Evaluation of a Preparedness Course for Water Operators

Abstract

The need for all public utility sectors to be prepared for a terrorist act has become a reality since the tragic events of September 11, 2001. With that in mind, representatives from the Southwest Center for Public Health Preparedness and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality met and determined that emergency preparedness training was needed for Oklahoma's water operators. Not only was there a need for preparedness training, but this training was something that the operators wanted to receive. This article examines the training program that was developed as a result of these discussions and the subsequent evaluation of the training program. An important outcome from this research was the idea that operators should be pre‐tested to evaluate what they knew before the training; additionally, the effectiveness of the training should be evaluated according to the amount of information learned and retained, determined by posttesting. The research also supports the idea that training should be standardized across the United States, should be incorporated as a part of yearly continuing education, and should be supported by hands‐on training as well as drills.