Response

Once an emergency or disaster occurs, the ability to respond efficiently and effectively is extremely important. The Response part of an Emergency Response plan relates to activities that address the immediate and short-term effects of the disaster or emergency. This portion of the plan should answer the question of what must the agency do to ensure that they respond quickly and efficiently to a disaster or emergency that threatens the well being of the agency's operations.

Who is a First Responder? The Department of Homeland Security uses the following definition, taken from Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8, Preparedness: "Those individuals who in the early stages of an incident are responsible for the protection and preservation of life, property, evidence, and the environment, including emergency response providers as defined in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 11), as well as emergency management, public health, clinical care, public works, and other skilled support personnel (such as equipment operators) that provide immediate support services during prevention, response, and recovery operations."

Role of Transportation in Response
Evacuation - This section covers FHWA and external work on transportation aspects of both hurricane evacuations and evacuations resulting from unexpected events.
First Responder Treatment and Resource Guide: A Reference Guide for Public Safety Agencies on Treatment and Management of Exposure to Biological, Chemical, and Radiological Threats - The Police Executive Research Forum prepared this guide to assist responder agencies whose personnel may be exposed to chemical or biological agents in incident situations.
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) - ITS can be a very powerful tool in responding to disasters or incidents of any type. This section discusses how it can be applied.
Voice and Data Communication Interoperability - It is critical that transportation agency communications systems be interoperable with those of the other responders with whom they will be working at incident scenes. This location provides information about transportation agency communications systems and national efforts toward responder interoperability.
Information Distribution - Information provided to the public is one of the most powerful tools that government has in managing during disasters. Transportation agencies have unique resources, such as VMS, HAR, and 511 that enable them to contribute to effective information sharing.
2004 Hazards Research and Application Workshop Proceedings - The Hazards Research Center at the University of Colorado , Boulder hosts an annual conference on disasters. This file describes some of the major discussions and presentations at the 2004 conferences, including the session on emergency transportation. Full proceedings are available at http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/workshop/.
ITE Presentation: Transportation for Emergency Response and Recovery (PPT 5.62MB) - ITE prepared this excellent presentation on the importance of transportation in disaster response/recovery.
Responder Knowledge Base - The National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism provides this database of information for responders.
The Homeland Security Operations Center - Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the HSOC provides real-time situational awareness and monitoring of the homeland, coordinates incidents and response activities, and, in conjunction with the DHS Office of Information Analysis, issues advisories and bulletins concerning threats to homeland security, as well as specific protective measures.

Role of Transportation in Response

An Introduction to Incident Management In the Era of Terrorism - This document from the Office of Domestic Preparedness in DHS discusses how the incident command system may be applied in terrorist situations.
CAD-TMC Integration at CTECC Will Support Dynamic Routing for Austin's Emergency Service Agencies - Two-way sharing of real-time data among TxDOT Austin District and several partnering Austin, TX emergency service and public safety agencies in the new Combined Transportation and Emergency Communications Center (CTECC) will enable the dynamic routing of many different emergency services.
Emergency Transportation Operations: Freeway Traffic Management Center Capabilities and Needs - In 2003, FHWA conducted a study of how transportation agencies operate during all types of disasters. This part of the study looked at what information and tools they needed and what capabilities they had to contribute to disaster response and recovery.
FTA's Critical Incident Management Handbook and Appendices - These guidelines have been designed to provide practical assistance to transit personnel with responsibility for planning, managing, and recovering from emergencies and disasters.
Lessons Learned from Surface Transportation Response/Recovery Workshop/Exercises (Winter 2005) - From 2002-2004, FHWA sponsored regional multimodal workshop/exercises to bring transportation agencies together with other responders to work through realistic scenarios involving attacks on the transportation infrastructure using weapons of mass destruction. This document provides a collection of lessons learned in public safety, transportation, and emergency management that emerged during the workshop/exercises.
National Incident Management System - NIMS describes how responding agencies and organizations will work together during response and recovery.
National Response Plan - The NRP describes how Federal agencies will work in disaster response.
Partnership Between Transportation Management and Emergency Management Agencies (PDF, 91KB) - This paper on how transportation management centers and emergency operations centers work together was presented at the 2002 ITS World Congress.
Response Action Guide (Spring 2006) - Through the NCHRP program, AASHTO is developing a tool to assist transportation agencies in identifying actions they may need to take in the event of a WMD incident.
Successful Practices from Surface Transportation Response/Recovery Workshop/Exercises (Winter 2005) - From 2002-2004, FHWA sponsored regional multimodal workshop/exercises to bring transportation agencies together with other responders to work through realistic scenarios involving attacks on the transportation infrastructure using weapons of mass destruction. This link provides a collection of successful practices in public safety, transportation, and emergency management that emerged during the workshop/exercises.
Transportation Management Center Concepts of Operation Implementation Guide (PDF, 3.35MB) - This report scans several major transportation management centers in the US to demonstrate the functions that TMCs can perform in addressing incidents.
Quarantine and Police Powers: The Role of Law Enforcement in a Biomedical Crisis - The Police Executive Research Forum prepared this document to help law enforcement responders (and therefore other responders) understand their role and authority in quarantine situations.

