Major Initiatives > ETO

Initiative Overview

• Printable Initiative Overview – [PDF, 93KB]
• Initiative Overview Presentation – [HTML, PPT 163KB]
• Examples & Scenarios
• Technologies Involved

ITS technologies will help to identify the appropriate response and get the correct equipment and emergency personnel to and from the scene quickly and safely.

Faster and Better Prepared Responses to Major Incidents

Over 400 tropical storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and highway HAZMAT incidents require evacuation each year in the United States. These, plus winter weather, wild fires, complex multi-vehicle crashes, and potential security incidents, require the United States to be prepared for any eventuality. Responders must reach the scene, victims must evacuate the danger zone, and clearance and recovery resources must arrive on time.

Effective real-time management of transportation during major incidents results in more timely responses to highway and hazmat incidents, and shorter incident durations. This initiative aims to improve the management of all forms of transportation emergencies through the application of ITS technologies. Advances in in-vehicle communication and information systems will provide access to essential real-time data about an incident and about transportation conditions on all routes throughout the affected region.

Improving Response and Recovery

Building on the ITS program's incident management efforts, the Emergency Transportation Operations initiative will assist responders in:

• Verifying the nature of a problem
• Identifying the appropriate response
• Getting the correct equipment and personnel resources to and from the scene quickly and safely

This US DOT initiative, in partnership with the public safety community and State and local departments of transportation, addresses:

• Providing effective traveler information during major disasters
• Planning and managing major incidents involving evacuation
• Getting ITS into operation quickly during a disaster
• Using ITS to monitor travel conditions on alternate and evacuation routes

Updated August 20, 2008 10:23 AM