AbWARN.org

FAQs

August 9th, 2007 by Administrator

1. What is Mutual Aid/Assistance?

Mutual Aid/Assistance is
one utility helping another based on a written agreement
The assistance is provided across jurisdictional boundaries in the
event of a crisis or disaster

2. What is a WARN?

A Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network
(WARN) is a network of utilities helping utilities to respond to and recover
from emergencies
Participation is voluntary
There is no obligation to respond
There is no cost to participate

3. What is the purpose of a WARN?

A WARN establishes an agreement
and protocols for sharing resources among water and wastewater utilities
statewide
A WARN provides a forum for establishing and maintaining emergency
contacts
A WARN provides access to specialized resources needed to respond
to emergencies that disrupt water and/or wastewater systems
A WARN can facilitate
training that specifically focuses on the exchange of resources during
an emergency or drill

4. Why is a WARN important?

5. What does a WARN program provide a utility?

Access to specialized,
certified, and knowledgeable utility personnel
Access to heavy equipment,
tools and supplies used by utilities during normal events

6. What are the benefits of a WARN?

There is no cost to participate
WARN is like investing in a no cost insurance
policy to access resources when needed
WARN increases emergency preparedness
and coordination
WARN enhances access to specialized resources
WARN provides a single agreement
to access resources
WARN expedites arrival of aid (don’t have to work
out the administrative items; the agreements and WARN protocols work them
out in advance for you)
WARN agreement contains indemnification and worker’s
compensation provisions to protect participating utilities and provide reimbursement
protocols

7. How does a utility get assistance during an emergency?

Currently,
each WARN system works differently depending on previous agreements
Initial
access may be made directly to other members or through an identified coordination
point
As a result of the contact, WARN members are able to match the equipment,
skilled labor, and other resources needed with resources other members have
available by querying a database, calling members, or using an internet message
board to locate those resources
Each WARN also provides facilitation in collecting
damage assessment and locating resources as needed

8. Are member utilities required to respond and send resources?

9. What happens if a utility sends resources and needs them
back?

Under no circumstances is a utility to send resources if it impacts their
ability to manage daily operations or response to its own emergency
It is
up to the lending utility to determine what resources to send
Resources remain
under the authority of the sending utility, and as such can be recalled
any time

10. What happens if equipment on loan is damaged or stolen?

This
may depend on your state’s mutual aid/assistance agreement;
the lending utility is typically responsible to have insurance in case this
happens

11. Who should be involved in helping develop a WARN?

Utility
owner/operators
Professional association representation
State water and wastewater primacy
agency (State health, environmental protection, etc.)
State emergency management
and/or homeland security agency

12. What help is available to form a WARN?

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