Combining an Effective Tabletop Exercise Approach with a Statewide Mutual Response Network Enables Utilities to Prepare for the Worse

Florida utilities are no strangers to disaster recovery. Thanks to the dramatic impact of hurricanes on the state in recent years, Florida's water and wastewater providers have developed a system of mutual aid during emergency situations to help in rapid response and recovery. FlaWARN (Florida's Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network) is the formalized system of “utilities helping utilities.” Although hurricane recovery was the impetus behind its formation, FlaWARN responds to both man-made emergencies and natural disasters providing resources to water, wastewater and other public service entities within member agencies.