Disaster Preparation

It's Hurricane Preparedness Week! The Environmental Protection Agency released an article with various links highlighting safety precautions that businesses and their surrounding communities could utilize to withstand hurricane season. The article consists of links discussing methods to combat debris, flooding and mold as well as protocols for chemical storage and spills.

EPA also highlights procedures specifically targeting wastewater treatment plants. Wastewater treatment plants are urged to inform government organizations such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), among others, of their facilities' emergency personnel contact information to request extra water supply if needed. Plants are also encouraged to make prior arrangements with their electricity providers for emergency power restoration and make plans to borrow or lease equipment and supplies for needed repairs to their wastewater treatment systems following a natural disaster. Heavy stocks of first-aid kits, batteries, cell phones, flashlights and other wireless communication mechanisms are highly suggested as well. For more information about disaster preparations, see the following links:

http://www.epa.gov/naturaldisasters/hurricanes/

http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/emergencyinfo/pre-hurricane.cfm

(Written by August Mack Intern Darnell Bland Jr.)