Paratransit Emergency Preparedness and Operations Handbook (2013) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 15-47
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From page 15... ...
15 C h a p t e r 3 Preparedness is a state of readiness that allows individuals or an enterprise to avoid, prevent, respond to, and recover from the effects of natural disasters, criminal acts, terrorism, or technological incidents. Paratransit preparedness is built on a continuous cycle of planning, training, and exercising, with follow-up evaluation and performance monitoring to build personal and organizational capabilities.
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From page 16... ...
16 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook Considerations ▪▪ In urban and suburban areas, fixed-route coaches and school buses are normally used for mass evacuation missions. Paratransit vehicles are more often focused on helping people with access and functional needs.
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From page 17... ...
preparedness 17 Resources for Urban/Suburban and Rural/Tribal Areas ▪▪ Critical Asset Analysis Form http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php? id=3319 A rating system to determine the levels of criticality and vulnerability of a transit organization's critical assets.
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From page 18... ...
18 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook ▪▪ Vehicle Inventory Database http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php? id=4229 This worksheet is the spec or design of a potential vehicle inventory database.
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preparedness 19 section of the EOC. Using this approach, when the EOC identifies the need for transportation resources, they notify the lead for ESF-1 who then deploys the appropriate resources to support the mission request.
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20 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook ▪▪ Emergency Support Function 1 -- Transportation Annex -- FEMA http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php? id=4150 The Transportation Annex document from FEMA that outlines the purpose of the ESF-1 function.
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From page 21... ...
preparedness 21 Strategy ▪▪ Be proactive in soliciting invitations from emergency management and/or other key stakeholders to participate in local and/or regional emergency planning meetings. LEPC meetings or UASI meetings are often the platforms for most successfully interfacing with partner agencies and/or emergency management.
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From page 22... ...
22 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook that transportation systems may take to improve their capabilities to support community evacuations. ▪▪ Elements of Interorganizational Agreements http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php?
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preparedness 23 on local hazard and threat scenarios. The greater the competition for these resources, the more advanced planning is required.
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24 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook Resource for Urban/Suburban Areas ▪▪ Recommended Practice for a Continuity of Operations Plan http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php? id=4125 This document is a recommended practice from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
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From page 25... ...
preparedness 25 well as community-wide disasters that can overwhelm local resources. Problems can arise when paratransit providers are knowingly or unknowingly written into emergency plans for social service agencies and resident care centers.
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From page 26... ...
26 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook Resources for Urban/Suburban and Rural/Tribal Areas ▪▪ Checklist for Capabilities Assessment Summary and Transit Resources Available http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php? id=3745 A form from the "Guidebook for Emergency Management Planning for Texas Transit Agencies" for listing community emergency response services that a transit agency is able to perform and resources that a transit system is able to provide in the event of a community emergency.
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From page 27... ...
preparedness 27 of detail needed for effective response by drivers, dispatchers, maintenance staff, supervisors, and managers. An important concept in addressing safety concerns includes collecting safety data related to vehicle accidents and passenger/employee incidents.
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28 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook Tool: Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness Plans Topics to consider within an Emergency Operations Plan: ❑ Preparedness – Who has the authority, both internally and externally, to make emergency response decisions and issue directions – Mechanism to assess emergency situations and initiate timely reaction strategies – Emergency assignments for key personnel – Continuity of management/line of succession – Alert notification lists – Intra-agency and interagency communication systems – Designation of an emergency dispatch center and alternate backup – Inventory and maintenance of vehicles and equipment – Training requirements – Protection of vital records – Interagency agreements ❑ Response – Service suspension thresholds – Meeting customer emergency transportation needs – Interface with emergency management and first responders – Public information/communications – Actions of management staff during an emergency – Actions of dispatch and supervisory staff during an emergency – Actions of drivers, maintenance, and other field staff during an emergency – Vehicle mobilization, communication, and operations ❑ Recovery – Crisis counseling for staff – Damage assessment/impact/evaluation – Cleanup and salvage operations – Business restoration/reconstitution – Finance, insurance, and reimbursement – Data recovery Topics to consider within a paratransit system safety program plan: ❑ Authority and policy statement for system safety program plan ❑ Purpose and goals of system safety program plan ❑ Identifiable and attainable safety objectives ❑ System description/organizational structure ❑ Procedures to update plan ❑ Procedures for controlling release of plan ❑ Hazard identification/resolution process ❑ Accident/incident reporting and investigation ❑ Safety data acquisition/analysis – Safety incident record keeping – Safety near-miss reporting – Safety data trend analysis ❑ Inspection process for facilities, equipment, and rolling stock ❑ Maintenance audits/inspections (all systems and facilities) ❑ Rules/procedures review ❑ System modification review/approval process ❑ Training and certification review/audit
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From page 29... ...
