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Accessible Transportation and Emergency Preparedness Planning. September 18, 2013. Event Details. The presentation can be downloaded from the ESPA website ( www.ProjectACTION.org ) This event is being recorded and transcribed. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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WWW.PROJECTACTION.ORG
Accessible Transportation and Emergency Preparedness Planning
September 18, 2013
Event Details
• The presentation can be downloaded from the ESPA
website (www.ProjectACTION.org)
• This event is being recorded and transcribed.
• Archived version available on our website in
approximately 30 days
• Accessible formats can be obtained by emailing
2
Event Details (cont..)
Closed Captioning is available for the event. To access
the cc, go to:
http://www.captionedtext.com/client/event.aspx?
CustomerID=1249&EventID=2203555
3
4
Meet Your Presenters
• Julie Bommelman, Transit Administrator, City of
Fargo, North Dakota
• Kevin Shanley, Senior Emergency Management
Coordinator, City of Chicago Office of
Emergency Management & Communications
• Carol Wright, Senior Director, Easter Seals
Accessible Transportation Programs
WWW.PROJECTACTION.ORG
Emergency Preparedness Planning
Carol WrightSenior DirectorEaster Seals Accessible Transportation Programs
Emergency Preparedness
A Working Definition:
1)Actions you take to anticipate and minimize the
impact of emergency events
2)Planning measures taken to ensure reactions to
emergency events are efficient and effective
Planning
“In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans
are useless, but planning is indispensable.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Basics of Emergency Preparedness
1.Understand the threat
2.Integrate accessible transportation, people with
disabilities, and others who are transit-dependent into the
planning process
3.Identify all available resources
Common Types of Emergencies
1)Accidents/Incidents
2)Hazardous Materials
3)Criminal Activity
4)Organization Infrastructure
5)Domestic or International Terrorism
6)Acts of Nature/Severe Weather
Preparing for Emergencies
Many organizations are preparing for emergency events
just like you are, but not all of them are thinking from the
same point of view.
It is important to integrate transit
into the local emergency community.
Planning: Local Emergency Management
1. Who is involved in community emergency
preparedness planning?
2. Is your agency currently involved?
3. What is expected of transit?
4. Are people with disabilities and other transit-
dependent people represented in the planning
process?
5. Are written Emergency Service Agreements in
place?
Accessibility During an Emergency
Through inclusive conversations and extensive
outreach, people with disabilities can ensure that they
know their transportation options during an emergency.
Communities can make sure they are aware of the
different needs of transit-dependent
people in their communities, as well
as the locations of the homes of people
with disabilities should evacuation be
necessary.
Potential Accessible Transportation Resources: Building a Database
1. Local school districts with lift-equipped buses
2. Community emergency medical vehicles
(ambulances)
3. Vans/buses from places of worship
4. Local assisted living facility vehicles
5. Local community and public transit vehicles
6. Paratransit vehicles
Potential Accessible Transportation Resources: Building a Database
7. Area agencies on aging/senior citizen center
vehicles
8.Accessible taxis
9.Adult day care vehicles
10.Airport car rental shuttle
buses
11.Airport shuttle buses
Accessible Transportation & Emergency Preparedness Planning
Accessible transportation should be identified and
described in a city’s emergency preparedness plan.
People with disabilities should be involved in the
planning meetings.
If an emergency occurs and an evacuation is necessary,
the city can tap into all of its resources.
WWW.PROJECTACTION.ORG
Preparing for Emergency Response
Perspectives of Emergency Operations
Kevin O’Hara ShanleySenior Emergency Management CoordinatorCity of ChicagoOffice of Emergency Management and Communications
Need for Participatory Planning
• Obligation by Emergency Planners to Include People
with disabilities (National Organization on Disability, 2009)
– Twenty-seven percent (27%) of emergency managers had completed disability-related training (Fox, 2007).
– Sixty-six percent (66%) of counties had no intention of modifying guidelines for people with mobility disabilities (Fox, 2007).
– Limitations in range of disabilities – significant disabilities not represented.
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Know your Emergency Planning Office and Help them Get to Know You
• Identify key office– Understand procedures & people– Review existing plans
• Learn about ways to be involved– Participate in community planning– Contribute to knowledge base around
transportation & disability– Conduct practical exercises
Benefits of Participation to Emergency Planners• Partnerships between emergency planners and
disability-related organizations improve planning and
response (Littman, 2006).
• People with disabilities provide expertise to enhance
emergency planner understanding of issues.
• Partnerships ensure inclusive and realistic plans
(Littman, 2006).
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COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Emergency Public Information
• People with disabilities offer guidance to emergency
planners around communication modes, accessibility,
and notification.– Improves information delivery by emergency
planners.– Enhances emergency response.– Increases responsibility for people with disabilities
to share communication preferences.
