The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
• Name
• Organization
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
• Review exercise materials and rules
• Review background scenario
• Facilitated discussion period
• Hot wash
• Review and conclusion
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
• Location of emergency exits
• Location of restrooms
• Cell phone management
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
• Increase readiness to respond to an actual emergency
• Assess effectiveness of response plans and capabilities
• Practice skills and improve performance in non-threatening environment
• Develop a better understanding of roles and responsibilities
• Identify resource needs and opportunities for resource sharing
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
At the conclusion of this exercise, participants should be able to do the following:
• Describe key elements of the Water Laboratory
Alliance Response Plan (WLA-RP) and how the
WLA-RP fits into other laboratory response networks
• Describe the role that laboratories and emergency managers, and others play in emergency response
• Identify EPA Water Security tools
• Build relationships between water utilities, state laboratories, emergency managers and other stakeholders 6

The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
• Participants respond to the situation presented based on the role you are assigned and your knowledge of response procedures, current plans and procedures, and insights derived from training and experience
• Facilitators lead the exercise by presenting the background scenario and facilitating the discussion period and hot wash
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
The following EPA Water Security Tools and
Resources will be highlighted during the tabletop:
• Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT)
• National Environmental Methods Index for Chemical,
Biological, and Radiological Contaminants (NEMI-CBR)
• Laboratory Compendium (CETL)
• Sampling Guidance for Unknown Contaminants
• Standardized Analytical Methods (SAM)
• Reimbursement Tips for Emergency Laboratory
Support
• Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN)
• Web-based Electronic Data Review (WebEDR)
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
• Following the facilitated discussion period, there will be a “hot wash” or review session
• Participants are encouraged to identify the areas or issues that were of greatest interest to them
• Identify what additional support is needed for laboratory emergency response
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 1, 5:00 AM
• The twin cities of Santa Agua and Bayside are shaken by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake.
• The epicenter of the earthquake is 30 miles east of the cities and two sizeable aftershocks measuring
4.7 and 4.5 occur within the hour.
• Emergency sirens are heard throughout the area and breaking news reports are broadcast via radio, TV, and the Internet.
• Initial reports indicate the earthquake has done serious damage and numerous human casualties are expected.
• Each city sends out emergency response personnel to perform rescue operations and initial damage assessment.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 1, Mid-morning
• Structural damage is observed throughout both cities, with the worst damage being reported on the east side of town near the earthquake’s epicenter.
• Phone and power lines are down, leaving a large part of the area without power and phone service.
• Numerous gas leaks have caused explosions and fires throughout the area.
• A large pipeline that transports water from the Sierra
Nevada Mountains to a storage reservoir that serves the city of Bayside has ruptured.
• The break in the pipeline occurred about 5 miles from the Bayside Reservoir, releasing millions of gallons of water from the pipeline and flooding the area downhill of the break site.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 1, Afternoon: The bridge on interstate 66 has collapsed. Early in the morning, two tanker trucks, unable to see the damage, plunged into the Santa
Agua Reservoir. The tanker trucks have ruptured, leaking their contents into the reservoir. Emergency response crews have not been able to contact the shipping company to identify the contaminant and are collecting water samples from the site.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 1, Afternoon: Residents are being evacuated from the area flooded by Bayside’s ruptured pipeline. The area flooded is primarily farmland and the flood waters have washed out several large dairy waste holding ponds. Most of the flood waters wash downhill into the reservoir that serves as Bayside’s primary drinking water source.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 1, Afternoon
The Pacific Bay Water Company (PBWC) serves both
Santa Agua and Bayside. Their emergency manager receives the following report:
1) Obstructed roadways, downed trees and power lines, and disrupted phone service have made communication difficult.
2) The utility and its water testing laboratory are currently without power. The utility is working to restore power with backup generators.
3) The homes of key laboratory staff were destroyed and many analysts and managers are not available for work.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 2, Morning: The PBWC and HazMat continue field testing and sampling at the Bayside and Santa Agua sites. The state drinking water authorities have been contacted.
The PBWC contacts the State Environmental Laboratory
(200 miles south of Santa Agua) to determine if they can provide support.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 2, Morning: The State Environmental
Laboratory (PRL) agrees to provide analytical support to the PBWC.
The PBWC provides an overview of the situation to the State Laboratory.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 2, Morning: The State Environmental
Laboratory (PRL) rallies their staff to prepare for the arrival of Bayside and Santa Agua samples.
The laboratory discusses what steps can be taken to facilitate communication and coordination during the response.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 2, Morning: The PBWC utility emergency manager (ASR) has already contacted their state regulatory authorities.
