Emergency Services Sector
Drinking water and wastewater utilities can work together with their local emergency management agencies (EMAs), organizations responsible for coordinating and managing emergency response efforts within a geographic area, to prepare for water emergencies. Explore the tools and resources below to learn how to facilitate coordination between water and wastewater utilities and local EMAs.
Collaboration between Water Utilities and Emergency Management Agencies
To collaborate effectively, take the free, online course offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coordination between Water Utilities and Emergency Management Agencies, and explore documents EPA has developed focusing on collaborative opportunities between water and emergency management personnel at the state and local level.
Learn more about partnering with Emergency Management Agencies.
State Drinking Water Program All-Hazard Preparedness, Mitigation, Response and Recovery Checklist
Take action before, during and after an emergency. This checklist provides actions that state drinking water programs should consider before, during and after an emergency.
- State Drinking Water Program All-Hazards Preparedness Mitigation Response and Recovery Checklist (pdf) (233.3 KB, July 2013, 817-F-13-004)
Mutual Aid and Assistance for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities
Mutual aid and assistance networks provides water and wastewater utilities with the means to quickly obtain help in the form of personnel, equipment, materials and associated services from other utilities to restore critical operations impacted during any type of emergency, big or small.