09-04-2007 South Bend joins launch of water disaster network

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responsibilities, reimbursable expenses, legal requirements and resolution processes for damaged and responding utilities. The agreement was drafted by a steering committee of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns and grew out of the National Incident Management System, a standardized operational protocol first used in 1992 in response to California mudslides, according to Wiltrout. Many communities, including South Bend, have a"handshake"that might exist with another municipality in the event of problems. For example, South Bend and Mishawaka have had two inter-connecting water pipes between their water systems for 10 years, but they have never needed to be used. "It's just a matter of a couple of valves opening, and we could supply water to Mishawaka or they could supply water to us," Wiltrout said. InWARN takes such agreements to the next level. "This is a formalized handshake,"he said. In the event of floods, tornadoes, earthquakes along the New Madrid fault, widespread illness that decimates a utilities' staff of highly trained specialists or terrorist sabotage, personnel and equipment can be mobilized to respond. Large cities "would probably be the ones helping others because of our size and the assets we have," Wiltrout said. "An operator here that's similarly certified in South Bend can go into another plant and recognize what ... needs to be done." But Wiltrout said this "good community outreach" also will provide peace of mind for South Bend crews in the event of unforeseen trouble locally. - 30 -