect Storm:Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance

Security Summit

March 22, 2012Nashville, TN

• Name• Organization

Welcome & Introductions

The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 2

• Review exercise materials and rules

• Review background scenario

• Facilitated discussion period

• Hot wash

• Review and conclusion

Agenda


• Location of emergency exits

• Location of restrooms

• Cell phone management

Administrative Details


Exercise Benefits• Increase readiness to respond to

an actual emergency• Assess effectiveness of response

plans and response capabilities• Practice skills and improve

performance in a non-threatening environment

• Develop a better understanding of roles and responsibilities

• Identify resource needs and opportunities for resource sharing


Exercise ObjectivesAt the conclusion of this exercise, participants should be able to do the following:

• Describe key elements of the Water Laboratory Alliance Response Plan (WLA-RP) and how the WLA-RP fits into other laboratory response networks

• Describe the role that laboratories and others play in an emergency response

• Identify EPA Water Security tools

• Build relationships between water utilities, state laboratories and stakeholders


• Participants respond to the situation presented based on expert knowledge of response procedures, current plans and procedures, and insights derived from training and experience

• Facilitators lead the exercise by presenting the background scenario and facilitating the discussion period and hot wash

Roles & Responsibilities


Highlighted Tools and Resources

The following EPA Water Security Tools and Resources will be highlighted during the Tabletop:

• Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT)• Lab Compendium (CETL)• Sampling Guidance for Unknown Contaminants• Standardized Analytical Methods (SAM)• Reimbursement Tips for Emergency Laboratory

Support• Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network

(WARN)• Web-based Electronic Data Review (WebEDR)


• There is no single solution • Varying viewpoints are expected • Dialogue encouraged within a safe,

open, stress-free environment• Respond based on your knowledge • All information required to drive

discussion during tabletop is contained in exercise material

• Treat the scenario as if it might affect your area - don’t “fight” the scenario

Exercise Rules


Hot Wash Session• Following the facilitated discussion

period, there will be a “hot wash” or review session

• Participants are encouraged to identify the areas or issues that were of greatest interest to them

• Identify what additional support is needed for laboratory emergency response


Day 1, 10:00 PM

• A tornado devastates the communities of Wynette and Nelsonville

• In Nelsonville, the tornado derails six tanker cars containing mevinphos and sodium thiosulfate, depositing them into the Conway River just upstream of the main source water intake for Nelsonville

• In Wynette, the tornado destroys a large poultry processing plant, discharging two million gallons of untreated wastewater into Haggard Creek

• Water from the Haggard Creek (downstream of poultry plant) and the Conway River (downstream of tanker cars) are combined and stored in the H. Williams Sr. Reservoir which provides water to the town of Wynette

Background Scenario


Day 1, night and Day 2, morning

• The tornado knocks out power to the region and causes several large industrial fires

• Emergency response efforts for the first 18 hours focus on fire fighting and rescue activities

• The Carter-Cash Water Cooperative (CCWC), which provides drinking water to Nelsonville and Wynette, struggles to connect backup generators and provide sufficient water pressure to support fire fighting efforts

• Both cities’ public health departments issue “do not drink” notices. There are problems notifying residents due to power outages

Background Scenario (cont)


Scenario Part 1Day 2, morning and afternoon

• Normal distribution, on-line monitoring, and treatment of drinking water are severely compromised

• The main distribution system supplying Nelsonville is contaminated with mevinphos and sodium thiosulfate

• The reservoir supplying Wynette is contaminated with mevinphos, sodium thiosulfate, and untreated waste from the poultry processing plant

• Fire fighting drains the distribution system of treated pre-incident water, rapidly replacing the supply with contaminated water


Scenario Part 2

Day 2, morning: State HazMat crews detect organophosphate contamination in the river water engulfing the ruptured rail tankers. The HazMat team notifies the state emergency manager and the Carter-Cash Water Cooperative (CCWC) of the threat.

Field testing of finished water indicates decreased chlorine residuals and increased turbidity and conductivity.


Scenario Part 3

Day 2, morning: The CCWC emergency manager receives the following information from his lab manager:

1) The utility lab has no power2) They are working on obtaining generators3) Key lab staff’s homes were destroyed and they are not available for work.


Day 2, morning: CCWC and HazMat continue field testing and sampling at the Wynette and Nelsonville sites. The state drinking water authorities have been contacted.

CCWC contacts the State Environmental Lab to determine if they can provide analytical support.

Scenario Part 4


Scenario Part 5

Day 2, early afternoon: The State Environmental Lab (PRL) agrees to provide analytical support to CCWC.

The CCWC utility emergency manager (ASR) provides an overview of the situation to the State Lab.


Scenario Part 6

Day 2, afternoon: The State Environmental Lab (PRL) rallies their staff to prepare for the arrival of the Nelsonville and Wynette samples.

The lab discusses what steps can be taken to facilitate communication and coordination during the response.


Scenario Part 7

Day 2, afternoon: Raw and finished water samples are collected from sites in Nelsonville and Wynette.

