Hurricane Season is Here!

Emergency Preparedness for Water Utilities

Hurricane season is underway. Strengthen your utility’s readiness with these free EPA resources.

Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network

Make sure your utility is part of a mutual aid network, like a Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN), where utilities help utilities in your state. Visit EPA’s Mutual Aid and Assistance for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities web page to find state WARN websites, videos, fact sheets, and a recorded webinar on mutual aid.

Incident Action Checklist for Hurricanes

Complement your emergency response plan with EPA’s Hurricane Incident Action Checklist (IAC), which was developed by utility experts to help utilities prepare, respond, and recover from hurricanes. Checklists for other hazards, including wildfires and contamination, are as available.

Water Utility Response on-the-Go Plus

Get the app that water utility operators and responders use to get weather warnings, contact emergency responders, complete incident-specific checklists (for hurricanes) and assess damage with forms and photo attachments. Search “EPA Response On‑The‑Go Plus” in the Apple App Store or Google Play. Install and you are ready to go!

EPA Natural Hazard Technical Assistance

Improve hurricane preparedness by working with EPA’s Strengthening Water Infrastructure for Tomorrow (SWIFT) technical assistance program. SWIFT helps utilities assess risks and identify mitigation strategies, supporting risk-informed infrastructure investment decisions and updates to emergency response plans. Request assistance by contacting SWIFT.

Disaster and Mitigation Funding for Utilities

For funding related to emergency response, EPA’s Fed FUNDS presents information tailored to water and wastewater utilities on federal disaster and mitigation funding programs from EPA, FEMA, HUD and SBA. Use the Search for the Right Funding tool to find funding for your utility before disaster strikes.