Post on 17-Dec-2015
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
2Source: NOAA, Oct 29, 2012
Hurricane Sandy – Press Coverage
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Hurricane Sandy – Press Coverage
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Timeline Response and Recovery
October February
Hurricane Sandy Oct 29
Nor’EasterNov 7
2012 2013
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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Source: FEMA 8
Hoboken, NJ
Aquinnah, MA
Breezy Point, NY
Hurricane Sandy – Impacts
4* as of December 6.**as of November 21
Impacts in New York
Drinking Water 62 CWS had boil water/do not use
notices 1,432,000 population impacted
Wastewater** 20 utilities reduced capacity,
treatment capability, loss of power 2 major systems (Yonkers and Bay
Park) substantial impacts
Impacts in New Jersey
Drinking Water 42 CWS failed generators or short of fuel 35 CWS had boil water/do not use order 362,000 population impacted
Wastewater * 12 systems not operational 2 major systems (PVSC and MCWA)
substantial impacts
Water Sector Impacts in NJ/NY
Rockaway NY - Inundation of Municipal and Industrial WWTP
Legend: Municipal WWTP Industrial WWTP
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Map from NYS 2100 Commission: Recommendations to Improve the Strength and Resilience of the Empire State’s Infrastructure
JFK Airport
• 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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Source: FEMA 13
Hurricane Sandy – Water Response
Rockaway, NY Beach Haven, NJ
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
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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