MnWARN is a statewide Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) of “utilities
helping utilities” assists members with:
- Emergency assessment, emergency response, and recovery
- Mutual Aid Agreement for sharing emergency resources with members
- Resources to help recover from a disaster
- Emergency contact network
- Voluntary participation
MnWARN Mission
To promote and support a statewide response to utility emergencies and disasters
through mutual assistance for water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities in Minnesota.
What is a WARN?
Leaders in the water/wastewater community and state agencies have joined together
to create the Minnesota Water/Wastewater Utilities Agency Response Network. MnWARN
is a formal emergency response program in Minnesota.
MnWARN is a mutual aid agreement to provide a program whereby water, wastewater,
and storm water utilities sustaining physical damage from natural or man-made disasters
in the state of Minnesota can obtain emergency assistance, in the form of personnel,
equipment, and materials and other associated services necessary to protect the
health and welfare of the utilities' customers.
Law enforcement and fire departments have been organized for many years. MnWARN
is an initiative to organize the water and wastewater professionals to be prepared
to respond to water, wastewater, and storm water entities in a professional and
timely manner.
A pre-established agreement among a network of utilities can complement and enhance
local capabilities to prepare to respond to a broad range of threats, both natural
and man-made.
This initiative is not meant to compete with any existing mutual agreements that
your utility may already have in place with neighboring communities or counties.
This initiative is meant to enhance the abilities of utilities to help utilities.
It is essential that all partners in the water, wastewater, and storm water community
work together to support this concept.
What is a MnWARN Event?
MnWARN can be activated only when there has been a formal declaration of an emergency
issued by a community's authorized official or alternate, whose name is listed as
such on the MnWARN Web site (Mutual Aid Agreement, Article II, Subpart D and Article
IV, Subpart A). Once activated, both parties would be acting under the provisions
of the Mutual Aid Agreement.
While services may be exchanged among parties who are both MnWARN members, without
the formal declaration of an emergency, such activity would not qualify as a MnWARN
event and would occur outside of the MnWARN response network.
What is an Emergency?
Any occurrence that is, or is likely to be, beyond the control of the services,
personnel, equipment, or facilities of a Party's utility (Article II, Subpart D).
Emergencies are generally unforeseen events.
Participation in MnWARN does not create any duty to respond to a request for assistance.
When a Member receives a request for assistance, the Authorized Official shall have
absolute discretion as to the availability of resources. An Authorized Member’s
decisions on the availability of resources shall be final.
Requests for Assistance
Any water or wastewater utility in Minnesota can request assistance from MnWARN
by calling the Minnesota Duty Officer at 1-800-422-0798.
The Duty Officer will call the appropriate Regional Director.
The Duty Officer is for MnWARN events only - all questions regarding MnWARN
should be directed to the MnWARN directors. Assistance can be
in the form of equipment, supplies, or trained personnel. During an emergency, MnWARN
will match equipment, resources, and personnel with those best available within
the MnWARN network. MnWARN will coordinate relief efforts for the donating and receiving
utility through the incident command center. MnWARN will work with the corresponding
local, state, and federal agencies as necessary.
How Does My Utility Participate?
Participation in MnWARN is voluntary and membership is free. To participate in MnWARN,
simply fill out the Membership Information Form and Membership Application Questionnaire
and submit to MnWARN along with the Mutual Aid Agreement and Resolution. The governing
entity must adopt the Mutual Aid Agreement and Resolution. MnWARN also recommends
that a sample equipment schedule of fees be adopted by your governing entity. In
the event of a MnWARN response, if a schedule of charges is not agreed upon, the
default will be FEMA rate of reimbursement.
Members must identify Authorized Officials and alternates, provide contact information
including 24-hour access, and maintain resource information made available by the
utility for mutual aid and assistance response. This is done in the application
process and should be updated annually.
MnWARN Region Directors
Minnesota Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (MnWARN) consists of nine voting
members. Voting members consist of a director from each of the following Regions
and Organizations:
Minnesota Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (MnWARN) consists
of the following supporting advisory members: