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Transcript of 1 Items #2 and 3 Review of Emergency Transportation Workshop Results and Review of Updated Draft...
1
Items #2 and 3
Review of Emergency Transportation Workshop Results and Review of Updated
Draft Regional Emergency Evacuation Transportation Coordination (REETC) Annex
Andrew J. Meese, AICPMetropolitan Washington Council of Governments/
National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board
Presentation to the
Regional Emergency Support Function 1 –
Emergency Transportation Work Group
December 18, 2003
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Overview
• The RESF 1 – ETWG held a series of three workshops to aid revision of the Regional Emergency Evacuation Transportation Coordination (REETC) Annex of the Regional Emergency Coordination Plan (RECP)
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Workshops• Workshops examined regional transportation coordination of
selected scenarios
– October 29, 2003: selective evacuation scenario (Nat’l Airport & Crystal City)
– November 14, 2003: phased/staged evacuation (exploring both a weather event & potential explosion)
– December 3, 2003: extended, complete closure of Metrorail
• Workshops provided input to REETC revisions
• “Kits” also under development as templates for nine additional emergency transportation workshops
• Additional documentation will include supporting transportation and associated protective actions technical information
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Workshops Focused on Situations
• A range of twelve emergency transportation situations have been identified as the basis for– Technical analysis and workshops
– Enhanced REETC Annex transportation and communications strategies
– Had ability to hold workshops for 3 of the 12 situations in this time frame
Shelter-in-Place
Selective Evacuation Phased/Staged Evacuation
Full Evacuation
•Shelter-in-Place•Quarantine
•Selective evacuation•Multiple locations requiring evacuation•Official expedited commute•Unofficial expedited commute•Major or complete Metrorail closure•(Other) Major transportation facility closure
•Phased/ Staged Evacuation•Widespread power failure•Military, police, or other government action
•Full evacuation
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October 29 Workshop - Scenario
• Threatened explosion of a minivan filled with explosives at a Reagan National Airport parking garage
– Starting on a weekday at noon, lasting until 8:00 PM
• Estimated evacuation radius of about one-half mile
– Affecting mostly airport property, but also a portion of Crystal City
• A number of key surface transportation routes affected
– Metrorail Yellow & Blue Lines, VRE, US 1, GW Parkway
– Needed to accomplish an afternoon rush hour with these facilities closed to traffic and passengers
• Eventually, explosives defused without an actual explosion occurring
• Limited area evacuation still had regional impacts
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October 29 Workshop - Scenario
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November 14 Workshop - Scenarios
• “Surprise” announcement at 10AM that an ice storm will hit the region starting at 4PM
– Calls for a phased release-staged evacuation
– Definitive amount of time of safety for transportation before the “danger” begins
• Followed the ice storm scenario with a new, separate scenario: large cache of explosives in central Washington found at 10AM, with a threat to explode if ransom demands are not met by 4PM
– Explored differences of danger and reaction between a weather event and a terrorist event
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November 14 Workshop - Scenarios
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December 3 Workshop - Scenario
• Considered what would happen if the Metrorail system had to be closed for an extended period of time
– Scenario assumed a number of apparent biological agent attacks causing a complete system closure
– Discussed transportation agency coordination of the closure, stranded passengers, and other affected transit and roadways
– Discussed planning for that evening’s rush hour, and for commutes in the days to come, without Metrorail
– Considered transportation implications of law enforcement, emergency management, and health actions
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Participants in the 3 Workshops• Departments of transportation: DDOT, MDOT (SHA, MTA/MARC),
VDOT, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Prince George’s
• Transit agencies: WMATA, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Montgomery, NVTC, PRTC, VDRPT
• Emergency management & law enforcement: FEMA, MEMA, VDEM, WMATA, US Park Police
• Federal: DHS – Office of National Capital Region Coordination, Federal Protective Services; USDOT – FHWA, FTA, RSPA; Naval District of Washington; US Army Corps of Engineers
• Airports: Reagan National, BWI
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Workshop Discussions
• Lively, engaged – scenarios were realistic and appropriate, workshop format was successful
• Focused on the question of regional impacts requiring coordination (beyond direct response to the incident)