Evacuation

Transportation Evacuation Planning and Operations Workshop (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-06-076) Summary Report - Held in conjunction with the National Hurricane Conference, March 21-22, 2005 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
ITS ETO Initiative - This link provides basic information on the activities in the Initiative.
Managing Pedestrians During Evacuation (Winter 2005) - Recent large-scale disasters have pointed out that pedestrians filling the streets can make evacuee and responder vehicular travel difficult. This study examines the complex issue of managing pedestrian traffic during disasters.
National Review of Hurricane Evacuation Plans and Policies: A comparison and Contrast of State Policies (PDF 2.6MB)
Road Weather Management Evacuation Materials - For several years, FHWA's road weather management program worked toward improving evacuations caused by hurricanes. One particular focus was improving contraflow implementation/operation.
Signal Timing for Evacuation (Fall 2005) - Achieving signal timing that optimizes egress of evacuees and ingress of responders and transit vehicles can be complicated. This study examines available information and modeled multiple strategies on several actual evacuation routes in the District of Columbia.
A Study of the Impact of Nine Transportation Management Projects on Hurricane Evacuation Preparedness (PDF 366KB)
Summary of the Regional Hurricane Traffic Operations Workshops
Evacuation Resources from TRB - The TRB Subcommittee on evacuation provides this excellent resource page with dozens of technical materials on evacuation.

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

ITS ETO Initiative - This link provides basic information on the activities in the Initiative.
Integrating ITS Within State Emergency Operations Centers - These presentations describe multiple approaches to integration of emergency management functions into transportation management centers.
- Emerging Partnerships Between Emergency Management Agencies and Transportation Management Centers (PDF 91KB)
- Integration of ITS with Security Systems in a Multimodal Environment (PDF 88KB)
Using Intelligent Transportation Systems to Improve and Support Homeland Security - ITS, originally focused on reducing congestion, can also provide benefits in improving the security of the transportation network. These documents provide a vision, developed by ITS America, a look at how homeland security was incorporated into the National ITS Architecture, and how homeland security applications are being demonstrated in the iFlorida operational test.
- Homeland Security Supplement to ITS 10-Year Program Plan (PDF 293KB)
- Integration of Security into the National ITS Architecture (HTML, PPT 475KB)
- iFlorida Security/Reliability ITS Model Deployment Project Description

