FHWA Operational Concept: 2.2 Roles and Responsibilities

2.2 Roles and Responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities of the various agencies involved in planning for an emergency evacuation are similar. Depending on the demographics of a particular region, emergency evacuation plans may be developed at the local level, the county level, the state level, or any combination of the three. One of the most critical components of the advanced planning phase is coordination and cooperation among all agencies involved.

Ideally, each plan, regardless of the agency that developed the plan, should fit into the overall general emergency plan for the city, region, county, and state. Each agency should be familiar with the roles and responsibilities allocated to them in the various plans. Table 1 describes the typical roles and responsibilities during the advanced planning phase of the various agencies involved in developing emergency evacuation plans.

Table 1: Phase 1 Advanced Planning Roles and Responsibilities
Agency Type	Agency	Roles and Responsibilities
Local Agencies	Emergency Management	Coordinate with other critical agencies (transportation, law agencies management enforcement/public safety, transit, etc.) to develop an emergency evacuation strategy plan Execute an agreement with all agencies identified in the emergency evacuation strategy plan, if not already done by the emergency management agency (EMA) stating that each agency will participate in regularly scheduled exercises/drills, testing the evacuation plan against various scenarios (e.g., natural disaster, terrorist attack, and disease outbreak) Conduct high-level analysis of the evacuation area to determine projected number of evacuees within jurisdiction Inventory resources of agencies within the local jurisdiction, and coordinate with other EMAs (local, county, and state) to plan for sharing of resources in an emergency situation Establish redundancy of emergency operations centers, systems, equipment, and personnel Establish uniform communications protocols both within the agency and with other agencies Establish uniform communications protocols for notifying the public and the media Develop a contact list consisting of phone numbers (office, home, cell), fax, pager, and email addresses of key personnel at other local, county, and state agencies Develop evacuation plans, in coordination with other local, county, state, and transit agencies, with consideration for all types of evacuation scenarios (e.g., naturally occurring, accidental, and/or terrorist events) Develop and participate in intergovernmental and mutual-aid agreements Provide personnel training and practice regarding evacuation procedures and conduct after-action reports Educate the public about emergency evacuation routes and procedures Practice cooperation with other agencies during normal times Store copies of emergency plans and vital records in multiple locations to protect them in the event the main emergency operations center becomes compromised during an incident
	Transportation	Coordinate with other critical agencies (transportation, law enforcement/public safety, transit, etc.) to develop emergency evacuation strategy plan Execute an agreement with all agencies identified in the emergency evacuation strategy plan (if not already done by EMA) stating that each agency will participate in regularly scheduled exercises/drills, testing the evacuation plan against various scenarios (e.g., natural disaster, terrorist attack, and disease outbreak) Evaluate evacuation route alternatives and determine feasibility of using each evacuation route, including capacity needs and restrictions, and clearance times under various hypothetical scenarios Evaluate the need for evacuation phasing Establish evacuation transportation control guidelines (e.g., utilization of transit resources to transport evacuees, contraflow, optimization of signal patterns and lane use, mitigation of work zone impacts, and suspension of tolls and fares) Establish redundancy of Traffic Management Centers, systems, equipment, and personnel Evaluate how Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) components can aid in an evacuation Establish uniform communications protocols both within the agency and with other agencies Establish uniform communications protocols for notifying the public and the media about evacuation procedures and resources Develop a contact list consisting of phone numbers (office, home, cell), fax, pager, and email addresses of key personnel at other local, county, and state agencies Coordinate with other local, county, state, and transit agencies to develop evacuation plans Participate in intergovernmental and mutual-aid agreements Provide personnel training and practice regarding evacuation procedures and conduct after-action reports Practice cooperation with other agencies during normal times
	Law Enforcement/ Public Safety	Coordinate with other critical agencies (transportation, law enforcement/public safety, transit, etc.) to develop an emergency evacuation strategy plan Execute an agreement with all agencies identified in the emergency evacuation strategy plan (if not already done by EMA), stating that each agency will participate in regularly scheduled exercises/drills testing the evacuation plan against various scenarios (e.g., natural disaster, terrorist attack, and disease outbreak) Establish redundancy of operations/management centers, systems, equipment, and personnel Establish uniform communications protocols both within the agency and with other agencies Establish uniform communications protocols for notifying the public and the media Establish Reverse 911® protocols Develop a contact list consisting of phone numbers (office, home, cell), fax, pager, and email addresses of key personnel at other local, county, and state agencies Coordinate with other local, county, state, and transit agencies to develop evacuation plans Participate in intergovernmental and mutual-aid agreements Provide personnel training and practice regarding evacuation procedures and conduct after-action reports Practice cooperation with other agencies during normal times