– Participants explicitly mentioned that they appreciated this focus
• Dialog among law enforcement, emergency management, and regional transportation management representatives
• Strong support of workshop format, interest in more workshops
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Workshop Findings
• RICCS utilization critical – focus on who will initiate and use RICCS, when will it be used, and what will be discussed
• RESF 1 coordination depends upon “Level A” agencies (DDOT, MDOT, VDOT, WMATA, NPS)
– Triggering, ensuring RESF 1 RICCS communications remains a challenge
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Workshop Findings
• Workshops reinforced need from the RESF 1 perspective to get timely, effective messages or instructions out to the public on what they need to do in the emergency
– People in the immediately affected area or perimeter, who may be in danger
– People outside but near the affected area, who may need to act, move, or stay where they are according to the emergency
– People in the rest of the region, whose travel patterns (or choice not to travel) will greatly impact the regional transportation system’s ability to handle the incident
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Workshop Findings
• Ensuring information flow from law enforcement or emergency management to transportation remains a challenge
– Transportation can provide assistance as requested, but the lead time necessary should be taken into account (e.g., calling in bus drivers)
– Transportation management impacts of “small” incidents quickly become widespread, regional
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Workshop Findings
• Incident evolution and public safety responses impact transportation response
– Length of time taken to verify the incident affects transportation system conditions
– Uncertain duration as incident unfolds
– Need for transportation sector to manage systems in an uncertain atmosphere
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Workshop Findings
• Need for upcoming workshops, preparedness coordination activities to be “emergency management-centric” covering functional areas beyond transportation
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How Workshop Outcomes Will Be Incorporated into the Revised REETC Annex
• Refined guidance on RESF 1 use of RICCS in emergencies
– When to initiate a call; who should initiate
– Key information to be communicated among agencies
– RESF 1 input to shaping coordinated public messages
• Help ensure public safety
• Aid demand management, demand reduction where possible
– Sharing information on associated protective actions
– Timing of subsequent calls through the incident
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Revised Draft REETC Annex – Outline Follows Overall RECP
I. IntroductionListing of participating agencies and overview of the REETC
II. PoliciesRelationship of REETC to participating agency actions
III. SituationsExamination of twelve situations critical to emergency transportation planning
IV. Concept of CoordinationA focal point of the REETC, addressing how RESF 1 will coordinate – similar to a “concept of operations”
V. ResponsibilitiesIncluding systems responsibilities and “essential elements of information” to be shared with RESF 5
VI. Preparedness CycleOutlook to maintain readiness
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Revised Draft REETC Annex – Format Is Strategy-Oriented
• Follows same format as existing RECP, with revised and improved details
– Communications strategies among transportation stakeholders
– Systems management strategies to get the optimum performance out of roadways and transit in the evacuation or other emergency
– Demand-oriented strategies to encourage prioritization of use of transportation infrastructure by those who most need it
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Revised Draft REETC Annex – Structure Follows How Incidents Evolve
• Structure revised to reflect the typical chronology or evolution of an incident and its key stages
– Discovery of an incident
– Initial transportation reaction and advice
– Convening of transportation representatives (RESF 1)
– Convening of regional decision-makers (RESF 5)
– Agency follow-through actions, and advice to the public (RESF1 through RESF 5 to RESF 14)
– Continuance and updates (feedback loops)
– Recovery or re-entry actions
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Revised Draft REETC Annex – Features Address Incident Specifics
• Reflection of twelve emergency transportation situations within four protective actions categories (shelter-in-place; selective, staged, or full evacuation)
• Playbook elements following from the twelve situations
– Transportation strategies
– Guidance for regional coordination through RECP and RICCS
• Clear, direct, action-oriented language
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Summary
• Workshop format a very productive means to address regional emergency coordination planning
• Upcoming shift to emergency management-led workshops, training, exercises will broaden scope and better address current needs
• Revised final draft REETC Annex by December 31, 2003, will be finalized and published ASAP in 2004