Hurricane EvacuationHurricane EvacuationTexas StyleTexas Style

National Transportation Operations Coalition Talking Operations Web SeminarNational Transportation Operations Coalition Talking Operations Web SeminarWednesday, November 30, 2005Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Katrina and RitaKatrina and Rita

Two Events Back to BackTwo Events Back to BackMETRO’s role was to move New METRO’s role was to move New

Orleans’ evacuees Orleans’ evacuees intointo Houston for Houston for safety and shelter.safety and shelter.

Conversely, our mission during Rita Conversely, our mission during Rita was to help move people was to help move people out out of of Houston. Houston.

Katrina Unified CommandKatrina Unified Command

NIMS in action. Some on the job training.NIMS in action. Some on the job training. METRO operations and police personnel fielded METRO operations and police personnel fielded

request from inside the Incident Command request from inside the Incident Command Center established at Reliant Park, next to the Center established at Reliant Park, next to the Astrodome. Astrodome.

METRO became a pivotal transportation bridge METRO became a pivotal transportation bridge to move New Orleans’ evacuees from area to move New Orleans’ evacuees from area airports to the Astrodome, and to provide trolley, airports to the Astrodome, and to provide trolley, bus and rail service around the complex and to bus and rail service around the complex and to neighboring medical facilities, government neighboring medical facilities, government offices and food and retail outlets.offices and food and retail outlets.

Transportation & Law Enforcement Branch

Request From Incident Command to Transportation Branch

METRO Desk (Police & Operations) receives request and

evaluates number of buses required, safety of mission, and

priority of request.

Simple Request –Deploy Resources

Requests involving 10+ buses or outside of the METRO Service Area will be referred to Operations Management in the METRO Operations Center at TranStar

Deploy Resources

Katrina Decision TreeKatrina Decision Tree

Katrina to RitaKatrina to Rita

METRO activities in support of Katrina Relief METRO activities in support of Katrina Relief lasted 20 days, from September 1 through the lasted 20 days, from September 1 through the 2020thth..

On Tuesday, September 20On Tuesday, September 20thth local emergency local emergency response agencies, including METRO redirected response agencies, including METRO redirected the focus of the emergency from New Orleans’ the focus of the emergency from New Orleans’ evacuees to our role in the evacuation of this evacuees to our role in the evacuation of this country’s 4th largest city.country’s 4th largest city.

Houston Was Spared a Houston Was Spared a Direct Hit by Rita.Direct Hit by Rita.

But only 48 hours But only 48 hours before it struck, before it struck, forecasters put forecasters put Galveston and the Galveston and the greater Houston greater Houston area on a collision area on a collision course with a course with a Category 5 Category 5 Hurricane.Hurricane.

An almost Direct Hit on Houston

Actual Path into Louisiana

Hurricane RitaHurricane Rita Worked in partnership with emergency Worked in partnership with emergency

responders from the City of Houston, Harris responders from the City of Houston, Harris County, the Texas Department of County, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Governor’s Division of Transportation, the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management (GDEM) and the Emergency Management (GDEM) and the National Weather Service.National Weather Service.

Supported Law Enforcement Agencies and Supported Law Enforcement Agencies and Transit Systems outside of the METRO region.Transit Systems outside of the METRO region.

Unified Command at Houston TranStarUnified Command at Houston TranStar

Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) METRO suspended bus service at 2pm on Thursday, METRO suspended bus service at 2pm on Thursday,

the day before Rita’s landfall, to utilize as many the day before Rita’s landfall, to utilize as many vehicles as necessary for the evacuation.vehicles as necessary for the evacuation.

Service on our 7.5 mile light rail line continued until Service on our 7.5 mile light rail line continued until 9pm. 9pm.

Rail and bus service were suspended on Friday and Rail and bus service were suspended on Friday and Saturday. Saturday.

Light rail along with twelve critical bus routes were Light rail along with twelve critical bus routes were back in operation on Sunday, with 34 more added on back in operation on Sunday, with 34 more added on Monday. Monday.

Normal bus, HOV and Park and Ride services were Normal bus, HOV and Park and Ride services were restored on Tuesday. restored on Tuesday.

Rita – Unified Command at Rita – Unified Command at Houston TranStarHouston TranStar

City, County, & State Emergency City, County, & State Emergency ManagementManagement

HPD, HCSO, State PoliceHPD, HCSO, State PoliceTexas Department of TransportationTexas Department of TransportationRed Cross, Salvation ArmyRed Cross, Salvation ArmyNews Media–Joint Information Center News Media–Joint Information Center

(JIC)(JIC)Mayor and County Judge Mayor and County Judge (CEO of County (CEO of County

Govt.)Govt.)

METRO RoleMETRO Role

MitigationMitigationContinuity of Operations (COOP)Continuity of Operations (COOP)COH Emergency Management Plan COH Emergency Management Plan

Transportation AnnexTransportation AnnexBrokered Local Transportation Services, Brokered Local Transportation Services,

i.e. cabs, private coaches, paratransit i.e. cabs, private coaches, paratransit vehicles, coaches provided by GDEM.vehicles, coaches provided by GDEM.

Assist in a “Expanded” Region Evacuation.Assist in a “Expanded” Region Evacuation.

What did METRO AccomplishWhat did METRO Accomplish

Arranged bus transportation for evacuees Arranged bus transportation for evacuees from Galvestonfrom Galveston

Utilized Amtrak and Trinity Railroad trains to Utilized Amtrak and Trinity Railroad trains to move people out of Galveston and Houstonmove people out of Galveston and Houston

Deployed 500 METRO buses and 500 other Deployed 500 METRO buses and 500 other vehicles to transport more than 20,000 vehicles to transport more than 20,000 people during 4,500 tripspeople during 4,500 trips

Used 18 METRO buses, operators and Used 18 METRO buses, operators and police, along with 350 volunteers, to load police, along with 350 volunteers, to load and dispense 45,000 bottles of water to and dispense 45,000 bottles of water to stranded motorists along area freewaysstranded motorists along area freeways

What did METRO AccomplishWhat did METRO Accomplish

Successfully advocated for opening Successfully advocated for opening contra-flow lanes. contra-flow lanes.

Conducted last minute “sweeps” of area Conducted last minute “sweeps” of area freeways to rescue motorists and others freeways to rescue motorists and others seeking shelter.seeking shelter.

Delivered and made fuel available to Delivered and made fuel available to dozens of emergency response vehicles.dozens of emergency response vehicles.

Arranged hundreds of long and short-Arranged hundreds of long and short-distance trips to get Houston-area distance trips to get Houston-area evacuees back home.evacuees back home.

What is the most precious element required to keep a transit system operating under normal circumstance, which is magnified during an emergency ?

FUEL!

Interoperability

Thank You

Thomas C. LambertVice President & Chief of Police

Houston METRO713-615-6409

tlambert@ridemetro.org