GLRCAP Planning for Pandemics Toolkit | Great Lakes Community Action Partnership

Toolkit

Below are items free to download and distribute. Additional resources may be added in the future as needed.

Small Systems
Pandemic Plan Template

Pandemic Continuity of Operations
Plan Template

Table Top Exercise Template (Pandemic)

U.S. EPA Incident Action Checklist
for Pandemics

COVID-19 Fact Sheets

Emergency response guide for drinking water

Emergency Response Planning Guide
for Public Drinking Water Systems

Pandemic Planning
in Brief

Coronavirus
Fact Sheet

Coronavirus Symptoms
Flyer

Stopping Spread of Germs
Flyer

Wastewater Emergency Considerations

Webinar

If you missed our webinar on Pandemic Preparedness on March 16, 2020, please find the link to the recording below:

3.16.20 Pandemic Preparedness Webinar

Password to access the recording: 2BePrepared

About

In response to growing concern over the global spread of the coronavirus that may reach the level of a pandemic outbreak, the Ohio Rural Community Assistance Program (RCAP) has developed a Planning for Pandemics Toolkit for small water systems to help prepare for a pandemic. The toolkit includes informative flyers on the coronavirus and sanitation, as well as and a continuity of operations plan template that can be used to prepare for any pandemic (coronavirus, influenza, etc.).

Although the continuity of operations plan is not currently required for water systems, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends water systems utilize the plan voluntarily. Having a continuity of operations plan in place will help water utilities manage issues that may arise as a result of a pandemic. According to American Water Works Association, water utilities should prepare for potential impacts to operations and to respond to customer inquiries about water safety during a pandemic.

In the event of a severe pandemic, workplace absenteeism would increase from illness, fear of infection, and a need for workers to care for sick family members. Specific to water utilities, workplace absenteeism could affect drinking water and wastewater system operators' capability to adequately operate and maintain systems, thereby increasing the risks to public health. Absenteeism would also affect workers from other essential and interdependent sectors such as transportation, power and chemical sectors, and could have an adverse impact on services such as delivery of chemicals and other essential materials and supplies. The continuity of operations plan template addresses these and other concerns

Return to RCAP page.