ERP & Cybersecurity (Hybrid) - Paragon, IN

Course Description

When a community faces an emergency—whether from severe weather, natural disasters, or malicious acts—water and wastewater utilities must be prepared to respond quickly and effectively to protect public health and maintain essential services. Proactive emergency planning is critical to reducing risk, strengthening resilience, and minimizing operational disruptions.

This course provides practical guidance on reviewing, updating, and maintaining a utility’s Risk and Resiliency Assessment (RRA) and Emergency Response Plan (ERP). Participants will learn strategies for identifying vulnerabilities, improving response coordination, and ensuring emergency plans remain current and actionable over time. The session will also introduce several free, user-friendly tools to support emergency preparedness, including a hands-on group overview of a free EPA emergency response mobile application that participants will be encouraged to download and explore during the class.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the importance of Risk and Resiliency Assessments and Emergency Response Plans in protecting water and wastewater utilities.
• Identify common threats and vulnerabilities related to severe weather events and malicious acts.
• Evaluate and update key components of an Emergency Response Plan to improve readiness and response effectiveness.
• Apply practical, incremental strategies for maintaining and strengthening emergency plans over time.
• Utilize free EPA emergency response tools and mobile applications to support planning, communication, and response efforts.
• Improve coordination and decision-making during emergency situations through better preparedness and resource awareness.

Instructor: Adam Hershberger, AIRW