New Emergency Transportation
Operations Resources
Nancy Houston
Booz Allen Hamilton
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FHWA and ITS JPO have developed a site
providing ETO resources
 ETO web site address is http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/opssecurity.
 The site contains information both on emergency transportation
operations and security.
 Another resource is the DHS ETO channel at www.llis.gov. Look
under “New LLIS Content” and then “Channels” to join.
 Today, we’ll focus on the newest emergency transportation
publications on the ETO web site, which also appear on the LLIS
site.
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After the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, the
focus on evacuations increased significantly
 FHWA decided to develop a new publication series called “Routes
to Effective Evacuation Planning Primer Series”
 The first primer in the series is Using Highways During Evacuation
Operations for Events with Advance Notice
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Upcoming titles in the primer series include…
 Overview of Routes to Effective Evacuation Planning
 Integrating Multiple Modes into Evacuation Transportation
Planning for Events with Advance Notice
 Using Highways During Evacuation Operations for Events with
No Notice
 Integrating Multiple Modes into Evacuation Transportation
Planning for Events with No Notice
 Evacuating Populations with Special Mobility Requirements
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The purpose of the primer series is to…
 Aid state and local emergency planners
 Provide checklists of what should be considered for inclusion in
evacuation plans
 Provide resource lists for acquiring additional information
 Generate discussion and ideas to improve evacuation operations
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The first primer contains…
 Roles and responsibilities in planning for and conducting an
evacuation including evacuation decision considerations
 Capabilities and resources at the local, regional, state, and federal
levels
 Evacuation phases: readiness, activation, and operations (two tiers –
evacuating and re-entry, and return-to readiness)
 Components of an effective evacuation plan
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The section on components of an effective
evacuation plan discusses…
 Communication tools
 Traffic control tools
 Evacuation, weather, and assessment monitoring and
prediction tools
 Future directions
 Other information resources
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The primer also provides…
 Examples of good practices
 Sample activities at each evacuation phase
 Results from other evacuation-focused research
 A checklist of questions by evacuation phase to assist in
evacuation plan development
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Results from the FHWA Preparedness and
Response Workshops are now available…
 Between May 2002 and June 2005, FHWA sponsored 30
regional Transportation Operations Preparedness and Response
workshops
 Two reports now available that document the common issues
and best practices identified at the workshops
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Workshop objectives were to…
 Increase participant awareness of the critical processes, issues,
and activities that may arise during and following an emergency,
and of the possible approaches for addressing them.
 Enhance working relationships among personnel from multiple
organizations responsible for emergency preparedness and
response in each of the 30 regions.
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(continued)
Workshop objectives were also to…
 Identify areas for improvement for transportation emergency
response planning and readiness in each of the 30 regions.
Determine next steps to address these areas.
 Provide input to transportation emergency preparedness
guidance material being prepared at the national level.
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Best practices and common issues are
categorized by…
 Interagency Coordination and Communication
 Emergency Operations
 Equipment
 Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
 Mutual Aid
 Threat Notification, Awareness, and Information Sharing
 Policy
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Some common issues include…
 Lack of interoperable communications among responders
including transportation
 Limited understanding/experience with the ICS and UC among
transportation staff
 Designation of regional emergency evacuation routes
 Shortage of transportation staff trained in damage assessment
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(continued)
In addition, common issues include…
 Prioritization of resources during emergencies
 Lack of full consideration of ITS for use in emergencies
 Understanding and use of emergency contracting and mutual-aid
 Understanding of the role of transportation planning in emergency
preparedness and response
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Other recent publications include…
 Planned Special Events: Checklists for Practitioners
 Managing Pedestrian During Evacuations of Metropolitan Areas
 Communicating with the Public Using ATIS During Disasters:
Guide for Practitioners
 Simplified Guide to the ICS for Transportation Professionals
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New ETO publications on the way include…
 Assessment of State of the Practice and State of the Art in
Evacuation Transportation Management, which includes:
– A literature review on evacuations
– Case studies of 4 incidents in SC, UT, AK, and CA including train
derailments with hazmat leaks, hazmat fires, and wildfires with a
focus on impacts to the transportation system
– Research into a concept of operations for transportation
management during an event with no notice
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The assessment of evacuation models
publication will include…
 Inventory and assessment of current evacuation modeling tools
 Ability of the models to facilitate decision making from real time to
planning exercises
 Availability and quality of data needed for model input
 Development of a user guide for agencies considering modeling
analysis
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Contact Information
 Nancy Houston, Booz Allen Hamilton, houston_nancy@bah.com
 Kim Vasconez, FHWA, kimberly.vasconez@dot.gov
 Linda Dodge, ITS JPO, linda.dodge@dot.gov
 Laurie Radow, FHWA, laurel.radow@dot.gov
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