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GUIDE FOR EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS
Figure 7. Process for Navigating the Operations and Technology Self-
Assessment and Guidance
STRATEGY 1: MAKE HAZARD-SPECIFIC/PROACTIVE
PREPARATIONS
Proactive anticipation of common and unique hazards and development of hazard-
specific protocols and technology are key to improving the safety of those involved in
incidents, as well as responders. Therefore, key useful features are incorporated from
preparation and response requirements to the complete range of special events and emer-
gencies (including major incidents, HAZMAT, criminal, severe weather, natural disas-
ters, and terrorism) (see Table 9).
Table 9. Operations and Technology Self-Assessment for Strategy 1
Understood Start-Up In-Place
ETO program addresses all types of roadway-related emergencies and
hazards.
Special response units (equipment, trained personnel) are available to
address all hazard situations.
Advanced detection and prediction technologies are available to assist with
decision-making for an all emergency and all hazards situation.
Contractual procedures are available to engage specialty towing and
recovery services or special clearance equipment, e.g., for HAZMAT,
WMD (not available through conventional agency resources) in a timely
and efficient manner.
Interoperable and secure communication systems exist among responders
(public and private sector).
Mutual aid agreements among jurisdictions and responders executed.
SUMMARY SCORE
(Tally number of checks in each column)
Based on your self-assessment score, please select either the base-level or advanced-
level tactics that are presented in Tables 10 and 11.
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GUIDE FOR EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS
Table 10. Strategy 1 Base-Level Tactics
Base-Level Tactics Key Objectives Addressed
Improve Emergency Prediction Capability · Maintain capacity
Enhance the ability to predict emergencies (type, location, and timing) to minimize or · Control traffic
reduce emergency response times and to prepare specific traffic and other emergency · Inform motorist
responses for pre-planned special events (celebrations, concerts, athletic); major weather
events (hurricanes, floods, snow); and established patterns and locations of non-recurrent
congestion ("hot spots").
Improve Asset Threat Detection and Hardening · Maintain capacity
Deploy appropriate critical asset countermeasures to ensure appropriate threat detection, · Control traffic
deterrence, and hardening consistent with threat types and warning levels. Critical assets
must be identified, their vulnerability assessed, and appropriate countermeasures
deployed. These may include surveillance and detection technologies, lighting, barriers,
key element lockouts, increased patrolling, and reduced access during periods of
heightened threats.
Allocate Personal Protective Equipment · Ensure responder safety
Allocate as appropriate personal protective equipment (detection, monitors, suits, masks, · Reduce victim fatality
decontamination equipment) to protect first responders, including key public safety and
certain DOT personnel, who may face road-related chemical, biological, or radiological
threats from WMD.
Develop Advanced Traffic Incident and Emergency Management Plans for · Ensure responder safety
Predictable Emergencies/Incidents · Control traffic
Develop advanced Traffic Incident and Emergency Management Plans for predictable · Maintain capacity
disruption and high probability events (weather, construction, and special events) · Inform motorist
including pre-determined protocols (evacuation, diversion) and pre-positioned · Clear roadway
equipment.
Arrange for Towing and Recovery and Special HAZMAT Removal Capabilities · Reduce victim fatality
Arrange for special clearance and control equipment and services for handling, removal, · Investigate crime and liability
and treatment of heavy vehicles, debris, and HAZMAT to minimize responder risk and · Control traffic
traffic disruption. The variety of on-road emergencies stemming from traffic, natural, · Enforce law
and terrorism causes can introduce a range of on-site removal and treatment challenges · Maintain capacity
including large vehicles and debris, hazardous materials, and WMD-associated hazards. · Minimize backup and secondary
Handling of removal and treatment problems introduced the need for specialized crashes
equipment for towing cargo and HAZMAT handling and disposal. Arrangements must
· Clear roadway
be made for the availability of such equipment on a routine or exception basis in a timely
fashion to reduce the safety and delay impacts especially associated with major
incidents.
Develop Functional Flexibility into TMC Equipment and Operations · Reduce victim fatality
During incidents, the functions at the TMC are aligned to the scale and scope of the · Investigate crime and liability
incident. These changes may include 24x7 operational requirements; access to special · Control traffic
agency information systems (purchasing, design, personnel, etc.); or equipment · Enforce law
inventories and locations. This requires forethought in the design and operation of the · Maintain capacity
TMC that, depending on the event, may require the TMC to evolve into an auxiliary · Minimize backup and secondary
Emergency Operations Center, closely networked with other emergency responding crashes
agencies and centers.
· Clear roadway
Readiness to Advance
· Independent, joint agency review and self-assessment of the degree of achievement of these tactics in support of the overall
strategy.
· Review of dispatcher logs and post-incident reports to assess incident management capacity and performance.
· Existence and concurrence across agencies on the operational plans for pre-planned events and activities.
· Accuracy and usefulness of prediction models.
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GUIDE FOR EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS
Table 11. Strategy 1 Advanced-Level Tactics
Advanced-Level Tactics Key Objectives Addressed
Develop Interoperable Interagency Communications · Reduce victim fatality
· Ensure responder safety
Develop and deploy interoperable interagency communications for both voice and data
to better coordinate emergency detection and response among emergency responders · Inform motorist
who are typically hampered by communications difficulties on a field-to-field, field-to- · Provide motorist assistance
center, and center-to-center basis.
Deploy Specialized Advanced Medical Communications · Reduce victim fatality
Equip emergency medical services (EMS) vehicles with appropriate communication to · Ensure responder safety
support improved patient care at scene and better prepare hospital pre-arrival protocols. · Inform motorist
Deploy real-time video voice and data communications so that emergency physicians · Provide motorist assistance
(telemedicine) can target patient care on scene and en route. DOTs can support these
efforts through shared use of ITS assets.
Improve Contacts/Communications with Security Entities · Ensure responder safety
Develop formal interagency relationships and communications networks and protocols · Investigate crime and liability
between state DOTS and the non-transportation public safety, emergency, and security · Maintain capacity
communities including secure routings for classified information. Improved ties, both
formal and informal, are essential to facilitate appropriate and timely communication of
relevant strategic and tactical information including early warnings of elevated security
threats. In this context, dealing with necessary federal and state security clearances and
secure information handling will be essential.
Arrange for Special Clearance and Control Equipment · Reduce victim fatality
Arrange for special clearance and control equipment and services for handling, removal, · Investigate crime and liability
and treatment of heavy vehicles, debris, and HAZMAT to minimize responder risk and · Control traffic
traffic disruption. The variety of on-road emergencies stemming from traffic, natural, · Enforce law
and terrorism causes can introduce a range of on-site removal and treatment challenges, · Maintain capacity
including large vehicles and debris, hazardous materials and WMD-associated hazards. · Minimize backup and secondary
Handling of removal and treatment problems introduced the need for specialized crashes
equipment for towing cargo and HAZMAT handling and disposal. Arrangements must · Clear roadway
be made for the availability of such equipment on a routine or exception basis in a timely
· Inform motorists
fashion to reduce the safety and delay impacts especially associated with major
incidents.
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