Water-related Emergencies & Outbreaks

Disaster Preparedness: Before An Event

A single Disaster Preparedness Links page featuring the links found on all three pages within the Disaster Preparedness Toolkit (links for Before An Event, After An Event, and Disaster Preparedness Training) is also available.

Drinking Water

Drinking Water During an Emergency

Emergency Water Supply Planning Guide for Hospitals and Health Care Facilities (CDC, AWWA). Guidance to help health care facilities prepare for, respond to, and recover from a total or partial interruption of the facilities’ normal water supply

When Every Drop Counts: Protecting Public Health During Drought Conditions (CDC). Guidance for public health professionals on how to prepare for and respond to drought conditions in their communities.
Personal Water Use - Safe Drinking Water in Emergencies (CDC). Information on creating a water, sanitation, and hygiene-related disaster kit and planning for finding, treating, and storing safe water
- Disaster Supplies Kit (CDC). Full CDC guidance on creating a disaster supply kit
Drinking Water: Immunocompromised Persons and Other Vulnerable Groups (CDC). Information on drinking water, illness, and safe water for immunocompromised persons and other vulnerable groups
Water (Preparing for a Disaster) (FEMA). Document on bottled water storage and preparing/storing home containers of water

Inspecting and Disinfecting Wells

What To Do With Drinking Water Wells Before and After an Emergency (CDC)

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Hygiene and Sanitation

Sewage and Septic Systems

What To Do With Septic Systems Before and After an Emergency (CDC)

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Disaster Preparedness Planning and Water

Water Security (CDC). Links to information on planning for the protection of water supplies and responding to contamination threats and incidents.
Water Security (EPA). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Emergency/Incident Planning enables responders from a variety of jurisdictions to work together effectively when responding to an emergency.
- Vulnerability Assessments. Tools and training to aid water utilities in assessing their vulnerabilities to adversarial actions.
- Emergency/Incident Planning. Tools and training to help water utilities develop a plan to respond to emergencies.
- Security Enhancements, Research and Technology. Latest scientific advances to protect drinking water and wastewater systems.
- Emergency Response Plan Guidance for Small and Medium Community Water Systems [PDF - 45 pages]
- Tools and Technical Assistance
  - Water Contaminant Information Tool. A secure, online database developed by the U.S. EPA that provides information on contaminants of concern for water security. As a planning tool, WCIT can be used to help create and update emergency response plans and site-specific response guidelines. As a response tool, WCIT can be used to provide real-time data on water contaminants to help utilities make decisions if contamination occurs.
  - Emergency Response Tabletop CD-ROM Exercises for Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems. Exercises to train water and wastewater utility workers and health officials in preparing and carrying out emergency response plans.
National Response Framework [PDF - 90 pages] (FEMA). An extensive consultation guidebook for practitioners and policymakers at all levels. The guidebook includes operational planning for specific types of incidents.