Research Project Description

Emergency Management Training and Exercises for Transportation Agency Operations

Project Number: 2910

Project Objective

A new publication that is a follow-on to the emergency plan document (MTI 08-06) which focuses on the training and exercise needs of transit and transportation agencies, to encourage the effective use of ICS and NIMS as required by HSPD-5.

Principal Investigator:

Frances Edwards, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, San Jose State University

Team Members:

Dan Goodrich, Management Analyst, County of Santa Clara

Project Abstract:

Over the past year Edwards and Goodrich have been part of a Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) / Caltrans project to assist the agency in developing their COOP COG Plan. In addition, they have recently completed a publication that outlines the emergency operations plan for a university, which plan could also be used by a small community or public agency as a template or model. In the case of both plans, the application of the information requires both training for the participants on the plan and its operations, and also opportunities to exercise the plan in simulated conditions. At present there is little literature on how to accomplish appropriate training and exercises for transportation and transit agencies, although FEMA has generic emergency training classes and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has some generic exercise models. A new publication that is a follow-on to the emergency plan document which focuses on the training and exercise needs of transit and transportation agencies would encourage the effective use of ICS and NIMS as required by HSPD-5.

Task Description:

Task 1:

Inventory websites for existing transportation and transit exercise guidance.

Task 2:

Inventory on-line databases of King Library for existing transportation and transit exercise guidance.

Task 3:

Interview Dr. Wayne Blanchard of FEMA, Dr. Stephan Parker of TRB, Curry Mayer of California Specialized Training Institute; and survey DHS Centers of Excellence personnel for lists of existing materials focused on training and exercises for transit and transportation agencies.

Task 4:

Survey 10 transit agencies regarding their perceived need for an exercise guide with a transit and transportation focus.

Task 5:

Prepare report on the findings from this research, including a bibliography of exercise materials discovered during the survey that are appropriate to transit and transportation agencies; prepare an application for a research project design based on the findings.

Technology Transfer:

The researchers will apply to deliver a paper at TRB in 2011 detailing the findings and soliciting additional input from participants. They will create a report for MTI that can be made available on the website, and will try to get the information published in at least one open source location. They will also apply for funding from MTI to support the creation of an exercise guide.

Potential Benefits of Project:

If the project results in a discovery that there is a lack of adequate guidance for transit and transportation agencies to create ICS and NIMS exercises, the authors will apply for funding to create a guidebook for phased exercise programs. If the research discloses available materials from government sources, on-line or in databases, the final report from this project will include a bibliography of all the sources that the authors evaluate as ICS and NIMS compliant and transportation-oriented.

Project Funding: $5,000.00