1. Introduction to CREAT
Braden Rosenberg, The Cadmus Group, Inc.

2. CREAT Overview
Web-based tool for conducting risk assessment of potential impacts at your utility
Multiple scenarios provided to help capture uncertainty
Assessments will help inform planning
Results from CREAT help utilities compare risk reduction and implementation costs

3. CREAT Key Features
Module-based process with clearly defined goals and reports at each step
Data and additional information on how current concerns are related to potential impacts
Economic data to help define consequences of these impacts and obtain monetized risk results
Updated process for risk assessment, including consideration of current risk and resilience

4. CREAT Home Screen

5. CREAT 3.0 Process

6. Scenarios of Threats Current concerns based on experience
Consider information provided in CREAT
Case studies from similar utilities
Most recent National Climate Assessment
Define Threats
Climate impacts
Asset and operational risks

7. CREAT Demo – Getting Started
Which utility type and size should we consider for our hypothetical system?
Which current concerns would be important to this system?
Which threats, related to current and future concerns, should be assessed first?
Would a specific set of climate conditions be critical to defining these threats?

8. Consequences of Impacts
Assessment within CREAT will consider the consequences of impacts on assets
Consequence categories based on types of loss that utilities may experience
Business Impacts
Equipment Damage
Source/Receiving Water Impacts
Environmental Impacts

9. Economic Consequences
Ranges of values are provided for each category based on utility information
Basis for default values are published sector survey data
Values can be modified, additional categories can be considered

10. Adaptation Planning
Detailed library of options for building resilience to the identified threats
Extension of CRWU Resilient Strategies Guide
Some ‘measures’ include approximate unit costs for implementation based on published experience and available techniques

11. CREAT Demo – Assets & Plans
Which types of consequences represent the value of utility assets to the utility and community?
Which assets are both critical to the system and potentially vulnerable to the threats being assessed?
Are there current measures already in place to provide resilience to threats?
What adaptation plans could be implemented to increase resilience?

12. CREAT Outputs: Risk Results

13. CREAT Outputs: Final Report

14. Applications of CREAT Opportunity for education on risks and response
Data-driven results that can be directly applied to short- and long-term planning
Decision-making and convening support tool
Actionable outcomes to inform communications with decision- makers, customers, and funders
Check out the story told by Manchester-by-the-Sea after using CREAT
Video: Drought Response & Recovery for Water Utilities Case Study: City of Las Vegas, New Mexico (Drought week of May 28, 2013).

15. CREAT Exercises in this Region
To date, there have been 3 CREAT exercises and 3 CRWU workshops in EPA Region 4
Exercises have helped utilities
Build a framework and approach for proactive vs. reactive approach to planning
Define and prioritize extreme weather-related issues
Compile and organize key data
Identify adaptation measures and associated costs and risk reduction potential
Gathering interest in potential future exercises

16. Water Utility Climate Resilience Support Projects

17. Thank you! Steve Fries fries.steve@epa.gov Curt Baranowski
Ashley Greene
Thank you!
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