the perfect storm: tabletop exercise for the water laboratory alliance security summit october 22,...

The Perfect Storm:Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance

Security Summit

October 22, 2009Philadelphia, PA

• 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

• Clarify roles and responsibilities

• Identify planning conflicts or gaps

• Identify resource needs and opportunities for resource sharing


Exercise Objectives

At 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 The Perfect Storm: Tabletop Exercise for the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit 6

Highlighted Tools and Resources

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

• Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT)

• National Environmental Methods Index for Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Contaminants (NEMI-CBR)

• Lab Compendium (CETL)

• Sampling Guidance for Unknown Contaminants

• Standardized Analytical Methods (SAM)

• Reimbursement Tips for Emergency Laboratory Support

• Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN)


• 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


• There is no single solution

• Varying viewpoints, even disagreements 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 Smithsville, VA and Bernardian, MD

• In Smithsville, the tornado derails six tanker cars containing mevinphos and sodium thiosulfate, depositing them into the Reeksalot River

• The main source water intake for Smithsville is downstream of the tanker car incident

• In Bernardian, the tornado destroys a large poultry processing plant, discharging two million gallons of untreated wastewater into a tributary of the Reeksalot River

• Water from the tributary (downstream of poultry plant) and Reeksalot River (downstream of tanker cars) are combined and stored in the Bernardian reservoir

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 Mason-Dixon Water Cooperative (MDWC), which provides drinking water to Smithsville and Bernardian, struggles to connect backup generators and provide sufficient water pressure to support fire fighting efforts

•HazMat crews dispatch to the local poultry processing plant and the tanker car derailment to assess the situation

Background Scenario (cont)



Day 2, morning and afternoon

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

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

•The reservoir supplying Bernardian 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


Day 2, morning and afternoon

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

• The MDWC works to:

– 1) isolate potential contamination sources

– 2) assess overall system damage

– 3) initiate water sampling and field testing throughout the distribution system

– 4) provide alternate source water from neighboring systems



Scenario Part 1

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 Mason-Dixon Water Cooperative (MDWC) of the threat.

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


Scenario Part 2

Day 2, morning:

The MDWC emergency manager receives the following information from his lab manager:

1) The utility lab has no power

2) They are working on obtaining generators

3) Key lab staff’s homes were destroyed and

they are not available for work.


Day 2, morning: MDWC and HazMat continue field testing and sampling at the Bernardian and Smithsville sites. The state drinking water authorities have been contacted.

The VA State Lab has no power. MDWC contacts the MD State Environmental Lab to determine if they can provide analytical support.

Scenario Part 3


Scenario Part 4

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

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


Scenario Part 5

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

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


Scenario Part 6

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

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


Scenario Part 7

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

What additional notifications should be made?


Scenario Part 8

Day 2, afternoon: Because the tornado has impacted two states, the VA State Lab is out of commission, and drinking water supplies in VA and MD are threatened, the Incident Commander contacts EPA Region 3 for assistance.

EPA Region 3 provides assistance to the Environmental Unit set up by the Incident Command.


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


Scenario Part 10

Day 4, morning: MDWC and HazMat continue to collect samples from the river, 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: Due to capacity concerns, the EU makes arrangements with the Liberty Bell (MSL), Franklin (MSL), and Independence Labs (MSL) to receive and analyze samples.

Samples are shipped to the

appropriate labs.


Scenario Part 12

Day 4, morning: The State Environmental Lab (MSL) reports total coliform positive results from the initial incident samples. 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 13

Day 4, morning: 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 14

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 Lab wonders if other ERLN/WLA labs can provide support.


Volker BrinkmannMax Planck Institute for Infection Biology

Berlin, Germany

Scenario Part 15

Day 5, morning: Samples shipped via priority overnight arrive at the Liberty Bell Lab (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 16

Day 5: An environmental group called Carping Today is concerned about an apparent fish kill on the Reeksalot River.

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


Scenario Part 17

Day 5: The Franklin 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 18

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


Scenario Part 19

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


Scenario Part 20

Smithsville and Bernardian 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

• NEMI-CBR

• Lab Compendium (CETL)

• SAM

• WARN

• Sampling Guidance for Unknown Contaminants

• Reimbursement Tips for Emergency Laboratory Support

the perfect storm: tabletop exercise for the water laboratory alliance security summit october 22,...

Documents

tabletop exercise

perfect storm

exercise objectives

exercise benefits

water utilities

scenario exercise rules

review exercise materials

laboratory response