FHWA Operational Concept: 5.2 Roles and Responsibilities

5.2 Roles and Responsibilities

This phase assumes that the necessary preparations for an emergency evacuation have already been made, all responders have been dispatched, equipment is in place, and the general public is in the process of evacuating. At this point, the information dissemination procedures mentioned in the previous two phases are still being conducted.

During this phase, law enforcement agencies assume the critical task of directing traffic control procedures while trying to create a safe, manageable environment for the evacuating public. It will be important to continuously monitor and manage the flow of traffic throughout the course of the evacuation operations phase. Issues such as disabled vehicles blocking through traffic and restless evacuees and uncontrollable factors such as the weather may create a stressful environment for affected agencies as well as the evacuating public.

Table 7 describes some of the roles and responsibilities of the various agencies involved in the evacuation operations phase.

Table 7: Phase 4 Evacuation Operations Roles and Responsibilities
Agency Type	Agency	Roles and Responsibilities
Local Agencies	Emergency Management	Continue to coordinate dissemination of information regarding the evacuation to the public via the agency’s PIO and Web site by providing timely and accurate updates Coordinate resources of agencies to support evacuation needs Monitor the progress of the evacuation by means of data provided by other responding agencies, and direct the process as needed Maintain expenditure records to facilitate reimbursement
	Transportation	Support traveler information dissemination using information obtained from vehicle detection systems and CCTV surveillance system, and provide information to lead and affected jurisdictions’ emergency management personnel Support law enforcement/public safety traffic management and control efforts, and implement modifications to signal system or ITS devices as requested Provide timely updates of road condition information gathered from traffic signal systems, vehicle detection systems, and CCTV surveillance system to lead and affected agency emergency management personnel Maintain expenditure records to facilitate reimbursement
	Law Enforcement/Public Safety	Direct, conduct, and monitor evacuation process Provide protection and security of evacuation area Direct traffic control, with support from Public Works/Transportation Maintain expenditure records to facilitate reimbursement
	Fire Department	Perform rescue and life safety operations when required Support law enforcement/public safety in executing evacuation Maintain expenditure records to facilitate reimbursement
	Transit	Provide and coordinate/manage transit resources Coordinate with lead emergency management agency through Dispatch/Operations Center Mobilize transit vehicles and drivers to transport evacuees Use transit vehicles as mobile shelters for emergency personnel Maintain expenditure records to facilitate reimbursement
County and State Agencies	County Emergency Management	Provide operational support and resources to lead and affected jurisdictions Maintain expenditure records to facilitate reimbursement
	State Emergency Management/Office of Homeland Security	Provide lead role in the event of a multi-state evacuation or if evacuees are evacuated to other states Provide operational support and resources to lead and affected jurisdictions Maintain expenditure records to facilitate reimbursement
	County Department of Transportation	Assume roles and responsibilities of a lead or affected agency for evacuations originating within unincorporated areas, otherwise assume roles and responsibilities of a neighboring agency Maintain expenditure records to facilitate reimbursement
	State Department of Transportation	Support traveler information dissemination, in coordination with lead agency Support law enforcement/public safety traffic management and control efforts, and implement modifications to signal system on highways and at interchanges as requested Provide timely updates of road condition information gathered from traffic signal systems, vehicle detection systems, and CCTV surveillance system to lead and affected agency emergency management personnel Maintain expenditure records to facilitate reimbursement
	County Law Enforcement/Public Safety	Assume roles and responsibilities of a lead or affected agency for evacuations originating within unincorporated areas, otherwise assume roles and responsibilities of a neighboring agency Maintain expenditure records to facilitate reimbursement
	State Law Enforcement/Public Safety	Assume primary responsibility for evacuation on state highways and freeways Provide support to local and affected agencies in implementing evacuation plans Maintain expenditure records to facilitate reimbursement
Other Agencies	Media	Provide evacuation information to the evacuees as received from the lead jurisdiction emergency management agency’s PIO
Other Agencies	Private Support Agencies (e.g., Red Cross and Salvation Army)	Manage shelters Manage responder support (rest stations, food, water, etc.) Facilitate contact centers for information Coordinate social services Coordinate with Salvation Army Coordinate with Humane Society Collect and manage donations Activate Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

June 26, 2006
Publication #FHWA-HOP-08-020