preparedness 29 ❑ Interdepartmental/interagency coordination ❑ Risks in your operating environment ❑ Safety of your passenger facilities ❑ Employee safety program ❑ Contractor safety coordination ❑ Drug and alcohol abuse programs ❑ Procurement ❑ Hazardous materials programs ❑ Safety related to alternative fuels such as CNG Topics to consider within a paratransit system security plan: ❑ Threat and vulnerability assessment – Identification of criminal or terrorist threats – Vulnerability of critical paratransit assets ❑ Facility security – Administrative offices – Maintenance facilities – Transfer centers – Vehicle storage areas ❑ Administrative security – Security roles and responsibilities – Computer and electronics security – Hard copy files – Bomb threats – Suspicious mail ❑ Security of fare handling – Fare handling and counting procedures – Fare transfer ❑ Handling security events on paratransit vehicles – On-vehicle security technology – Handling dangerous passengers – Responding to hostage situations – Responding to suspicious items – Requesting law enforcement assistance ❑ Security awareness and response – Identifying suspicious people, behavior, and vehicles – Procedures for reporting suspicions – Security awareness and response training ❑ Security data acquisition and analysis – Security incident record keeping – Security near-miss reporting – Security data trend analysis Resources for Urban/Suburban Areas ▪▪ Manual for the Development of Bus Transit System Safety Program Plans http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php? id=2951 Prepared by APTA, this document serves as a primer and guideline for both new start and established bus systems in defining the elements recommended for inclusion in a system safety program plan.
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From page 30... ...
30 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook ▪▪ Recommended Practice for the Development and Implementation of a Security and Emergency Preparedness Plan (SEPP) http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php?
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From page 31... ...
preparedness 31 ▪▪ Model System Security Program Plan Template http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php? id=2975 This Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development template is to assist transit agencies in developing a comprehensive system security program plan.
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From page 32... ...
32 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook ▪▪ Dangerous Person(s) on Transit Property http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php?
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preparedness 33 as the duty cycle includes non-driving time and total driving time does not exceed ten hours per shift. Since emergency response activities often continue for extended hours and even days, issues of driver fatigue and relief shifts inevitably arise.
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34 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook managers, supervisors, dispatchers, mechanics, and drivers. This policy must be consistent with appropriate governmental or private-sector protocol, union contract language, and paratransit system mission and values.
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preparedness 35 Resources for Urban/Suburban and Rural/Tribal Areas Essential Personnel ▪▪ Essential Personnel Policy http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php? id=3771 This policy from Coast Transit Authority summarizes procedures to ensure the presence of adequate and appropriate personnel essential to carry out the transit agency's responsibilities for hurricane evacuations and other emergency response events.
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From page 36... ...
36 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook Vehicle Orientation ▪▪ New Bus Operator Vehicle Orientation Documentation Form http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php? id=3170 This form is New Mexico DOT's checklist that is used to certify and document that a driver has received instruction on and understands the operation and purpose of the listed features and functions of a specific vehicle prototype.
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From page 37... ...
preparedness 37 ▪▪ It has proven helpful to have an in-house paratransit employee dedicated to staying in communication with contracted paratransit services during an emergency to keep the connection between supervisors open and available. Strategy ▪▪ If your agency contracts out any or all of its paratransit services, ensure contracts contain formal language regarding your contractor's roles and responsibilities during emergencies, either in service to your customers or in support of community-wide emergency response and recovery.
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From page 38... ...
38 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook 3.B Training 3.B.1 National Incident Management System/ Incident Command System The ICS, NIMS, and NRF are federally mandated training certification programs for any agency that may be asked to support emergency response and recovery activities. FEMA and other organizations may consider NIMS certification in establishing eligibility for disaster reimbursement.
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From page 39... ...
preparedness 39 Resource for Urban/Suburban and Rural/Tribal Areas ▪▪ NIMS Training Program http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php? id=4137 This link is to FEMA's NIMS online training courses.
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From page 40... ...
40 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook Strategy ▪▪ Train all frontline and supervisory paratransit staff on procedures and protocols for responding to internal paratransit-specific emergencies as well as community disasters. The skills developed during this training are critical to successful employee performance, be it for paratransit emergency response or community emergency response.
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From page 41... ...
preparedness 41 3.B.3 Personal and Family Preparedness Effective emergency planning recognizes the benefit of public outreach and education on personal and family preparedness. Paratransit employees who do not have personal and family emergency plans are less likely to report to work following a disaster.
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From page 42... ...
42 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook Resources for Urban/Suburban and Rural/Tribal Areas ▪▪ Personal Workplace Disaster Supplies Kit Checklist http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php? id=4128 This one-page document from the American Red Cross lists the recommended supplies to keep at the workplace in case employees are confined for many hours, or perhaps overnight, during a disaster or emergency.
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From page 43... ...
preparedness 43 foster relationships with first responders and partner agencies and ensure that your emergency plans do not conflict with broader community emergency response procedures. State DOTs and state emergency management agencies may be able to act as catalysts at the state level to encourage paratransit involvement in community emergency response simulations and exercises.
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44 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook vehicles. Thus, paratransit providers, whether internal or contracted, have little opportunity to exercise their capability to respond to actual emergency events.
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From page 45... ...
preparedness 45 Resource for Urban/Suburban Areas ▪▪ Guidelines for Transportation Emergency Training Exercises http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php? id=4131 The ninth volume of both NCHRP Report 525: Surface Transportation Security and TCRP Report 86: Public Transportation Security assists transportation agencies in developing drills and exercises in alignment with NIMS.
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From page 46... ...
46 paratransit emergency preparedness and Operations handbook because of disaster effects or lack of support resources at their homes following the disaster. Planning for how to best serve these customers caught "in system" on paratransit vehicles or at dropoff locations should be examined during both internal and interagency exercises.
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From page 47... ...
preparedness 47 ▪▪ Emergency Planning for Special Needs Populations http://bussafety.fta.dot.gov/show_resource.php? id=4138 This article addresses the process Josephine County, Oregon, has undertaken to bring residents with special needs into its emergency planning process.
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