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OCR for page 89
SECTION 5
Nature and Degree
of Hazards/Threats
State transportation agencies across the nation face different types of hazards. Coastal states are
at risk from tropical storms, hurricanes, and tsunamis, while states bordering large lakes and bays
have some similar weather threats, including seiches.23 Several wide corridors are tornado alleys,
with a far higher probability of these storms occurring. The central and southwestern states have
dust storms. Numerous rivers, large and small, are potential flooding disasters. Earthquakes are
not restricted to the west coast; there are seismic faults in many states. States throughout the nation
are prone to forest and grassland wildfires.
On the security side, states with large population centers, military or other security-
sensitive facilities, and ports are more likely targets of terrorism than the more agricultural
states. Yet experience has shown that religious and antisocial extremists can plan to attack the
safest of states.
While many emergency response actions are similar, there are clear differences as well, requir-
ing different human and materiel assets. No state can afford to be totally prepared for every threat;
thus, each state needs to assess its vulnerability to each type of threat and assess the potential risks
and plan accordingly.
Range of Hazards
CPG 101 summarizes the typical hazards facing state transportation agencies and others, as
shown in Table 4. The authors of this study have added several additional hazards, shown in
italic type.
Impact on and of the Transportation System
Table 5 indicates the typical impacts of each hazard on the transportation system when the
system itself is the target of the hazard (second column) and its role in response in all cases (third
column).
Each ER planner should try to anticipate the most likely incidents as the top priority, while
continually updating the plans as experiences of others are shared. A good source of such shared
23
A seiche is a disturbance or wave that oscillates in lakes, bays, or gulfs from a few minutes to a few hours,
usually because of seismic or atmospheric disturbances; also called seiche waves.
89
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90 A Guide to Emergency Response Planning at State Transportation Agencies
Table 4. Sample hazards list.
Natural Hazards Technological Hazards Human-Caused Hazards
Avalanche Airplane crash Civil disturbance
Drought Bridge collapse School violence
Earthquake CBRNE Terrorist or criminal act
Epidemic Dam or levee failure Sabotage
Flood Electromagnetic pulse War related
Hurricane (tropical cyclone) HAZMAT release
Landslide or mudslide Power failure
Tornado Radiological release
Tsunami (or seiche) Train derailment
Volcanic eruption Urban conflagration
Wildfire or facility fire Loss of Internet connectivity
Winter storm Loss of telecommunications
Wind or dust storm Equipment failure
Original source: CPG 101, 2009; indicates others added by the research team or from other
transportation sources.
Table 5. Impact of various hazards on transportation.
Hazard Transportation Transportation's Role in Response
is Target
Natural Hazards
Avalanche Roads might be Transport first responders in their vehicles and
blocked. snow-removal equipment.
Drought Generally not an issue. Transport caregivers and relief supplies.
Earthquake Infrastructure might be Transport first responders in their vehicles and
damaged or destroyed. equipment.
Epidemic Generally not an issue Transport caregivers and relief supplies.
Transportation human resources will be
adversely affected leading to shortage in
operating staff. In addition, quarantines may
affect routes.
Flood Infrastructure might be Transport first responders in their vehicles and
damaged or destroyed. equipment. Remove debris. Clear roads.
Hurricane Infrastructure might be Major evacuation provide alternative routing,
(tropical cyclone) damaged or destroyed. and transport first responders in their vehicles
and equipment. Remove debris.
Landslide Infrastructure might be Transport first responders in their vehicles and
(or mudslide) damaged or destroyed. equipment. Remove debris.
Tornado Infrastructure might be Transport first responders in their vehicles and
damaged or destroyed. equipment. Remove debris.
Tsunami Infrastructure might be Provide alternative routing and transport first
(or seiche) damaged or destroyed. responders in their vehicles and equipment.
Volcanic eruption Infrastructure might be Transport first responders in their vehicles and
damaged or destroyed. equipment.
Wildfire Infrastructure might be Transport first responders in their vehicles and
(or facility fire) damaged or destroyed. equipment.
Winter storm Infrastructure might be Transport first responders in their vehicles and
covered or iced over. equipment. Clear roads.
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