Overview
Natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina test the robustness and resiliency of the transportation system and emphasize the need for information to constantly improve the nation’s ability to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from natural disasters, security events, and other emergencies—no matter how large or small. TRB has assembled and published extensive information on ways to enhance the nation’s ability to deal with the movement of people, goods, and services before, during, and after emergencies. Items expected to be added to this list during the next year include guidelines for transportation agencies on continuity of operations planning (October 2005), and guidelines for transportation emergency training drills and exercises (March 2006).
Recent additions to TRB’s bookshelf of transportation emergency response preparedness information include:
Guide for Emergency Transportation Operations
TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 525: Surface Transportation Security, Volume 6: Guide for Emergency Transportation Operations supports development of a formal program for the improved management of traffic incidents, natural disasters, security events, and other emergencies on the highway system. It outlines a coordinated, performance-oriented, all-hazard approach called “Emergency Transportation Operations” (ETO). The guide focuses on an enhanced role for state departments of transportation as participants with the public safety community in an interagency process.
Public Transportation Emergency Mobilization and Emergency Operations Guide
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Report 86: Public Transportation Security, Volume 7 -- Public Transportation Emergency Mobilization and Emergency Operations Guide examines activities that may be taken by public transportation agencies working with their local communities to promote the early recognition of emergency events, expedite response to emergency events, establish multi-agency coordination, and ensure that public transportation resources are available to support the response to an emergency event.
Sharing Information between Public Safety and Transportation Agencies for Traffic Incident Management
TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 520: Sharing Information between Public Safety and Transportation Agencies for Traffic Incident Management presents lessons learned from around the country on how public safety and transportation agencies share information for managing traffic incidents.