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Role of Transit
• Transit agencies and transportation providers can: – Offer emergency planners information about their
capacity and services.– Identify ways that transportation can support
emergency response.– Participate in planning and practical exercises.– Share information about mobility and assistive
devises to support evacuation
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Resources
• State and local emergency planning offices– City of Chicago Mayors Office
http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/mopd/supp_info/emergency_preparednessresourcesforpeoplewithdisabilities.html
– City of Boston
http://www.cityofboston.gov/disability/– International Association of Emergency Managers
http://www.iaem.com/search.cfm– National Emergency Management Association
http://www.nemaweb.org/
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WWW.PROJECTACTION.ORG
Public Transit Emergency Preparedness
Julie BommelmanTransit AdministratorCity of Fargo, North Dakota
PUBLIC TRANSIT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
What is the emergency? Safety Security Vehicle Issue (fire, breakdown) Weather Related Emergency (tornado, blizzard) Flood
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Identify Events and Prepare as Practicable
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Driver and Staff Training
Outside Speakers/Trainers
Tabletop Exercises
Take Advantage of Vendor Training (lifts, safety
equip)
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS – DATA COLLECTION
Identify (plan ahead) Staff/Employee Responsibilities
Have a telephone calling tree and update it semi-annually
List emergency contacts with phone numbers for work,
home and cell, plus email addresses
Provide backup contacts for each aspect of the system:
• Fixed route supervisors
• Paratransit supervisors
• Vehicle maintenance and fueling
• Storage facility access (redundancies)
• Driver’s and operations managers
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS – DATA COLLECTION
Equipment Inventory
Maintain an inventory of available equipment with specific
features:•
Accessibility Vehicle size Fuel Source Seating capacity Wheelchair capacity
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS – DATA COLLECTION
Facility Inventory•
Identify and make arrangements for alternative storage and fueling facilities
Identify drivers who live close and can reach the facility Provide sufficient parking for the buses and drivers Program two-way handheld radios for communication in area for
providers Cellular phones required for long-distance travel Don’t forget the rechargers for radios and cell phones
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS – DATA COLLECTION
Have Current Maps
Storm Tips & Procedures
Update Rider Alerts/Website/Twitter/Facebook
Notices
Fixed Route (pre-determined & published snow
routes)
Paratransit - Registration through Self-Identification
Phone Messages Up to Date
SAFETY
Drivers certified by Red
Cross First Aid
CPR training
Use of first aid/biohazard kits on vehicle
Treat all bodily fluids as infected
Contracted biohazard clean-up service
COLLISION Secure vehicle and
checkSelf, passengers, other drivers
Notify dispatchLocation, injuries, tow truck
Gather witness
information
Assist authorities
Evacuate if necessary
On-Board Equipment
Fire extinguisher
First aid kit
Biohazard Clean-up kit
Triangles
Collision reports and procedures
Emergency exit locations and operation
SECURITYNational Transit Institute DVD’s
Identify suspicious packages/devices
ID of strangers/trespassers
Unlocked doors/unsecured vehicle panels
Shifty or panicked behavior of persons
Video/Audio Equipment on vehicles and in
facilities
SNOW
Predetermined Route Deviations: Approved list provided by city to all
drivers and dispatchers Specifies a shorter fixed-route to
maintain on-time compliance and passenger transfers
Major boarding points and snow emergency routes are provided service wherever possible
TORNADO
Indicative sky conditions
Watch vs. warning terminologies
Dispatch will relay weather messages
Evacuate vehicle to shelter if time allows
Designated shelter locations
FIRE
Evacuate vehicle immediatelyUse belt cutters and assist mobility impaired
Contact dispatch – radio enabled during fire?