The State Environmental Lab (PRL) works with the CCWC utility manager (ASR) to develop a strategy for sample analysis.


Scenario Part 8

Day 2, afternoon: The CCWC utility emergency manager (ASR) has already contacted their state regulatory authorities.

What additional notifications should be made?


Scenario Part 9

Day 3, morning: Cases of gastrointestinal illness that may be related to drinking water contamination have been reported by the local hospital.

The CCWC needs analytical results as soon as possible to make decisions on additional treatment, boil water notices, etc.


Scenario Part 10

Day 4, morning: CCWC and HazMat continue to collect samples from the rivers, the reservoir, and the drinking water distribution systems of both towns.

The State Environmental Lab (PRL) is overwhelmed with incident and routine samples and requests additional laboratory support.


Scenario Part 11

Day 4, morning: The CCWC is overwhelmed trying to get their system back online and address multiple contamination issues. Local and state resources are stretched thin. The Incident Commander contacts EPA Region 4 for assistance.

EPA Region 4 provides assistance to the Environmental Unit set up by the Incident Command.


Laboratory coordination within the Incident Command System (ICS)

Operations Logistics Planning Finance

MSL MSL

Environmental Unit

Incident Commander (IC)

MSL MSL

PRL

ASR

Transfer of Coordination

Initial CoordinationStructure

Expanded Coordination Structure

24

Laboratory Coordination

Scenario Part 12

Day 4, morning: Due to capacity concerns, the EU makes arrangements with the Jennings (MSL), Cline (MSL), and McEntire Labs (MSL) to receive and analyze samples.

Samples are shipped to the appropriate labs.


Scenario Part 13

Day 4, morning: The State Environmental Lab (MSL) reports total coliform positive results from the initial incident samples from the reservoir. Results also confirm the presence of mevinphos.

Sodium thiosulfate is identified as the cause of the reduced chlorine residual in the distribution system, thus creating a growth environment for bacteria.


Scenario Part 14

Day 4, afternoon: The State Public Health Lab detects Salmonella in all clinical specimens received from sick patients.

The State Public Health Lab contacts the State Environmental Lab (MSL) to inform them of their findings and to obtain any information relevant to patient care.


Scenario Part 15

Day 4, afternoon: The State Environmental Lab (MSL) does not have the ability to test for Salmonella.

The State Public Health Lab doesn’t have experience analyzing water samples, and they are overwhelmed with patient samples.

As part of the WLA, the State Public Health Lab wonders if other ERLN/WLA labs can provide support.


Volker BrinkmannMax Planck Institute for Infection Biology

Berlin, Germany

Scenario Part 16

Day 4, afternoon: Using the Laboratory Compendium, the EU has identified several WLA laboratories that could potentially provide analytical support.

The EU contacts the laboratories to determine if they can provide the support required.


Scenario Part 17

Day 5, morning: Samples shipped via priority overnight arrive at Cline Laboratories (MSL). The lab discovers there are several problems.

Not all samples are listed on the chain-of-custody form and some samples exceed the method-specified sample shipping and storage temperatures.


Scenario Part 18

Day 5: An environmental group called the American Noodlers Association is concerned about an apparent fish kill on the Conway River.

Calls are also being received from drinking water utilities downstream about potential risk to their systems.


Scenario Part 19

Day 5: The Jennings Lab (MSL) has run out of the required calibration standard.

They will not be able to obtain additional standard from the supplier for three days.


Scenario Part 20

Day 5: The McEntire Lab (MSL) has completed their analyses and would like reimbursement.


Scenario Part 21

Day 6: Cline Labs (MSL) has completed their sample analyses for mevinphos and Salmonella and would like to dispose of the remaining sample volumes.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/aphexed/3547870506/

Scenario Part 22

Wynette and Nelsonville have initiated additional chlorination at their treatment plants and flushed their distribution systems. Additional testing finds no contamination.

The incident is over, the ICS resources are demobilized, and the laboratories have reported data to all of the required parties and disposed of their samples as instructed.


• What new insights did you gain from our session?

• Based on this session, what actions do you plan on taking to refine your own plans, policies, or procedures?

• What did you find most useful about this session?

• How could we have improved today’s session?

Hot wash


The WLA-RP provides guidance for large and small incidents for the following key areas:

WLA Plan Highlights


• Roles and responsibilities• Communications and logistics• QA/QC• Sample collection and transport• Sample analysis• Data review and reporting

The following are available to assist with laboratory response during a water contamination incident:

Water Sector Tools and Resources


• WCIT• Lab Compendium (CETL)• SAM• WARN• Sampling Guidance for Unknown

Contaminants• Reimbursement Tips for Emergency

Laboratory Support• WebEDR

the perfect storm: tabletop exercise for the water laboratory alliance security summit

Documents

tabletop exercise

laboratory coordination

exercise objectivesat

water utilities

aspects of emergency

existing laboratory

review exercise materials

wlarp fits