Voice and Data Communication Interoperability

Article on Integrated Incident Management System project - The IIMS project enhances communication between responders in the greater New York City area using ITS technology.
Article on Transportation, Emergency Communications, and Homeland Security
Capital Area Wireless Integrated Network Project - CapWIN enhances communication between responders in the National Capital Region.
Communications Interoperability White Paper (Fall 2005) - FHWA and AASHTO commissioned this white paper to describe the state of interoperability of state DOT communication systems and to examine some successful approaches to achieving interoperability.
Public Safety Wireless Network program - PSWN was a precursor to the current SAFECOM national initiative on public safety communications interoperability. This link provides access to a broad range of information on interoperability.
TMC Integration Project (Summer 2005) - FHWA initiated this project in 2004 to examine approaches to integrating the functions and systems that a TMC would use in managing during disasters.
ITS Standards Program - Technical data exchange standards make it possible for responder computer systems to communicate. This link provides access to over a decade of work developing such standards for transportation agencies, and provides access to a similar site developed by the Public Safety community.
Statewide Communications Interoperability Planning Methodology - SAFECOM recently released the Statewide Communications Interoperability Planning (SCIP) Methodology, a tool that outlines a step-by-step planning process for developing a locally-driven, statewide strategic plan to enhance communications interoperability. The SCIP methodology is the result of collaboration between SAFECOM and the Commonwealth of Virginia. With SAFECOM’s support, Virginia recently completed a strategic plan for improving statewide interoperable communications, which now serves as one approach for states to consider as they initiate statewide communications planning efforts.

Information Distribution

511 Program and Implications for Emergency Communications - This study looked at how disaster information could be shared using 511 systems.
AASHTO Security Clearinghouse - Soon after 9/11/2001, AASHTO created a clearinghouse for sharing security related information relevant to state DOTs.
Changeable Message Sign Operation and Messaging - This project will document the available empirical and analytical evidence that can be used by agencies to support policies, procedures, practices, and messages associated with the operation of changeable message signs (CMS). In particular, the project will document the empirical evidence that relates CMS messaging to driver behavior, traffic, travel flow, and safety.
Crisis Communication in Terror Attacks: A Guide for Chief Executive Law Enforcement Officers - This guide from the Police Executive Research Forum can help transportation managers understand law enforcement’s perspective on communicating with the public during disasters.
FHWA Issues Guidance on Use of Changeable Message Signs for Missing Children "Amber Alert" - Amber Alert was an important learning experience for DOTs on how to share complex information on variable message signs. These guidelines describe successful approaches.
Highway Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) - The American Trucking Association has created this information sharing and analysis center for distribution of security related information.
Information Sharing and Analysis Centers: Overview and Supporting Software Features (NCHRP Report 525) - This report examines how to organize and share security threat information across transportation organizations.
Impacts of Dynamically Displaying Messages on Changeable Message Signs - The purpose of this project is to provide assistance that will assess the impacts of dynamically displaying messages on changeable message signs (CMSs), and make recommendations for updates to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) regarding design, programming, and operation of such applications. The objectives of the research effort are to: (1) Conduct human factors studies to determine the effects of dynamically displaying messages on CMSs; (2) Develop preliminary guidance to practitioners for dynamically displaying messages on CMS; and (3) Identify and recommend changes or new provisions to the MUTCD.
Surface Transportation Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ST-ISAC) - The Association of American Railroads created this information sharing and analysis center for distribution of security related information.
Sharing Information Using ITS During Disasters (Summer 2006) - USDOT's ETO ITS initiative is examining practices for communicating disaster related information over transportation agency resources such as VMS, HAR, and 511
Security Sensitive Information (SSI) - FHWA and AASHTO developed this briefing and guidance on handling of SSI.
Talking About Disasters - This guide has been developed to assist anyone providing disaster safety information to the public. The information is based on historical data for the United States and is appropriate for use in the United States. Some information may not be applicable in other countries. Users of this guide may include emergency managers, meteorologists, teachers, disaster and fire educators, public affairs/public relations personnel, mitigation specialists, media personnel, and/or any other person in the severe-weather, earthquake, disaster, or communications communities. The safety information is intended for dissemination to the general public.

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To view PPT files, you need the Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer.

