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29 Our recognition of the types of disasters for which airports must be prepared has grown over time. The jurisdictions in which airports are located and other nearby communities have expanded their disaster plans in accordance with new threats and with Federal requirements. Airports are doing likewise. As a condition of certification, airports have to have emer- gency plans, so every airport has a starting point from which to build greater capacity for protecting the airport popula- tion, the built environment, and the expensive aircraft and other major equipment on the premises. Over the last 10 years there has been a trend toward region- alization in the field of disaster preparedness. Airports have, in large or small measure, been participating in that trend. With the development of new FAA guidance on AEPs, it is a good time to consider these with a fresh perspective, and a part of that is strengthening ties with other organizations and other airports in a region. The tools for accomplishing this are avail- able and with the participation of their mutual aid partners, airports are poised to enter a new level of cooperation from which enhanced AEP can be built. Conclusions The research results from this study suggest a number of recommendations and policy initiatives. Some of these are specific to airport managers and their emergency planning and operations teams; others speak more to national policy considerations. 1. Requirements related to emergency exercises at airports should include a focus of these mandated drills to other- than-aircraft related disasters, and encompass other emer- gencies related to severe weather, an active shooter or hostage situation in the terminal, a disease outbreak and quarantine, a terrorist attack using chemical, biological, or radiological substances, and similar events. 2. A technical assistance program should be considered to help airports develop continuity of operations (COOP) plans and plans for their role as a site resource for disas- ters having a regional impact. Recommendations Airports should take steps to address the following actions, as appropriate to their specific emergency planning situation. These steps include: 1. Update the overall emergency plan to correspond with the structure of the National Incident Management Sys- tem, and to comply with FAAâs 2008 Advisory Circular on emergency plans. 2. Ensure that non-aviation incidents, emergencies, and dis- asters are addressed as effectively as are aircraft crashes, firefighting, and rescue. 3. Utilize the Target Capabilities List (TCL) as one way of quantitatively and qualitatively calculating the adequacy of identified resources and procedures. 4. Create a collaborative group such as an Airport Advisory Committee that can offer input into the AEP, provide copies of their written plans, and assist with joint train- ing and exercises. 5. Develop the capability to conduct critiques of all train- ing, exercises, and responses to actual incidents, and use that information to amend AEPs, as needed. 6. Meet with other airports in the region to discuss orga- nizing a mutual assistance compact to enable rapid inter- airport support during major events. An assistance com- pact would allow for a quick response to disasters using the unique resources and expertise possessed by member airports. Some of the assistance could include damage as- sessment, disaster recovery, logistics, donations manage- ment, security, and communications. C H A P T E R 4 Conclusions, Recommendations, and Suggested Research
7. Schedule table top or functional training with all neigh- boring and regional mutual aid responders. Consider mass casualty incidents caused by an active shooter, an attack at the terminal with poisonous chemicals, or a dirty bomb. Practice evacuating the airport, managing a power loss at the terminal, or a major health problem (e.g., hundreds ill with Norovirus). 8. Meet with representatives from the local public health service and the airport representative from the Centers for Disease Control to clarify their responsibilities in handling and preventing the spread of an infectious dis- ease outbreak at the airport. 9. Strengthen the public information portion of the AEP to include a dedicated public information officer, adequate arrangements and procedures for a joint information center, support staff, and pre-scripted messages for dif- ferent disasters. 10. Ensure that the AEP accommodates the possibility that the airport, not an airline, will be the primary party re- sponsible for activating and operating a Family Assistance Center. Suggested Research 1. Provide a better template for airports to use in evaluating and critiquing their training, table top, and field exercise programs. The true test of any plan is how well it functions when disaster strikes. Knowing how to systematically cri- tique responses and a planâs effectiveness as a blueprint for operations would be valuable for airports. This type of in- formation is best relayed through a guidebook in concert with training. 2. It is essential that the roles and responsibilities of the pub- lic health service, the Centers for Disease Control, the Fed- eral Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security Administration, and other relevant Federal agencies be clearly established and communicated with regard to han- dling in-flight and on-airport contagious disease out- breaks. Guidelines for how airports and airlines should co- ordinate with the local and state public health agencies, and who would pay for and be in charge of providing and maintaining quarantine operations, support activities, transportation, communications, food, shelter, and so forth, should be clearly identified. 30