Address the Problem: Develop an Emergency Operations Plan for Extreme Events

Abstract:

Railroads operate in an open environment that is subject to weather-related impacts on its rolling stock, right-of-way, and control systems. Planning in advance for these impacts enables the organization to build from a threat analysis to an organized response. In recent years, weather has created notable extreme events impacting railroad property, such as Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Helene, and numerous wildland fires. As these extreme events become more common, the railroads can benefit from advanced emergency planning that allows railroad leaders to prepare personnel, facilities, and relationships with local governments and neighboring property owners to respond to and recover from these events and minimize downtime for the rail system. Emergency plans organized around the Incident Command System and checklists enable staff working under the stress of emergency conditions to save lives, while protecting the environment and protecting property, thus speeding system recovery to normal operations.

This is part of an ongoing series of publications/resources focused on preparing railroad organizations to respond to extreme events. The first publication in this series is Identify the Problems: Threat and Hazard Inventory and Risk Assessment (THIRA).

	Dr. Craig Clements, Interview on Wildland Fire Planning
	Dr. Trent Bachman, Interview on Boston Emergency Response Group
	Dr. Trent Bachman, Interview on Amtrak Interiors
	Pantaleon (Torch) Rivera, Interview on Capital Projects to Respond to Climate Change

Publications:

Address the Problem: Develop an Emergency Operations Plan for Extreme Events

Additional Resources:

Railroad Extreme Event Annex Template

Railroad Wildland Fire Annex (example)

Develop an Emergency Plan for Extreme Events (PowerPoint instructional material)

Authors:

FRANCES L EDWARDS, MUP, PHD, CEM

Frances L. Edwards is the deputy director of the Mineta Transportation Institute’s Allied Telesis National Transportation Security Center, professor emerita in the San Jose State University Political Science Department, and an instructor in the Master of Science in Transportation Management for MTI. She also teaches courses for TSA Surface Inspectors through ENSCO. She is the Principal Investigator for this research. She is the co-author of four books, fourteen publications for MTI, and numerous articles and book chapters. She is a certified emergency manager with more than 20 years’ field experience.

DANIEL C GOODRICH, MPA, CEM MEP

Daniel C. Goodrich is the senior transportation security scientist for the Mineta Transportation Institute, and an instructor in the Master of Science in Transportation Management for MTI. He also teaches courses for TSA Surface Inspectors through ENSCO. He is the co-author of Introduction to Transportation Security and ten reports for MTI. He is a certified emergency manager, a master exercise practitioner, and a certified security specialist. He has worked in emergency management for local government and the private sector, and has sixteen years’ active military service, including US Marine Corps Security Forces.

Published:

July 2025

Keywords:

Emergency management

Emergency planning

Extreme Events