Search Operations: Home About Operations Office Directory Program Areas Regulation/Policy Publications Speeches Press Room Links Subject Index Feedback	Response ETO Home Once an emergency or disaster occurs, the ability to respond efficiently and effectively is extremely important. The Response part of an Emergency Response plan relates to activities that address the immediate and short-term effects of the disaster or emergency. This portion of the plan should answer the question of what must the agency do to ensure that they respond quickly and efficiently to a disaster or emergency that threatens the well being of the agency's operations. Who is a First Responder? The Department of Homeland Security uses the following definition, taken from Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8, Preparedness: "Those individuals who in the early stages of an incident are responsible for the protection and preservation of life, property, evidence, and the environment, including emergency response providers as defined in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 11), as well as emergency management, public health, clinical care, public works, and other skilled support personnel (such as equipment operators) that provide immediate support services during prevention, response, and recovery operations." Role of Transportation in Response Evacuation - This section covers FHWA and external work on transportation aspects of both hurricane evacuations and evacuations resulting from unexpected events. First Responder Treatment and Resource Guide: A Reference Guide for Public Safety Agencies on Treatment and Management of Exposure to Biological, Chemical, and Radiological Threats - The Police Executive Research Forum prepared this guide to assist responder agencies whose personnel may be exposed to chemical or biological agents in incident situations. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) - ITS can be a very powerful tool in responding to disasters or incidents of any type. This section discusses how it can be applied. Voice and Data Communication Interoperability - It is critical that transportation agency communications systems be interoperable with those of the other responders with whom they will be working at incident scenes. This location provides information about transportation agency communications systems and national efforts toward responder interoperability. Information Distribution - Information provided to the public is one of the most powerful tools that government has in managing during disasters. Transportation agencies have unique resources, such as VMS, HAR, and 511 that enable them to contribute to effective information sharing. 2004 Hazards Research and Application Workshop Proceedings - The Hazards Research Center at the University of Colorado , Boulder hosts an annual conference on disasters. This file describes some of the major discussions and presentations at the 2004 conferences, including the session on emergency transportation. Full proceedings are available at http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/workshop/. ITE Presentation: Transportation for Emergency Response and Recovery (PPT 5.62MB) - ITE prepared this excellent presentation on the importance of transportation in disaster response/recovery. Responder Knowledge Base - The National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism provides this database of information for responders. The Homeland Security Operations Center - Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the HSOC provides real-time situational awareness and monitoring of the homeland, coordinates incidents and response activities, and, in conjunction with the DHS Office of Information Analysis, issues advisories and bulletins concerning threats to homeland security, as well as specific protective measures. Role of Transportation in Response An Introduction to Incident Management In the Era of Terrorism - This document from the Office of Domestic Preparedness in DHS discusses how the incident command system may be applied in terrorist situations. CAD-TMC Integration at CTECC Will Support Dynamic Routing for Austin's Emergency Service Agencies - Two-way sharing of real-time data among TxDOT Austin District and several partnering Austin, TX emergency service and public safety agencies in the new Combined Transportation and Emergency Communications Center (CTECC) will enable the dynamic routing of many different emergency services. Emergency Transportation Operations: Freeway Traffic Management Center Capabilities and Needs - In 2003, FHWA conducted a study of how transportation agencies operate during all types of disasters. This part of the study looked at what information and tools they needed and what capabilities they had to contribute to disaster response and recovery. FTA's Critical Incident Management Handbook and Appendices - These guidelines have been designed to provide practical assistance to transit personnel with responsibility for planning, managing, and recovering from emergencies and disasters. Lessons Learned from Surface Transportation Response/Recovery Workshop/Exercises (Winter 2005) - From 2002-2004, FHWA sponsored regional multimodal workshop/exercises to bring transportation agencies together with other responders to work through realistic