TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF APRIL 9, 2015
COMMITTEE ON MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Report on Participation in Multi-Jurisdictional Disaster Response Exercise
Body
Dear Sir:
On June 19, 2015, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago will be participating in a statewide,tabletop disaster response exercise. This exercise is a multi-jurisdictional and multi-discipline collaborative effort sponsored by ComEd, Ameren Illinois, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.
The exercise scenario will simulate a combination drought, heat wave and a major storm event in which there are 28 tornado touchdowns throughout Illinois. The scenario will be tailored by the sponsoring group to include impact on facilities or operations of the participating entities, based on "injects" (new information bulletins) provided to each entity. This will allow each participant to test its response procedures in a more realistic framework. The objectives of the exercise will be to test the response to low probability/high risk scenarios, test multi-agency communications and coordination in response to the disaster, and enhance Public-Private partnerships.
The exercise will occur in many locations throughout the State of Illinois; however, the primary local venue for this exercise will be the new Cook County Emergency Operations Center located at 15900 Cicero Ave, Oak Forest, IL 60452. The event will start at 8:00 am and end at noon.
The District would like to send three VIP representatives to the exercise venue in Oak Forest as observers to the process. Members of the Board of Commissioners will have the first opportunity to fill these VIP seats. VIPs will be able to watch the exercise as well as take a tour of the new Operations Center.
This exercise will better prepare the District to adequately respond to the needs of its service area in the event of a disaster.
Respectfully Submitted, Manju P. Sharma, Director of Maintenance and Operations, AQ:SO'C