Transcript a presentation on the hurricane response

Response and Recovery from
Superstorm Sandy
FWQA February Luncheon
Rich Weisman, EPA Office of Water
David Goldbloom-Helzner, EPA Office of Water
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Hurricane
Sandy
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Source: NOAA, Oct 29, 2012
Hurricane Sandy –
Press Coverage
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Hurricane Sandy –
Press Coverage
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Timeline Response and Recovery
Hurricane Sandy
Oct 29
October
2012
February
Nor’Easter
Nov 7
2013
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1. Water Sector
Response
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Impacts
• Water and Wastewater Utility Impacts
– Damaged/flooded equipment, loss of power, limited
fuel supply for generators, salt water inundation
• Public Health & Environmental Impacts
– Boil water orders, disrupted water service or low water
pressure
– Release of untreated or partially
treated wastewater
• Reduced water for hospitals &
firefighting
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Hurricane Sandy
– Impacts
Hoboken, NJ
Breezy Point, NY
Aquinnah,
MA
Source: FEMA
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Water Sector Impacts in NJ/NY
Impacts in New Jersey
Impacts in New York
Drinking Water
 42 CWS failed generators or short of fuel
 35 CWS had boil water/do not use order
 362,000 population impacted
Drinking Water
 62 CWS had boil water/do not use
notices
 1,432,000 population impacted
Wastewater *
 12 systems not operational
 2 major systems (PVSC and MCWA)
substantial impacts
Wastewater**
 20 utilities reduced capacity,
treatment capability, loss of power
 2 major systems (Yonkers and Bay
Park) substantial impacts
* as of December 6.
**as of November 21
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Rockaway NY - Inundation of Municipal and Industrial WWTP
JFK Airport
Map from NYS 2100 Commission:
Recommendations to Improve the
Strength and Resilience of the
Empire State’s Infrastructure
Legend:
Municipal WWTP
Industrial WWTP
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• Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission
– 5th largest WWTP in US
– Substantial damage/impact
•
•
•
•
Sludge remove – biggest issue
USACE dewater
EPA Power washing
No secondary treat for most Nov.
• Middlesex County Utility Authority
– Serves 800,000
– Equipment Disabled
• 2 of 3 pump stations down/bypass
• EPA divers install gate to prevent wastewater from entering
damaged pump station
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Water Sector Response
– Utility Response
• Repair/replace, restoration, advisories
– WARN response
• Provided generators, pumps, fuel,
chlorination equip., tech assistance
– State/Local Response
• Assessments, public health advisories, water delivery
– Federal Response
• EPA: Region 2 staff at JFO, assist PVSC & MCUA, assess utilities
• USACE: Utility assessments, dewatering, generator supply
• FEMA: Public Assistance, fuel delivery, mitigation assistance team
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Hurricane Sandy –
Water Response
Rockaway, NY
Source: FEMA
Beach Haven, NJ
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EPA Web Site –
www.epa.gov/sandy
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WARN Activities
• Daily WARN calls pre and post Sandy
• NYWARN and PAWARN supported impacted utilities
– Under PAWARN, Erie Water Works provided 150kW
generator to Lehigh County Authority (without power)
• A New Jersey EMAC request for generators was
supported by WARN
– DC Water provided a 300kW generator to Long Beach
Island, NJ
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2. Water Sector
Recovery
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National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF)
– Recovery Support Functions (RSF)
– Infrastructure RSF
• Coordinating Agency: USACE
• Primary Agencies: USACE, DHS (FEMA & NPPD), DOE, DOT
• Support Agencies: HUD, HHS, EPA, DOI, FCC, TVA, GSA,
NRC, DOC, DOD,Treas, SDA, Educ, USDA
http://www.fema.gov/recoveryframework
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Activities under NDRF
• Recovery Team established at NY/NJ JFOs
– Assigned Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinators
– Activate all RSFs with Federal/state representatives
– Infrastructure Systems RSF prepared
Mission Scoping Assessments (MSAs)
– Draft Recovery Support Strategy
for each state
– EPA Federal Funding for Utilities
(Fed FUNDS)
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Hurricane Sandy Task Force (TF)
• Executive Order (EO) Establishes TF (issued 12/7/12)
– Chaired by HUD Secretary; includes Agency Principals
– Develops recovery strategy and national policy questions
– Disbands 60 days after activation (4/6/13)
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Supplemental Funding for Recovery
• Legislation signed January 30
• State Revolving Funds (SRF)
– Drinking Water $100M
– Wastewater $500M
• Allocation of supplemental SRF funding would go
to NY/NJ with impacted utilities
• Supplemental Funds targeted for eligible projects
that reduce flood risk or enhance resiliency
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Take Home Message from Sandy
• Reinforces Benefits of Preparedness
• Resiliency of Power/Water Nexus
• Test Case for Recovery Process
• Use of EPA Water Security Website
– http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/
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