Utilities Helping Utilities Through WARN
NEWARN began with a steering committee formed back in 2007 and has since grown to 177 members. When board members give presentations about NEWARN, the audience usually includes many folks who are not familiar with NEWARN. The current NEWARN board is working hard to change that and get the word out.
What is NEWARN?
NEWARN is a statewide Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) of utilities helping utilities. The network supports communication and cooperation among member utilities that provides many benefits including:
- Preparation for natural or human-caused emergencies
- Establishment of mutual assistance agreements and processes for sharing emergency resources among members statewide
- A forum for developing and maintaining emergency contacts and relationships
- The resources to respond and recover more quickly from a disaster
- Training to assist utilities to be better prepared for disaster response and recovery
Why do we need NEWARN?
Water and wastewater systems provide our communities with life-sustaining resources that are vital for maintaining public health, sanitation and safety. A community's well-being quickly deteriorates when water and/or wastewater service is interrupted for extended periods of time. And without an adequate water supply, our communities are vulnerable to devastating fires. NEWARN supports efficient restoration of water and wastewater service, which provides hope to communities for quick recovery from those disasters.
Why should you join NEWARN?
Who is likely to have a specialized pump or valve your system needs to get back on line in a hurry? Another water or wastewater system! So join your colleagues in NEWARN and become part of the network dedicated to keeping our communities healthy, sanitary and safe.
Our mission is to support and promote statewide emergency preparedness, disaster response, and mutual assistance to water and wastewater utilities. The NEWARN website does this by providing members with emergency planning, response, and recovery information before, during, and after an emergency.
The core of the NEWARN website is the emergency equipment database that matches utility resources to a member's needs during an emergency. Members may locate emergency equipment (like pumps, generators, chlorinators, and evacuators) and trained personnel (like treatment plant operators, field crews, and other staff) that they may need in an emergency.
If you have any questions about NEWARN please visit www.newarn.org or contact any board member.
