Breakout Session - NJ Water Agency Response Network (NJWARN)

Instructors:  Rick Howlett, Executive Director, New Jersey Water Association and Scott Para, Manager of Security and Events, New Jersey American Water

The New Jersey Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network (NJWARN) has been created by New Jersey State utilities and is based on the concept of "utilities helping utilities". NJWARN members are those who have signed the standard mutual aid agreement and have been accepted by the NJWARN steering committee. This provides them with the opportunity to be prepared to share resources before a disaster happens. NJWARN provides a means for you to receive or provide emergency assistance from nearby water/wastewater utilities in the form of available personnel, equipment, materials, and other services. Where better to obtain rapid, short-term deployment of emergency services that may be needed to restore the critical operations of a water or wastewater utility.

This session will identify the steps to become a member, cover how members use the Resource Directory Database (RDDB) and cover some of the recent events that show that being members of the WARN is more advantageous then simply having handshake agreements with your next door neighbors. The goal is for all Emergency Management Officials to take this information back to their respective water department or utility and encourage them to join this beneficial network.