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TALLAHASSEE — Following the unprecedented 2004 hurricane season, the
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) secured $180,000 in funding to help
Florida’s drinking water and wastewater facilities prepare for and recover from
disasters. A web-based information network established with the federal grant is
already assisting utilities, such as those in Port St. Joe and South Walton
Beach, following the landfall of Hurricane Dennis along the Florida Panhandle.
“Using the lessons learned during from the 2004 hurricanes, water facilities
are now better prepared for storm conditions,” said DEP’s Division of Water
Resource Management Director Mimi Drew. “Thorough and thoughtful planning, along
with the sharing of resources, can minimize problems and ensure an expedited
recovery. Utilities are already seeing the benefits that new technology
provides. ”
With the $180,000 federal grant, DEP established the Florida Water/Wastewater
Agency Response Network (Florida WARN) at www.flawarn.org. The virtual
clearinghouse for water utilities facilitates the sharing of emergency
preparedness and response equipment like backup generators along with
information on mutual aid. Since most water utilities do not have the resources
to purchase, store and maintain back-up power generators for every pump station,
a mutual aid approach, like an insurance policy, helps to distribute the cost
and allows utilities to protect public health and waterways by minimizing
service interruption and more quickly bringing facilities back on line.
In the wake of last year’s hurricanes, water facilities across the state took
monumental strides to restore services. Most affected drinking water and
wastewater facilities in Florida were operational, serving customers and
protecting public health and water resources in a matter of hours or, at most, a
few days.
Last year, widespread power outages led to shut downs of water utilities in
storm affected areas. Residents used alternative sources of water until service
was restored. Altogether, 386 drinking water systems and 31 domestic wastewater
facilities were affected during the 2004 hurricane season.
DEP oversees more than 10,000 drinking water and wastewater facilities in
Florida. The Florida WARN website is managed by the TREEO Center of the
University of Florida under contract from the DEP. For more information, visit
www.flawarn.org. |