	Fire Department	Coordinate with other critical agencies (transportation, law enforcement/public safety, transit, etc.) to develop an emergency evacuation strategy plan Execute an agreement with all agencies identified in the emergency evacuation strategy plan (if not already done by EMA), stating that each agency will participate in regularly scheduled exercises/drills testing the evacuation plan against various scenarios (e.g., natural disaster, terrorist attack, and disease outbreak) Establish redundancy of operations/management centers, systems, equipment, and personnel Establish uniform communications protocols both within the agency and with other agencies Establish uniform communications protocols for notifying the public and the media Develop a contact list consisting of phone numbers (office, home, cell), fax, pager, and email addresses of key personnel at other local, county, and state agencies Provide personnel training and practice regarding evacuation procedures and conduct after-action reports Practice cooperation with other agencies during normal times
	Transit	Coordinate with local, county, and state agencies to develop an emergency evacuation strategy plan Execute an agreement with all agencies identified in the emergency evacuation strategy plan (if not already done by EMA), stating that each agency will participate in regularly scheduled exercises/drills testing the evacuation plan against various scenarios (e.g., natural disaster, terrorist attack, and disease outbreak) Establish guidelines for transit agency response, including rerouting of vehicles, call back of drivers and dispatchers, etc. in the event of an evacuation Establish uniform communications protocols both within the agency and with other agencies Develop a contact list consisting of phone numbers (office, home, cell), fax, pager, and email addresses of key personnel at other local, county, and state agencies Participate in intergovernmental and mutual-aid agreements Provide personnel training and practice regarding evacuation procedures and conduct after-action reports (AARs) Practice cooperation with other agencies during normal times
County and State Agencies	County Emergency Management	Coordinate with other critical agencies (transportation, law state management enforcement/public safety, transit, etc.) to develop an emergency evacuation strategy plan Execute an agreement with all agencies identified in the emergency evacuation strategy plan (if not already done by EMA), stating that each agency will participate in regularly scheduled exercises/drills, testing the evacuation plan against various scenarios (e.g., natural disaster, terrorist attack, and disease outbreak) Conduct high-level analysis of evacuation area to determine projected number of evacuees within the jurisdiction Inventory resources of agencies within the local jurisdiction, and coordinate with other EMAs (local, county, and state) to plan for sharing of resources in an emergency situation Establish redundancy of emergency operations centers, systems, equipment, and personnel Establish uniform communications protocols both within the agency and with other agencies Establish uniform communications protocols for notifying the public and the media about evacuation procedures and resources Develop a contact list consisting of phone numbers (office, home, cell), fax, pager, and email addresses of key personnel at other local, county, and state agencies Develop evacuation plans, in coordination with other local, county, state, and transit agencies, with consideration towards all types of evacuation scenarios (e.g., naturally occurring, accidental, and/or terrorist events) Participate in intergovernmental and mutual-aid agreements Provide personnel training and practice regarding evacuation procedures and conduct AARs Educate the public about emergency evacuation routes and procedures Practice cooperation with other agencies during normal times Store copies of emergency plans and vital records in multiple locations to protect them in the event the main emergency operations center becomes compromised during an incident
	State Emergency Management/Office of Homeland Security	Coordinate with other critical agencies (transportation, law enforcement/public safety, transit, etc.) to develop an emergency evacuation strategy plan Execute an agreement with all agencies identified in the emergency evacuation strategy plan (if not already done by EMA), stating that each agency will participate in regularly scheduled exercises/drills testing the evacuation plan against various scenarios (e.g., natural disaster, terrorist attack, and disease outbreak) Establish redundancy of emergency operations centers, systems, equipment, and personnel Establish uniform communications protocols both within the agency and with other agencies Establish uniform communications protocols for notifying the public and the media Develop a contact list consisting of phone numbers (office, home, cell), fax, pager, and email addresses of key personnel at other local, county, and state agencies Coordinate with local and county EMAs to plan for sharing of resources in an emergency situation Coordinate with other local, county, state, and transit agencies to develop evacuation plans Participate in intergovernmental and mutual-aid agreements Provide personnel training and practice regarding evacuation procedures and conduct AARs Practice cooperation with other agencies during normal times
