Hurricane Evacuation Texas Style National Transportation Operations Coalition Talking Operations Web Seminar Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Katrina and Rita Two Events Back to Back Two Events Back to Back METRO’s role was to move New Orleans’ evacuees into Houston for safety and shelter. METRO’s role was to move New Orleans’ evacuees into Houston for safety and shelter. Conversely, our mission during Rita was to help move people out of Houston. Conversely, our mission during Rita was to help move people out of Houston.

Katrina Unified Command NIMS in action. Some on the job training. NIMS in action. Some on the job training. METRO operations and police personnel fielded request from inside the Incident Command Center established at Reliant Park, next to the Astrodome. METRO operations and police personnel fielded request from inside the Incident Command Center established at Reliant Park, next to the Astrodome. METRO became a pivotal transportation bridge to move New Orleans’ evacuees from area airports to the Astrodome, and to provide trolley, bus and rail service around the complex and to neighboring medical facilities, government offices and food and retail outlets. METRO became a pivotal transportation bridge to move New Orleans’ evacuees from area airports to the Astrodome, and to provide trolley, bus and rail service around the complex and to neighboring medical facilities, government offices and food and retail outlets.

Transportation & Law Enforcement Branch

Request From Incident Command to Transportation Branch METRO Desk (Police & Operations) receives request and evaluates number of buses required, safety of mission, and priority of request. Simple Request –Deploy Resources Requests involving 10+ buses or outside of the METRO Service Area will be referred to Operations Management in the METRO Operations Center at TranStar Deploy Resources Katrina Decision Tree

Katrina to Rita METRO activities in support of Katrina Relief lasted 20 days, from September 1 through the 20 th. METRO activities in support of Katrina Relief lasted 20 days, from September 1 through the 20 th. On Tuesday, September 20 th local emergency response agencies, including METRO redirected the focus of the emergency from New Orleans’ evacuees to our role in the evacuation of this country’s 4th largest city. On Tuesday, September 20 th local emergency response agencies, including METRO redirected the focus of the emergency from New Orleans’ evacuees to our role in the evacuation of this country’s 4th largest city.

Houston Was Spared a Direct Hit by Rita. But only 48 hours before it struck, forecasters put Galveston and the greater Houston area on a collision course with a Category 5 Hurricane.

An almost Direct Hit on Houston

Actual Path into Louisiana

Hurricane Rita Worked in partnership with emergency responders from the City of Houston, Harris County, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management (GDEM) and the National Weather Service. Worked in partnership with emergency responders from the City of Houston, Harris County, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management (GDEM) and the National Weather Service. Supported Law Enforcement Agencies and Transit Systems outside of the METRO region. Supported Law Enforcement Agencies and Transit Systems outside of the METRO region. Unified Command at Houston TranStar Unified Command at Houston TranStar

Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) METRO suspended bus service at 2pm on Thursday, the day before Rita’s landfall, to utilize as many vehicles as necessary for the evacuation. METRO suspended bus service at 2pm on Thursday, the day before Rita’s landfall, to utilize as many vehicles as necessary for the evacuation. Service on our 7.5 mile light rail line continued until 9pm. Service on our 7.5 mile light rail line continued until 9pm. Rail and bus service were suspended on Friday and Saturday. Rail and bus service were suspended on Friday and Saturday. Light rail along with twelve critical bus routes were back in operation on Sunday, with 34 more added on Monday. Light rail along with twelve critical bus routes were back in operation on Sunday, with 34 more added on Monday. Normal bus, HOV and Park and Ride services were restored on Tuesday. Normal bus, HOV and Park and Ride services were restored on Tuesday.

Rita – Unified Command at Houston TranStar City, County, & State Emergency Management City, County, & State Emergency Management HPD, HCSO, State Police HPD, HCSO, State Police Texas Department of Transportation Texas Department of Transportation Red Cross, Salvation Army Red Cross, Salvation Army News Media–Joint Information Center (JIC) News Media–Joint Information Center (JIC) Mayor and County Judge (CEO of County Govt.) Mayor and County Judge (CEO of County Govt.)

METRO Role Mitigation Mitigation Continuity of Operations (COOP) Continuity of Operations (COOP) COH Emergency Management Plan Transportation Annex COH Emergency Management Plan Transportation Annex Brokered Local Transportation Services, i.e. cabs, private coaches, paratransit vehicles, coaches provided by GDEM. Brokered Local Transportation Services, i.e. cabs, private coaches, paratransit vehicles, coaches provided by GDEM. Assist in a “Expanded” Region Evacuation. Assist in a “Expanded” Region Evacuation.

What did METRO Accomplish Arranged bus transportation for evacuees from Galveston Arranged bus transportation for evacuees from Galveston Utilized Amtrak and Trinity Railroad trains to move people out of Galveston and Houston Utilized Amtrak and Trinity Railroad trains to move people out of Galveston and Houston Deployed 500 METRO buses and 500 other vehicles to transport more than 20,000 people during 4,500 trips Deployed 500 METRO buses and 500 other vehicles to transport more than 20,000 people during 4,500 trips Used 18 METRO buses, operators and police, along with 350 volunteers, to load and dispense 45,000 bottles of water to stranded motorists along area freeways Used 18 METRO buses, operators and police, along with 350 volunteers, to load and dispense 45,000 bottles of water to stranded motorists along area freeways

What did METRO Accomplish Successfully advocated for opening contra-flow lanes. Successfully advocated for opening contra-flow lanes. Conducted last minute “sweeps” of area freeways to rescue motorists and others seeking shelter. Conducted last minute “sweeps” of area freeways to rescue motorists and others seeking shelter. Delivered and made fuel available to dozens of emergency response vehicles. Delivered and made fuel available to dozens of emergency response vehicles. Arranged hundreds of long and short- distance trips to get Houston-area evacuees back home. Arranged hundreds of long and short- distance trips to get Houston-area evacuees back home.

What is the most precious element required to keep a transit system operating under normal circumstance, which is magnified during an emergency ? FUEL!

Interoperability

Thank You Thomas C. Lambert Vice President & Chief of Police Houston METRO