FHWA Operational Concept: 6.2 Roles and Responsibilities

6.2 Roles and Responsibilities

The re-entry phase is somewhat unpredictable. Once the evacuation order has been lifted, an unknown percentage of the population may return immediately, another unknown percentage may return gradually, and still another unknown percentage of the population may not return at all. Ideally, agencies should be prepared for a worst-case scenario in which a majority of the evacuated public returns at once. Establishing a timetable for re-entry procedures and coordinating with other agencies on re-entry activities may expedite this phase. The plan for re-entry must be communicated to the public, many of whom may have evacuated a long distance from the area.

Table 9 describes the roles and responsibilities of various agencies involved in the re-entry phase.

Table 9: Phase 5 Re-Entry Roles and Responsibilities
Agency Type	Agency	Roles and Responsibilities
Local Agencies	Emergency Management	Coordinate dissemination of evacuation area status and evacuee return information to the public via the agency’s PIO by providing timely and accurate updates Decide when evacuees will be allowed to return to the evacuated area Establish re-entry procedures, including possible phasing Coordinate re-entry with other agencies Maintain expenditure records to facilitate reimbursement Maintain records of agency’s evacuation return activities
	Transportation	Support law enforcement/public safety traffic management and control efforts Maintain records of agency’s evacuation return activities
	Law Enforcement/ Public Safety	Direct, conduct, and monitor re-entry process Provide protection and security of evacuation area Direct traffic control, with support from transportation Maintain records of agency’s evacuation return activities
	Fire Department	Support law enforcement/public safety in executing re-entry Maintain records of agency’s evacuation return activities
	Transit	Coordinate/manage transit resources Coordinate with lead emergency management agency through Dispatch/Operations Center Maintain records of agency’s evacuation return activities
County and State Agencies	County Emergency Management	Provide operational support and resources to lead and affected jurisdictions Maintain records of agency’s evacuation return activities
	State Emergency Management/Office of Homeland Security	Provide lead role in the event of a multi-state re-entry or if evacuees were evacuated to other states Provide operational support and resources to lead and affected jurisdictions Maintain records of agency’s evacuation return activities
	County Department of Transportation	Assume roles and responsibilities for re-entry originating within unincorporated areas, otherwise assume roles and responsibilities of a neighboring agency Support law enforcement/public safety traffic management and control efforts Maintain records of agency’s evacuation return activities
	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 records of agency’s evacuation return activities
	County Law Enforcement/Public Safety	Assume roles and responsibilities for re-entry originating within unincorporated areas, otherwise assume roles and responsibilities of a neighboring agency Maintain records of agency’s evacuation return activities
	State Law Enforcement/Public Safety	Assume primary responsibility for re-entry routed on state highways and freeways Provide support to local and affected agencies in implementing re-entry plans Maintain records of agency’s evacuation return activities
Other Agencies	Media	Provide re-entry 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)	Facilitate contact centers for information Coordinate with Humane Society to assist in reuniting pets and owners Collect and manage donations

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