Improving the resilience of drinking water and wastewater utilities and emergency management agencies through collaboration.

Responding to a major disaster requires coordination and communication across all critical infrastructure sectors, including emergency management and drinking water and wastewater. This paper describes how in planning for an earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone, the various bureaus in the City of Portland developed robust relationships by participating in joint exercises and events, coordinating on damage assessments and collaborating on planning efforts. The paper also describes the various tools and resources provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency to help water utilities and emergency management agencies to strengthen their relationships.