The Preparedness Division has three major program areas:
Continuity Programs assure that the Department’s essential functions continue uninterrupted under all conditions. Continuity Programs include identifying those functions and training personnel to sustain them. The office maintains alternate operating sites and assures that the Department has the appropriate communication capabilities. In addition, we provide guidance and technical assistance to the Operating Administrations for continuity programs and plans.
Partner Agencies
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Other Federal departments and agencies.
Stakeholders
- Office of the Secretary
- Crisis Management Center
- Operating Administrations and their regional offices
- Department of Homeland Security
Major Projects
- Inter and intra-agency Communications Tests
- Maintain the readiness of personnel assigned functions under the Department's COOP Plans through recurring training and exercises
- Participate in interagency leadership forums on continuity issues.
International Preparedness Programs
The International Emergency Response Programs are responsible for overarching coordination and management of the Department’s participation in international preparedness and response efforts. This includes coordinating the Federal transportation component of all US government efforts addressing the management of international programs, and supporting Inter-departmental programs that develop plans and appropriate technical arrangements for transportation services in response to international crises and disasters.
Partner Agencies
- Department of State
- Department of Defense
- Department of Homeland Security
- Department of Commerce
- Other Federal Agencies
- US Institute for Peace are the principal partner agencies
Stake Holders
- United States Government and its population
- NATO Military Authorities
- 50 NATO member and partner nations and other nations as directed by the North Atlantic Council and others as may be directed by the United States national authorities
- Nations receiving assistance under the Department of State Conflict and Stability Operations Programs
- Asian Pacific Economic Forum
- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and
- Transport ministries of Canada and China.
Program Components
NATO Civil Emergency Planning / Transport Group (CEP/TG): The NATO CEP/TG and the related sub-groups, comprised of representatives and civil transportation experts from NATO member and partner nations, are responsible for the civil emergency planning process to acquire and deploy transportation resources to support NATO operations. This emergency planning process is accomplished in coordination with other United States Federal departments and agencies, and with NATO member and partner nations, as well as with NATO Military Authorities. The planning process includes relevant crisis management arrangements, training and exercises for the planners and civil experts. The program manager serves as the United States direct representative in the NATO Transport Group for Civil Aviation and coordinates US participation in the other transport subgroups to promote the national interest and provide leadership to resolve relevant issues in the acquisition and deployment of civil aviation resources and services.
US/China Transportation Forum, Disaster Assistance Working Group: In fulfilling the mandates of the US/China Transportation Forum, DOT participates with counterparts from the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China in disaster preparedness, research and coordination activities with the goal of improving transportation services to victims of disasters in both nations. The group exchanges best practices and other valuable insights through meetings, workshops, and individual and group exchanges with members from both nations. By learning from both common and unique experiences, both nations are continually able to improve plans and protocols in the event of a future disaster cause.
DOT cooperation with Department of State Conflict and Stability Operations (CSO) Initiative: In implementing the concepts of NSPD-44, DOT joined the interagency partnership established by Congress and headed by Department of State’s Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS). As one of nine partner Federal Agencies, DOT supports policy and program discussions regarding augmentation efforts to U.S. Embassy Country Teams. DOT provides appropriate and available resources as requested and funded for the implementation of transportation initiatives in failing or rebuilding states to support National Security Objectives. DOT supports the Civilian Response Corps (CRC) and other activities of the DOS Bureau of Conflict and Stability Operations (CSO).
US/Canada Emergency Preparedness Committee: S-60 works with Transport Canada on mutually supporting cross-border transportation activities. A joint US/Canada Emergency Planning Committee for Civil Transportation (EPCCT), which includes representatives from DOT Office of the Secretary, the Operating Administrations and appropriate Regional Emergency Transportation Coordinators develops, assesses, and reviews policy procedures related to border transportation initiatives. Representatives from the Departments of State and Homeland Security participate in the EPCCT discussions and activities.
Other: In addition, International Programs represents the Department in committees and working groups for civil emergency response planning in other bilateral and multi-lateral forums, such as the Beyond the Borders Initiative, the Asian Pacific Economic Forum, the Organization for Economic Cooperation in Europe, the Organization for American States, and other groups.
The US Department of Transportation, in partnership with the US State Department and Agency for International Development invites you to share presentations and insights from our work on "Improving the Resilience of the Global Supply Chain". This work is sponsored and conducted through the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum or APEC. Please check the following link: Global Supply Chain Resilience Workshop.
The US Department of Transportation gave a presentation in December 2014 at the Transportation Research Board, University Transportation Program on Supply Chain Resilience. Please check this link to view the presentation: Supply Chain Resilience.
A presentation entitled Supply Chain Resilience and Business. Please click this link to view the video: https://youtu.be/6tz7rz7H9go
Major Projects
- Development of DOT staff to provide meaningful and effective assistance and advice in the international crisis arena.
- Plans for acquisition and deployment of transportation resources to support the military engaged in NATO operations.
- Monitoring the insurance market indemnification arrangements to ensure that airlift capability to support NATO operations is not impeded by a lack of war risk insurance.
- Training for transportation experts to apply their expertise in international crisis management situations, including the NATO Rapid Reaction Teams and Civilian Response Corps members.
- Annual disaster preparedness workshops with China’s Ministry of Transport.
- Participation in Conflict and Stability Operations per terms of agreement and within the capabilities and mandates of the Department of Transportation.
- Work with emergency management leadership of Transport Canada to address common emergency preparedness and response areas of interest.
Training and Exercise Program
The program objective is to sustain a robust training and exercise program based upon all-hazards emergency management to meet all preparedness, prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery needs. This program integrates the requirements of the National Preparedness Goal (NPG) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) into Departmental policies, plans, and programs. Additionally, it tests and validates the Department’s roles and responsibilities as outlined in critical documents such as the national frameworks and the federal interagency operational plans through training and exercises. The Program Manager participates in the planning, conduct and evaluation of interagency and intergovernmental exercises and prepares Department representatives (up to and including the Secretary, as appropriate) for participation in national- and senior-level exercises. The Program Manager also represents the Department at all interagency training and exercise related meetings, is the Department’s representative to the National Exercise Program (NEP) Exercise Implementation Committee (EIC) and the National Security Council Staff (NSCS) Domestic Resiliency Group (DRG) Exercise and Evaluation sub-Interagency Policy Committee (E&E sub-IPC).
Partner Agencies
- Department of Defense
- Department of Homeland Security
- and other Federal departments and agencies.
Stake Holders
- Operating Administrations and regional offices
- DOT Senior Officials
- Interagency community