Reports focus on relationship of jurisdictions during emergency evacuation | 06.09.2006 | 07:07:28 | Views: 5131 | ID: June 9 '06: A new report prepared for the Department of Transportation by the Batelle corporation examines the relationship of state and local officials communicating to those being evacuated from an area during an emergency. The crux of the report "is intended to illustrate how agencies need to interface with each other and what data and information need to be shared to effectively manage and deliver traveler information during disasters." Additionally, the report looks at "what information needs to be communicated to evacuees and other travelers under disaster conditions and how the advanced traveler information system (ATIS)," and other systems work with each other. Other similar efforts by the DOT include a study of the relationship between the department and the Department of Homeland Security during an emergency such as a large weather incident like a hurricane. The report was Commissioned by Congress and the initial report was finished earlier this year. Multi-jurisdictional and trans-governmental coordination is especially important during an evacuation emergency because "in some instances, the State and local governments will be overwhelmed beyond their ability to satisfy their traditional roles ... Indeed, in some instances, State and local governments and responders may become victims themselves, prohibiting their ability to identify, request, receive, or deliver assistance," the DOT report commissioned by Congress wrote. The best way to prevent such problems occurring is to communicate information to all levels and even to evacuees, according to the Battelle report. The sharing of information will help "to effectively manage and deliver traveler information during disasters," and that "Addressing and documenting this type of information has become even more critical due to the aftermath of various types of disasters that have occurred," in recent history.
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