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Response and Recovery from Superstorm Sandy. FWQA February Luncheon Rich Weisman, EPA Office of Water David Goldbloom-Helzner, EPA Office of Water. Hurricane Sandy. Source: NOAA, Oct 29, 2012. Hurricane Sandy – Press Coverage. Hurricane Sandy – Press Coverage.
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Response and Recovery from Superstorm Sandy FWQA February Luncheon Rich Weisman, EPA Office of Water David Goldbloom-Helzner, EPA Office of Water
Hurricane Sandy Source: NOAA, Oct 29, 2012
Timeline Response and Recovery Hurricane Sandy Oct 29 October February 2013 2012 Nor’Easter Nov 7
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
Hurricane Sandy – Impacts Hoboken, NJ Breezy Point, NY Aquinnah, MA
Rockaway NY - Inundation of Municipal and Industrial WWTP Map from NYS 2100 Commission: Recommendations to Improve the Strength and Resilience of the Empire State’s Infrastructure Legend: Municipal WWTP Industrial WWTP
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
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
Hurricane Sandy – Water Response Rockaway, NY Beach Haven, NJ
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
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
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)
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)
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
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/