scenarios involving attacks on the transportation infrastructure using weapons of mass destruction. This document provides a collection of lessons learned in public safety, transportation, and emergency management that emerged during the workshop/exercises. National Incident Management System - NIMS describes how responding agencies and organizations will work together during response and recovery. National Response Plan - The NRP describes how Federal agencies will work in disaster response. Partnership Between Transportation Management and Emergency Management Agencies (PDF, 91KB) - This paper on how transportation management centers and emergency operations centers work together was presented at the 2002 ITS World Congress. Response Action Guide (Spring 2006) - Through the NCHRP program, AASHTO is developing a tool to assist transportation agencies in identifying actions they may need to take in the event of a WMD incident. Successful Practices from Surface Transportation Response/Recovery Workshop/Exercises (Winter 2005) - From 2002-2004, FHWA sponsored regional multimodal workshop/exercises to bring transportation agencies together with other responders to work through realistic scenarios involving attacks on the transportation infrastructure using weapons of mass destruction. This link provides a collection of successful practices in public safety, transportation, and emergency management that emerged during the workshop/exercises. Transportation Management Center Concepts of Operation Implementation Guide (PDF, 3.35MB) - This report scans several major transportation management centers in the US to demonstrate the functions that TMCs can perform in addressing incidents. Quarantine and Police Powers: The Role of Law Enforcement in a Biomedical Crisis - The Police Executive Research Forum prepared this document to help law enforcement responders (and therefore other responders) understand their role and authority in quarantine situations. Evacuation Transportation Evacuation Planning and Operations Workshop (Publication Number: FHWA-HOP-06-076) Summary Report - Held in conjunction with the National Hurricane Conference, March 21-22, 2005 in New Orleans, Louisiana. ITS ETO Initiative - This link provides basic information on the activities in the Initiative. Managing Pedestrians During Evacuation (Winter 2005) - Recent large-scale disasters have pointed out that pedestrians filling the streets can make evacuee and responder vehicular travel difficult. This study examines the complex issue of managing pedestrian traffic during disasters. National Review of Hurricane Evacuation Plans and Policies: A comparison and Contrast of State Policies (PDF 2.6MB) Road Weather Management Evacuation Materials - For several years, FHWA's road weather management program worked toward improving evacuations caused by hurricanes. One particular focus was improving contraflow implementation/operation. Signal Timing for Evacuation (Fall 2005) - Achieving signal timing that optimizes egress of evacuees and ingress of responders and transit vehicles can be complicated. This study examines available information and modeled multiple strategies on several actual evacuation routes in the District of Columbia. A Study of the Impact of Nine Transportation Management Projects on Hurricane Evacuation Preparedness (PDF 366KB) Summary of the Regional Hurricane Traffic Operations Workshops Evacuation Resources from TRB - The TRB Subcommittee on evacuation provides this excellent resource page with dozens of technical materials on evacuation. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) ITS ETO Initiative - This link provides basic information on the activities in the Initiative. Integrating ITS Within State Emergency Operations Centers - These presentations describe multiple approaches to integration of emergency management functions into transportation management centers. Emerging Partnerships Between Emergency Management Agencies and Transportation Management Centers (PDF 91KB) Integration of ITS with Security Systems in a Multimodal Environment (PDF 88KB) Using Intelligent Transportation Systems to Improve and Support Homeland Security - ITS, originally focused on reducing congestion, can also provide benefits in improving the security of the transportation network. These documents provide a vision, developed by ITS America, a look at how homeland security was incorporated into the National ITS Architecture, and how homeland security applications are being demonstrated in the iFlorida operational test. Homeland Security Supplement to ITS 10-Year Program Plan (PDF 293KB) Integration of Security into the National ITS Architecture (HTML, PPT 475KB) iFlorida Security/Reliability ITS Model Deployment Project Description Voice and Data Communication Interoperability Article on Integrated Incident Management System project - The IIMS project enhances communication between responders in the greater New York City area using ITS technology. Article on Transportation, Emergency Communications, and Homeland Security Capital Area Wireless Integrated Network Project - CapWIN enhances communication between responders in the National Capital Region. Communications Interoperability White Paper (Fall 2005) - FHWA and AASHTO commissioned this white paper to describe the state of