	County Department of Transportation	Coordinate with other critical agencies (transportation, law enforcement/public safety, transit, etc.) to develop an emergency evacuation strategy plan Execute an agreement with all agencies identified in the emergency evacuation strategy plan (if not already done by EMA), stating that each agency will participate in regularly scheduled exercises/drills, testing the evacuation plan against various scenarios (e.g., natural disaster, terrorist attack, and disease outbreak) Evaluate evacuation route alternatives and determine feasibility of using each evacuation route, including capacity needs and restrictions, and clearance times under various hypothetical scenarios Evaluate the need for evacuation phasing Establish evacuation transportation control guidelines (e.g., utilization of transit resources to transport evacuees, contraflow, optimization of signal patterns and lane use, mitigation of work zone impacts, suspension of tolls and fares) Establish redundancy of operations/management centers, systems, equipment, and personnel Establish uniform communications protocols both within the agency and with other agencies Establish uniform communications protocols for notifying the public and the media about evacuation procedures and resources Develop a contact list consisting of phone numbers (office, home, cell), fax, pager, and email addresses of key personnel at other local, county, and state agencies Coordinate with other local, county, state, and transit agencies to develop evacuation plans Participate in intergovernmental and mutual-aid agreements Provide personnel training and practice regarding evacuation procedures and conduct AARs Practice cooperation with other agencies during normal times
	State Department of Transportation	Coordinate with other critical agencies (transportation, law enforcement/public safety, transit, etc.) to develop an emergency evacuation strategy plan Execute an agreement with all agencies identified in the emergency evacuation strategy plan (if not already done by EMA), stating that each agency will participate in regularly scheduled exercises/drills, testing the evacuation plan against various scenarios (e.g., natural disaster, terrorist attack, and disease outbreak) Establish redundancy of operations/management centers, systems, equipment, and personnel Establish uniform communications protocols both within the agency and with other agencies Establish uniform communications protocols for notifying the public and the media Develop a contact list consisting of phone numbers (office, home, cell), fax, pager, and email addresses of key personnel at other local, county, and state agencies Coordinate with other local, county, state, and transit agencies to develop evacuation plans Participate in intergovernmental and mutual-aid agreements Provide personnel training and practice regarding evacuation procedures and conduct AARs Practice cooperation with other agencies during normal times
	County Law Enforcement/Public Safety	Coordinate with other critical agencies (transportation, law enforcement/public safety, transit, etc.) to develop an emergency evacuation strategy plan Execute an agreement with all agencies identified in the emergency evacuation strategy plan (if not already done by EMA), stating that each agency will participate in regularly scheduled exercises/drills, testing the evacuation plan against various scenarios (e.g., natural disaster, terrorist attack, and disease outbreak) Establish Reverse 911® protocols Establish redundancy of operations/management centers, systems, equipment, and personnel Establish uniform communications protocols both within the agency and with other agencies Establish uniform communications protocols for notifying the public and the media about evacuation procedures and resources Develop a contact list consisting of phone numbers (office, home, cell), fax, pager, and email addresses of key personnel at other local, county, and state agencies Coordinate with other local, county, state, and transit agencies to develop evacuation plans Participate in intergovernmental and mutual-aid agreements Provide personnel training and practice regarding evacuation procedures and conduct AARs Practice cooperation with other agencies during normal times
	State Law Enforcement/Public Safety	Coordinate with other critical agencies (transportation, law enforcement/public safety, transit, etc.) to develop an emergency evacuation strategy plan Execute an agreement with all agencies identified in the emergency evacuation strategy plan (if not already done by EMA), stating that each agency will participate in regularly scheduled exercises/drills, testing the evacuation plan against various scenarios (e.g., natural disaster, terrorist attack, and disease outbreak) Establish redundancy of operations/management centers, systems, equipment, and personnel Establish uniform communications protocols both within the agency and with other agencies Establish uniform communications protocols for notifying the public and the media about evacuation procedures and resources Develop a contact list consisting of phone numbers (office, home, cell), fax, pager, and email addresses of key personnel at other local, county, and state agencies Coordinate with other local, county, state, and transit agencies to develop evacuation plans Participate in intergovernmental and mutual-aid agreements Provide personnel training and practice regarding evacuation procedures and conduct AARs Practice cooperation with other agencies during normal times
Federal Agencies	Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)	Provide guidance to local, county, and state EMAs for developing emergency evacuation plans
Other Agencies	Media	Be familiar with established uniform communications protocols for notifying the public Work with emergency management to establish dedicated TV and/or radio stations for use during emergency procedures, if applicable
Other Agencies	Private Support Agencies (e.g., American Red Cross, Salvation Army)	Provide personnel training and practice regarding evacuation procedures and conduct AARs Prepare personnel and resources for immediate deployment at any time Maintain database of possible shelter locations including available resources, special needs, pet shelters, etc.

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