Copyright High Street Consulting Group 2007

SCOTS 2008 – States’ Key All- Hazards Themes

States’ Emerging All-Hazards StrengthsOrganization• Support for a day-to-day “all hazards” role is gaining

traction at many DOTs – e.g. VA Framework Teams for Critical Infrastructure, e.g. IA Operations Support Center

• DOTs stepping up to leadership roles on logical issues, e.g. critical transportation infrastructure protection in VA, debris removal in DE, communications in MO

• DOTs sometimes split homeland security and emergency management roles (e.g. MD)

• Economic security/“All hazards” is marketing hook at DOTs for selling security to leadership

States’ Emerging All-Hazards Strengths(Cont.)Institutions• DOTs are building dedicated all-hazards staff

capacity - 2 to 10 person work units typical (e.g. SCOTS helped IA get off ground)

• Fusion centers - DOTs are co-locating 24/7 Transportation Management Centers with Emergency Operations Centers (E.g. VA, DE, WV)

States’ Emerging All-Hazards Strengths(Cont.)Partnerships• Many DOTs have gained a voice at the table with

partners in emergency management community & others (e.g. KS working with ag business)

• DOTs finding ways to be classed as “first responders” alongside fire, EMS, etc. (e.g. MI, NC)

States’ Emerging All-Hazards Strengths(Cont.)Information Sharing• DOTs are developing capability to share data from traffic

management systems with all hazards partners (e.g. Volpe system)

• Routine daily bulletins on system events are becoming more common (e.g. VDOT, CalTrans)

• DOTs have shown leadership as providers of communications technology (e.g. MoDOT leads Missouri’s emergency communications system, KDOT same?)

• Robust, accurate, predictive information for freight shippers

States’ Emerging All-Hazards Strengths(Cont.)Training• DOTs are providing basic NIMS training to most

or some employees• Participation in regular tabletop exercises is

routine (e.g. WV 11 in 2007)

States’ Emerging All-Hazards Strengths(Cont.)Funding & Capital Equipment• DOTs are learning how to get DHS funds, but

needs still outweigh funding (e.g. MD - $30M in 5 yrs?, e.g. MI $ 3 or $4M?)

• DOTs are routinely investing in hi-tech mobile operations centers (e.g. WV, etc.) and emergency management trailers (e.g. DE, WV, etc.)

States’ Challenges

• Critical infrastructure identification/protection remains an area where many DOTs seek support

• How to share all hazards roles between districts and headquarters

• Evacuation planning • Next frontier is improving interstate coordination• Costly communications interoperability• Multimodal perspective on all-hazards issues

States’ Challenges (Cont.)

• Equipment shortages – e.g. portable VMS or emergency management trailers

• Public/private partnerships to share costs• Improved DOT staff situational awareness• Establishing consistent practices from state to state – pocket

guides a SCOTS function?• More sophisticated guidance on economic impacts of

emergency situations• Working with other agencies remains a challenge• Tow truck credentialing issues