What additional notifications should be made?
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 2, Morning: Samples are collected from the
Santa Agua Reservoir at the site of the tanker truck spill. The identity of the chemical(s) contained in the tanker trucks is still unknown.
Samples are also being collected where the flood water contaminated with dairy waste entered the
Bayside Reservoir.
The State
Environmental
Laboratory (PRL) works with the
PBWC to develop a strategy for sample analysis.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 2, Morning: The PBWC is overwhelmed dealing with major infrastructure damage, multiple contamination issues, etc. Local and state resources are stretched thin. The incident commander contacts Region 9 for assistance.
EPA Region 9 provides assistance to the Environmental
Unit (EU) set up by the Incident
Commander.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 2, Afternoon: The County Health Department receives information from local hospital emergency rooms that in addition to earthquake injuries; they have also seen several dozen patients reporting symptoms of blurred vision, headaches, nausea, and diarrhea.
The PBWC needs analytical results as soon as possible to make decisions on treatment, do not use orders, etc.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 2, Late Evening: The Santa Agua water utility finally receives a report from the state emergency personnel that the chemical contained in the wrecked tanker cars was methomyl.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 3, Morning: PBWC and HazMat continue to collect samples from the Bayside and Santa Agua
Reservoirs, and the drinking water distribution systems of both towns.
The State
Environmental
Laboratory is overwhelmed with incident and routine samples and requests additional laboratory support.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 3, Afternoon: Due to capacity concerns, the
Analytical Coordinator (EU) makes arrangements with the Golden Gate and Lombard Laboratories
(MSLs) to receive and analyze samples.
Samples are shipped to the appropriate laboratory.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 4, Morning: Samples shipped via priority overnight arrive at the Golden Gate Laboratory
(MSL). The laboratory discovers there are several problems.
Not all samples are listed on the chain-of-custody form and some samples exceed the methodspecified sample shipping and storage temperatures.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 4, Morning: The State Environmental
Laboratory (MSL) reports total coliform positive results from the initial incident samples collected from Bayside Reservoir.
The State Environmental Laboratory also confirms the presence of methomyl in samples collected from the Santa Agua Reservoir.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 4, Morning: The Local Public Health
Department receives reports of gastrointestinal illness from local hospitals in Bayside.
The Local Health Department contacts PBWC and the State Environmental Laboratory (MSL) to determine if they have detected any contaminants in the drinking water.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 4, Morning: The State Environmental
Laboratory (MSL) does not have the ability to perform further tests to identify the pathogen in the coliform positive samples from the Bayside
Reservoir.
As part of the WLA, the EU wonders if other ERLN/WLA laboratories can provide support.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 4, Morning:
Using the Laboratory
Compendium, the EU has identified several
WLA laboratories that could provide analytical support.
The EU eventually lines up support from
Ashbury Laboratories
(MSL).
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 4, Afternoon: An environmental group called the Pacific Bay Guardians is concerned about the potential impact of discharging contaminated water to the Pacific Bay.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 4, Afternoon: The Lombard Laboratory
(MSL) has run out of the required calibration standard for the methomyl analysis.
They will not be able to obtain additional standard from the supplier for three days.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 4, Morning: The Golden Gate Laboratory
(MSL) has completed their analyses.
The laboratory would like to work out details of how they will be reimbursed for their services.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Day 6: The Ashbury Laboratory (MSL) has completed their sample analyses and reported positive results for E. coli O157:H7. The laboratory would like to dispose of the remaining sample volumes.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
Santa Agua and Bayside have initiated additional chlorination at their treatment plants and flushed their distribution systems. Additional testing finds no contamination.
The incident is over, the ICS resources are demobilized, and the laboratories have reported all their data.
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
• What new insights did you gain from our session?
• Based on this session, what actions do you plan on taking to refine your own plans, policies, or procedures?
• What did you find most useful about this session?
• How could we have improved today’s session?
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
The WLA-RP provides guidance for large and small incidents for the following key areas:
• Roles and responsibilities
• Communications and logistics
• QA/QC
• Sample collection and transport
• Sample analysis
• Data review and reporting
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The Perfect Storm: West Coast Version • Tabletop Exercise for the WLA Security Summit
The following are available to assist with laboratory response during a water contamination incident:
• WCIT
• NEMI-CBR
• Laboratory Compendium (CETL)
• SAM
• WARN
• Sampling Guidance for Unknown
Contaminants
• Reimbursement Tips for Emergency
Laboratory Support
• WebEDR
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