Transportation & Emergency Preparedness Checklist

1. Transportation & Emergency Preparedness Checklist National Resource Center for Human Service Transportation Coordination (NRC)

2. National Resource Center: Purpose and Goal • Basic purpose: provide states and communities with support to improve and coordinate public transportation and human services • Goal: better coordinate human services and transportation

3. When We Say “Coordination…” • Establish and maintain working relationships with partner organizations • Plan before Emergency Situations occur • Coordination is when two or more parties come together to provide services in the community • Ensure safe and appropriate transportation especially for older adults, persons in group situations and persons with disabilities.

4. Coordination: It’s the Law Coordination is a statutory requirement throughout the federal transit program • Section 5303 (MPO planning processes) • Section 5304 (Statewide planning) • Section 5307 (Urban public transit) • Section 5310 (elderly/disabled persons) • Section 5311 (rural public transit) • Sections 5316 (job access) 5317 (New Freedom)

5. Planning and CoordinationBefore Emergency Situations Establish & maintain working relationships with partner organizations such as: Advocacy organizations Agencies serving transportation dependent populations Employment and training Health and human services agencies Faith and community based organizations

6. Prepare and Distribute YourCommunity Emergency Plan • Maintain up-to-date contact list and network of communications • Organize and conduct regular drills to evacuate transportation dependent populations • Clarify rules, regulations and chains of responsibility at local, state and federal levels

7. Identify Those Needing Assistance • Collaborate with partner organizations to identify individuals who may need transport • Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations/voluntary registries • ID appropriate transportation response for persons unable to reach pick up/drop off locations and ID supply of transportation • Identify an entity to handle such needs

8. Public Involvement & Outreach • Ensure Public Awareness of the Transportation Plan • Include local businesses • Transportation dependent populations • Use a variety of media and accessible formats • Point-of-contact person to talk to public • Consider illiteracy and learning disabilities

9. Equipment & Personnel Support • Establish reliable communications system utilizing available technologies and an alternative. • Maintain transportation resources list by type and availability • Secure agreements with fuel suppliers • Distribute evacuation route information • Train staff regarding emergency plan

10. Maintain Master List of Drivers • By status and availability • CDL as appropriate • Ability to work with people with disabilities and wheelchair lifts • Allow staff to ensure the safety and security of loved ones and personal property before activation

11. When Emergency is Imminent • Local officials notify partner agencies and organizations of the threat • Follow agreed-upon plans, coordination begins among emergency departments, public safety, hospital, transportation providers • Activate designated staging areas and pick up/drop off locations • Place staff, key partner agencies and other vital personnel on stand-by

12. ……Imminent emergency • Notify persons with assistance needs • Notify those who require direct personal contact of impending evacuation and where they will be transported • All passengers are transported to their destinations on the planned evacuation routes or alternative routes as necessary

13. During Emergency Situations • Notify partner organizations of evacuation following protocols. • Implement local plan to effect evacuation, sheltering, response and initial recovery • Emergency transportation officials report to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) • Activate transportation service according to plan

14. ……During emergency • Direct operations over normal dispatch networks, telephones (landlines) and cell phones or previously tested and agreed upon alternative systems • Deploy personnel and equipment to pre-assigned locations • Fuel, re-fuel vehicles and after final trip fuel again and safely house them until response

15. …..during emergency • Driver departs when vehicle reaches full capacity to evacuation location • Provide door-to-door service based upon medical necessity or need of passenger • Prepare vehicle roster to provide a record of service • Operator reports to transportation supervisors to receive further instructions

16. ….during emergency • If the Emergency Ops Center must be evacuated transportation officials will provide vehicles to transport personnel and essential equipment to pre-designated alternative locations

17. Reentry and Recovery Preparations • Initiate recover operations as designated in the emergency plan • Operator and vehicle remain at the sheltering location to return evacuees to their homes • Alternative plans should be in place, in the event evacuations last days or weeks • Operators and passengers have picture ID to return

18. …..Recovery • Operators remain on duty in accordance with the emergency plan • Transportation officials assign other tasks relating to transportation component as situation dictates • Vehicles will return to established drop-off points or residences based upon necessity

19. Assessment • Evaluate emergency response identifying successes and gaps in service • Make appropriate changes to the emergency plan and communicate such changes to partner organizations and the public

20. National Resource Center Jeanne Erickson United We Ride Ambassador –Region 8 303-674-7262 erickson@ctaa.org