FTA 21-02
Tuesday, June 18, 2002
Contacts: Tami von Isakovics (FTA)
Tel.: (202) 366-4064
Richard Maloney (SEPTA)
Tel.: (215) 580-7403
Federal Transit Administration Conducts Emergency Preparedness and Security Forum
with SEPTA
PHILADELPHIA--As
the government continues to make strides to improve homeland security, the
Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will launch its second “Connecting
Communities: Emergency Preparedness and Security Forum” in Philadelphia on
June 19-20. In light of the new
security environment our nation now faces, the FTA created the forums to allow
transit agencies to assess their vulnerabilities and fortify partnerships in
their communities so they can respond effectively to emergency situations
through coordination, communication, planning and practice of safety and
security measures.
While in Philadelphia to help kick off the forums, which
will continue in 15 other U.S. cities through January 2003, FTA Administrator
Jennifer L. Dorn will give remarks to participants and meet with local transit
officials.
“Our goal with the forums is for transportation agencies
and emergency response officials in every community to build and strengthen
relationships with each other to prevent and prepare for a disaster by sharing
best practices and reviewing the essentials of building or modifying emergency
management plans,” said Dorn. “This
is the premise behind our effort to connect communities.”
“It
is important to the viability of our transit system and the safety and security
of our riders and personnel that we continually assess our readiness to respond
to any emergency situation and modify procedures as necessary," said SEPTA
General Manager Faye Moore. “This
cooperative effort will allow us to share information with other transit
systems, federal authorities and various organizations as we improve and enhance
transit emergency management plans in the Greater Philadelphia region.”
The two-day forums have been created in cooperation with
FTA’s partners, the American Public Transportation Association and the Federal
Railroad Administration, with assistance from the Southeastern Pennsylvania
Transportation Authority (SEPTA). The
Philadelphia forum is intended for transit officials and emergency responders
working in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester Counties.
The forums are designed specifically for transit agency
management and security personnel; police and fire personnel responsible for
emergency management coordination; emergency medical services and hospital
disaster relief coordinators; and state and local government emergency
management coordinators.
"Keeping communities safe is everyone's
responsibility," said Robert Jamison, Deputy Administrator of the FTA.
“The forums offer an opportunity for participants to review the
necessary components of effective emergency management and how each entity
interacts with their community partners in the event of an emergency.”
Although the Regional Forums are being held in metropolitan
areas, the FTA is also targeting small to mid-size transit and emergency
response agencies in surrounding areas so they can interface with each other in
their own communities.
While there, participants will learn the elements of an
effective emergency management program, hear how to activate alternative
transportation methods during a crisis and explore the interagency role in
handling emergency response.
Registration for the forums is being offered at no charge.
They will be led by instructors who take participants through hands-on
exercises, including discussions, various emergency scenarios and group
break-out sessions. The first forum
was held in Orlando, Florida, on May 15-16.
Future
2002 scheduled forums are July 24-25 in Seattle; August 12-13 in San Jose;
August 14-15 in San Francisco; August 20-21 in Washington, DC; August 27-28 in
Chicago; September 17-18 in St. Louis; October 16-17 in Detroit; October 30-31
in Denver; and December 5-6 in Charlotte. Other
forums cities with dates to be determined are: Dallas, TX; Hartford, CT;
Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; New York, NY; and San Diego, CA.
For more information on the forums and to register, visit www.transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov. For information about SEPTA programs and services, visit www.septa.org.
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