Evaluating emergency management capability of a water utility: A pilot study using exercise metrics

Abstract

There is a societal expectation that we will still have access to essential services in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. This necessitates that utility organisations are resilient and therefore prepared for unexpected threats. One important type of preparedness activity is exercising. This research note presents findings from a pilot study in which performance evaluation metrics were developed for an emergency management exercise conducted by a water utility. Initial findings suggest that metrics and benchmarks can be successfully applied in this domain with positive implications for planning and policy across the utilities sector.