Use extinguisher for small, internal incidents
Never open engine compartment
New vehicles have fire suppression systems
FLOOD
Partial
Evacuation – 2009
Event
Preparation – 2010
thru 2013
FLOOD PREPAREDNESS
2009• City of Fargo Transit
Planning started 2-3 weeks prior to flood
Meetings included all management staff
Potential flood areas identified by Engineering
City maps distributed
Plans developed to limit fixed route and paratransit
service
• Paratransit
List of names and phone #’s of paratransit riders
Asked residential providers to transport their clients
MPO prepared map of all paratransit riders
Asked riders to voluntarily limit rides
All private transportation providers contacted
FLOOD PREPAREDNESS
2009
FLOOD EXPERIENCE
• Weather Affected Mobility
Torrential rains followed by blizzard
Travel restrictions encouraged by Mayor
Only one bridge open between ND and MN
Fixed Routes detoured around flooded areas
Fixed Routes cancelled for snow storm
Interstate highways closed
FLOOD EXPERIENCE
• Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Fargo EOC at Public Safety Building – Transit
Included
Daily department meetings at City Hall
Press releases issued by Public Information Officer
(PIO)
Additional drivers/staff sent from Minneapolis
FLOOD EXPERIENCE- EVACUATON
• Paratransit Helped Evacuate Nursing Homes and
Hospital Moorhead Nursing Home, Assisted & Catered Living
Most Fargo Nursing Homes (over 5,000 residents)
Hospital – ambulances, buses, planes
Long trips to alternative nursing homes and hospitals (fueling
cards/contact other transit providers)
Suggest plastic bags/pillowcases for medications/necessities for riders
Trips to many outlying areas in ND and MN
Some round-trips took 20 hours
FLOOD EXPERIENCE
• Metro Transit Garage
Semi-tractors of sandbags staged at MTG
Frozen sandbags thawed on heated floor
Remote storage of buses at West Fargo Fairgrounds
and Moorhead Youth Hockey Arena
FLOOD EXPERIENCE
• Metro Transit Garage
Paratransit buses staged for emergency evacuation
National Guard and Police Department
Mechanics utilized to transport National Guard
Showers and locker rooms
FLOOD EXPERIENCE
• EOC Partners
Transit
Engineering / Planning
Red Cross
First Link Volunteer Call Center
Law Enforcement – City and County
Health Department
National Guard
FLOOD EXPERIENCE
• City of Fargo Transit
24/7 transportation between designated parking
areas and ‘Sandbag Central’
Sandbagging locations established in neighborhoods
Remote volunteer centers established at churches –
transportation provided to neighborhoods
Transit staff distributed to manage transit at remote
sites
“Code Red” utilized to motivate volunteers
FLOOD EXPERIENCE
• MAT Miles Driven
• 11,864Fargo
• 5,401 Moorhead
• MAT Passengers Transported
• 28,000 (15,000 transported by MAT) Fargo
• 12,000 (5,000 transported by MAT) Moorhead
FLOOD EXPERIENCE
• Sandbag’s made
• 3.5 Million - Fargo
• 2.5 Million – Moorhead
• Miles of dikes
• 48 miles of protection (40 ft in height) – Fargo
• (29 clay, 8 Hesco, .03 Portadam, 10 sandbags)
• 8.14 clay & 9 of sandbags - Moorhead
LESSONS LEARNED
• Radio & Cellular Equipment
Sufficient supply for EOC, Staff, Buses
Preprogrammed for all buses
Recharge regularly / Spares
• Telephone Communication
Identify phone number for return transportation
Posters or handouts inside the buses with phone
number
LESSONS LEARNED
• Site Management at Remote Locations
Determine route for bus/separate route
for trucks
“No parking” signs along street
Food and water transported on buses
Portable restrooms arranged in advance
(logistics)
LESSONS LEARNED
• Volunteers
Utilize volunteers (registration, parking, riding bus)
Don’t load buses with people who haven’t registered
Traffic Flow in and around volunteer sites
Food and Water at volunteer sites
Establish waiting area of sufficient size
Predetermine destinations with EOC / Engineers
Communications between waiting and bus loading areas
LESSONS LEARNED
• Maps & Road Closing
Roads closed for flooding
Dikes erected
Bus route detours
Communicate changes
ASAP
LESSONS LEARNED
• Selection of appropriate
vehicle
School buses are higher off
ground for clearing water
Low-floor transit buses good
for loading elderly
Always have current
inventory, capacity
information
LESSONS LEARNED
• Storage and vehicle issues
Identify locations for vehicle
storage outside flood areas
Fueling away from site
Starting buses left outside &
checking fluids
Parking for drivers
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Establish Emergency Operations
Center
Emergency Response/Preparedness
Team
Calling Trees – Code Red
NIMS (National Incident
Management System)
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Work with other agencies – respect boundaries
Place qualified personnel at EOC & remote site locations
Advance written agreements (i.e. transportation providers)
Advance training when possible (mock drills)
Identify Shelters/Respite Locations – traffic controls/access
Functional equipment plan (radios, land lines, computers)
Contact Information
• Julie Bommelman
• City of Fargo Transit Administrator
• 650 23rd St N
• Fargo, ND 58102
• 701-476-6737
59
Questions
• Press *1 on your phone to ask a question.
• Type your question into the chat section. Chat
section questions will be addressed as time permits.
Session Evaluation
• Please take a moment to complete the evaluation for
today’s session.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EmergencyPrepWebinar
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WWW.PROJECTACTION.ORG
Easter Seals Project ACTION
1425 K Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005
(800) 659-6428
www.ProjectACTION.org
@projectaction