The purpose of VA WARN is to provide a method whereby water and wastewater utilities that have sustained damages from natural or manmade events could obtain emergency assistance in the form of personnel, equipment, materials, and other associated services as necessary from other water and wastewater utilities and obtain assistance before a local, state or federal emergency declaration is issued. The objective is to provide rapid, short-term deployment of emergency services to restore the critical operations of the impacted utility as soon as possible.
Utility performance is increased by being able to tap into resources that would not otherwise be available without the WARN network; being a member of WARN enhances management performance by being proactive and planning for either man-made or natural emergencies.
Membership in VA WARN is open to all public and private water and wastewater systems operating within the Commonwealth of Virginia. To become a member, the following actions must be completed:
- Download the Mutual Aid Agreement (MAA). Submit it to your chief administrative officer and governing body for review. Once approved, your chief administrative officer must sign and execute the MAA.
- Create a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of the VA WARN Mutual Aid Agreement Declaration. Submit the declaration to your governing body to obtain authority for your chief administrative officer to sign the MAA. (If you need a sample authorization declaration, click here for a sample in Word format.)
- Download the Authorized Representative Form and provide the information requested.
- Send the following documents via email or physical mail to the address shown below:
- Adopted authorizing resolution/ordinance
- Executed MAA
- Completed Authorized Representative Form
- Email: geneva.hudgins@vaawwa.org
- Mail: VA WARN
Attn: Geneva Hudgins
14805 Forest Road, Suite 210
Forest, VA 24551
Phone: 434.386.3190
Upon receiving the documents, an account for your utility will be established in the VA WARN database. A username and a temporary password will be created, and you will be notified when the account is complete. Upon receiving the notification, please log in to change your password and verify the information for your Utility. If you need assistance or have questions, please contact Geneva Hudgins.
