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OCR for page 12
12 A Guide to Traffic Control of Rural Roads in an Agricultural Emergency
During emergency planning and before a specific incident ever occurs, there are tasks that
should be considered by representatives of the Operations Section. While the specific nature and
location of a disease outbreak cannot be known in advance, gathering and maintaining infor-
mation on routes can increase the efficiency of detour planning when it is needed. Types of infor-
mation that may be useful in detour planning include the following:
· Approximate Average Daily Traffic (ADT) volumes on country roads;
· Percentage of heavy trucks on roads in the county, which may help in determining the abil-
ity of local roads being considered for use as detour routes to handle excessive heavy truck
traffic;
· Allowable loads for bridges and for bridge height and width restrictions;
· Identification of agricultural routes [to and from the county's big producers, where livestock
or livestock products (e.g., milk) are frequently delivered or picked up];
· Location of hospitals, schools, community centers, grocery stores, and other places that
require open routes;
· Roadway characteristics that help determine the types of vehicles that can safely use the route
as a detour are width, presence of shoulders, and pavement quality;
· Proximity to agricultural producers (routes close to potentially infected animals or animals
susceptible to disease are less desirable for use as detours); and
· Locations of all producers in the county (from hobby farmers/ranchers to major producers).
Planning detours, identifying animal and vehicle holding areas, and prioritizing road blocks,
disinfection stations, and traffic checkpoints can all be done in the planning stages with coordi-
nation of law enforcement officers, DOT and county public works officials, and animal and
human health specialists. While certain elements of the plan may need to be changed to accom-
modate the circumstances of a specific emergency, general plans can be made ahead of time so
that they can be put into action right away.
3.2 Resource Management
One of the challenges of emergency response in rural areas is limited resources and work-
ers. Although these areas often have a great deal of human capital, they tend to lack material
and financial resources. In small, close-knit communities, local responders are likely to have
personal relationships with their community members, making borrowing private resources
for the response effort easier. Local farmers/ranchers and shops may have a variety of useful
items on hand, including hay bales, gates, fencing, earth-moving equipment, tarps, basins,
tubs, disinfectants, and appropriate safety equipment such as rubber gloves. Smaller commu-
nities are also more likely to provide emergency volunteers with meals, accommodations, and
clothing.
As part of the planning process for incidents, a list of potential local resources to use for traffic
control should be compiled. Standard resources, such as detour signs, cones, barricades, barrels,
and changeable message signs are important. Table 3-1 shows an example of a resource list cre-
ated in the planning process.
In addition to identifying local resources, the county may need to consider other ways to fill
resource gaps, such as through emergency assistance compacts with other counties or cities,
grants for equipment or supplies, or other means. A plan should be established for locating
resources needed to establish safe and effective traffic control around a 3- to 6-mi (5- to 10-km)
quarantine radius.
Information on the availability of the resources should also be assembled and maintained.
The information compiled should include the location and quantity of supplies, equipment,
OCR for page 13
Components of Agricultural Emergency Response 13
Table 3-1. Typical resources list created in planning process for agricultural
emergency response.
Signs Vehicles Communications Equipment
road closed signs police cruisers radios
detour signs contractor trucks with lights spare batteries
congestion ahead signs utility trucks with lights
stop/slow paddles DOT/public works trucks with
electronic message signs lights
storefront marquee signs dump trucks
biohazard signs front loaders
arrow boards vans or buses
Barricades Safety Equipment
standard barricade signs reflective vests
cones/barrels flares
hay bales flashlights, batteries
orange construction fencing reflective paint
portable gates reflective tape
personal protective equipment
(as required by OSHA
standards)
signs, vehicles, and other resources, as well as contact information and instructions for
obtaining the resources. Table 3-2 demonstrates a method for tracking available resources.
A separate sheet may be developed and maintained for each resource agency or owner.
Resource agencies or owners might include state DOT maintenance facilities, county main-
tenance facilities, utility companies, highway contractors, and any other local business or
agency with signs, vehicles with flashing lights, sign installation equipment, variable message
boards, or barricades.
Table 3-2. Example of a traffic control resource list.
County: Johnson Date: 7/1/2006
Owner: Springfield State DOT Item Quantity
Maintenance Building Signs
Contact Stop 20
Name: Jim Jones, Stop ahead 5
Maintenance Supervisor Road closed 10
Phone Detour 20
Numbers: Office: 123-456-7890 Arrows 20
Cell: 123-456-0987 US / State route number signs various
After 4 pm: 123-456-7089 Road name signs various
Radio Call No.: Main 1 Sign posts 50
Address: 111 County Road R. Biohazard signs
Variable message signs 2
ITS message boards
Additional If building doors are locked Flashers
Information: and maintenance staff is Barricades
unavailable, extra key is Portable barricades
located inside door of Gates 10
west shed. Hay bales
Vehicles
Maintenance supervisor Police cruisers
keeps all vehicle keys Trucks with sign capacity, installation equipment 2
locked after hours. If Trucks with towing/hauling capacity 2
needed, call cell or after Other vehicles with flashers/rotating 2
hours number. lights
Maps
State road maps 1 box
County road maps
Property maps
Land-use maps