interoperability of state DOT communication systems and to examine some successful approaches to achieving interoperability. Public Safety Wireless Network program - PSWN was a precursor to the current SAFECOM national initiative on public safety communications interoperability. This link provides access to a broad range of information on interoperability. TMC Integration Project (Summer 2005) - FHWA initiated this project in 2004 to examine approaches to integrating the functions and systems that a TMC would use in managing during disasters. ITS Standards Program - Technical data exchange standards make it possible for responder computer systems to communicate. This link provides access to over a decade of work developing such standards for transportation agencies, and provides access to a similar site developed by the Public Safety community. Statewide Communications Interoperability Planning Methodology - SAFECOM recently released the Statewide Communications Interoperability Planning (SCIP) Methodology, a tool that outlines a step-by-step planning process for developing a locally-driven, statewide strategic plan to enhance communications interoperability. The SCIP methodology is the result of collaboration between SAFECOM and the Commonwealth of Virginia. With SAFECOM’s support, Virginia recently completed a strategic plan for improving statewide interoperable communications, which now serves as one approach for states to consider as they initiate statewide communications planning efforts. Information Distribution 511 Program and Implications for Emergency Communications - This study looked at how disaster information could be shared using 511 systems. AASHTO Security Clearinghouse - Soon after 9/11/2001, AASHTO created a clearinghouse for sharing security related information relevant to state DOTs. Changeable Message Sign Operation and Messaging - This project will document the available empirical and analytical evidence that can be used by agencies to support policies, procedures, practices, and messages associated with the operation of changeable message signs (CMS). In particular, the project will document the empirical evidence that relates CMS messaging to driver behavior, traffic, travel flow, and safety. Crisis Communication in Terror Attacks: A Guide for Chief Executive Law Enforcement Officers - This guide from the Police Executive Research Forum can help transportation managers understand law enforcement’s perspective on communicating with the public during disasters. FHWA Issues Guidance on Use of Changeable Message Signs for Missing Children "Amber Alert" - Amber Alert was an important learning experience for DOTs on how to share complex information on variable message signs. These guidelines describe successful approaches. Highway Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) - The American Trucking Association has created this information sharing and analysis center for distribution of security related information. Information Sharing and Analysis Centers: Overview and Supporting Software Features (NCHRP Report 525) - This report examines how to organize and share security threat information across transportation organizations. Impacts of Dynamically Displaying Messages on Changeable Message Signs - The purpose of this project is to provide assistance that will assess the impacts of dynamically displaying messages on changeable message signs (CMSs), and make recommendations for updates to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) regarding design, programming, and operation of such applications. The objectives of the research effort are to: (1) Conduct human factors studies to determine the effects of dynamically displaying messages on CMSs; (2) Develop preliminary guidance to practitioners for dynamically displaying messages on CMS; and (3) Identify and recommend changes or new provisions to the MUTCD. Surface Transportation Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ST-ISAC) - The Association of American Railroads created this information sharing and analysis center for distribution of security related information. Sharing Information Using ITS During Disasters (Summer 2006) - USDOT's ETO ITS initiative is examining practices for communicating disaster related information over transportation agency resources such as VMS, HAR, and 511 Security Sensitive Information (SSI) - FHWA and AASHTO developed this briefing and guidance on handling of SSI. Talking About Disasters - This guide has been developed to assist anyone providing disaster safety information to the public. The information is based on historical data for the United States and is appropriate for use in the United States. Some information may not be applicable in other countries. Users of this guide may include emergency managers, meteorologists, teachers, disaster and fire educators, public affairs/public relations personnel, mitigation specialists, media personnel, and/or any other person in the severe-weather, earthquake, disaster, or communications communities. The safety information is intended for dissemination to the general public. You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDFs on this page. To view PPT files, you need the Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer.
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