FTA 04-03
Monday, February 3, 2003
Contact: Kristi Clemens
Tel: (202) 366-4043
Federal Transit
Administration Launches Emergency Preparedness Forum in Los Angeles, CA
--Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Launches 16h of 17
Forums in Los Angeles to Strengthen Emergency Plans and Regional Coordination--
LOS ANGELES, CA—Federal Transit Deputy Administrator
Robert D. Jamison will open the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA)
“Connecting Communities: Emergency Preparedness and Security Forum” in Los
Angeles on Feb. 5-6. The forums
were created to help communities become better prepared to respond to emergency
situations.
Using the successful evacuation of the transit stations
below the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001 as a benchmark, the goal of the
forums is to demonstrate the important role that transit plays in crisis
situations and the importance of delivering a coordinated regional response to
any emergency. Participating
transit agencies will work with regional emergency responders to determine the
effectiveness of interagency response plans for the Los Angeles region.
“Public transportation is an important component of our
Nation’s emergency response and evacuation plans in the event of natural
disasters or terrorist incidents,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Norman Y. Mineta. “Transit
vehicles often serve not only as a means of moving people away from affected
areas, but also as an important means to transport emergency workers to the site
or as a temporary shelter for both workers and victims. When disaster strikes, the public demands an expert team,
delivering a coordinated response across traditional boundaries.”
The forums, which will
continue in other U.S. cities through early 2003, have been created in
cooperation with FTA’s partners, the American Public Transportation
Association and the Federal Railroad Administration.
The FTA has been working with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit
Authority (LACMTA) to host the forum.
“The events of September
11 have reinforced our efforts to provide the highest degree of safety and
security possible for our customers," said Roger Snoble, CEO, Los Angeles
County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. "This forum will provide all
of the participating agencies with an excellent opportunity to review their
preparedness as we move ahead in these challenging times.”
FTA’s five-part Security Initiative includes evaluating
threats and vulnerabilities through a security assessment; developing a plan to
address vulnerabilities; testing the plan in realistic situations; training
employees to understand and implement the plan; and undertaking research to
enhance human capabilities.
Registration for the forums is being offered at no charge;
however, participants must pre-register online. The forums are led by instructors who take participants
through hands-on exercises, including discussions, various emergency scenarios
and group break-out sessions.
To date, forums have been
held in Orlando, FL; Philadelphia; Seattle; San Francisco and San Jose, CA;
Washington, DC; Chicago; St. Louis; Detroit; Denver; Houston and Dallas;
Charlotte, NC; Hartford, CT; and Newark, NJ.
The remaining scheduled forum will be held in San Diego on
Feb. 26-27.
For more information on the forums, visit www.transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov.
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