SCOTS 2008 – States’ Key All- Hazards Themes

1. SCOTS 2008 – States’ Key All- Hazards Themes

2. States’ Emerging All-Hazards Strengths Organization • 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

3. 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)

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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.)

8. 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

9. 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