Although most utilities have disaster plans, making them work in the face of an actual emergency requires a vigilant, organization‐wide approach to identifying potential threats, whether naturally occurring or human made, and training everyone in the organization how to respond in such an event. A variety of information indicates that threats to water systems and utilities are increasing. This article is of interest to utility managers and regulators because it presents the state‐of‐practice in preparing for and surviving disasters, and it draws primarily on the experience of others in making its recommendations. By considering the organization‐wide approach advocated in the article, water suppliers can improve the security and reliability of their systems.