Response and Recovery from Superstorm Sandy

FWQA February LuncheonRich 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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