Office of Intelligence, Security and Emergency Response

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Program Activities

Preparedness Division

The Preparedness Division has three major program areas, Continuity Programs, International Programs, and Training and Exercise Programs.

Continuity Programs

Summary: The Continuity Programs assure that essential functions can continue uninterrupted under all conditions. Continuity Programs include identifying and training personnel to sustain the essential functions of the Department.  The office maintains alternate operating sites and assures that the Department has the appropriate communication capabilities. In addition, we provide guidance and technical assistance to the Operating Administrations for continuity programs and plans.

Partner Agencies:  The Federal Emergency Management Agency and other Federal departments and agencies.

Stakeholders:  The Office of the Secretary, Crisis Management Center, Operating Administrations and their regional offices, Department of Homeland Security.

Major Projects:

• Inter and intra-agency Communications Tests
• Maintain the Department's COOP Plans
• Recurring training and exercises
• Participate in interagency leadership forums on continuity issues.  

International Programs

Summary: The International Civil Emergency Planning Programs covers several  areas, including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Tri-lateral Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) the Disaster Assistance Working Group of the US/China Transportation Forum, and the Department’s Reconstruction and Stabilization Initiatives  The Office of Intelligence, Security and Emergency Response is responsible for management of international civil emergency planning programs that develop plans and appropriate supporting technical arrangements for transportation services in response to international security crises. 
 
NATO Transport Group-Civil Aviation Planning (TG-CA):   The TG-CA and the related sub-groups, comprised of representatives and civil aviation experts from NATO member and partner nations, are responsible for the civil aviation emergency planning process to acquire and deploy civil aviation resources to support NATO operations.  This emergency planning process is accomplished in coordination with United States Federal departments and agencies, and with NATO member and partner nations, as well as with NATO Military Authorities.  The planning process includes relevant crisis management arrangements, training and exercises for the planners and civil experts.  The program manager serves as the United States representative in the NATO TG-CA and the related sub-groups to promote the national interest and provide leadership to resolve relevant issues in the acquisition and deployment of civil aviation resources and services. 

US/China Transportation Forum, Disaster Assistance Working Group: In fulfilling the mandates of the US/China Transportation Forum, DOT participates with counterparts from the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China in disaster preparedness, research and coordination activities with the goal of improving transportation services to victims of disasters in both nations. By learning from the experiences of each other, we are able to improve plans and protocols.

OST cooperation with Department of State Reconstruction and Stabilization Initiative:  With the implementation of NSPD-44, S-60 works in coordination with the Offices of the Assistant Secretaries for International Transportation and Trade and Administration for Human Resources Operations, and in cooperation with the Department of State on developments in the Reconstruction and Stabilization program.  The elements of this program have civil emergency preparedness activities related to our NATO work program as well as the National Response Framework Emergency Support Function 1 -Transportation.

In addition, the program manager represents the Department in committees and working groups for civil emergency response planning in accordance with the United States, Canada and Mexico Trilateral Security and Prosperity Partnership Action Plan and other international programs as directed.

Tri-lateral Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP): S-60 works with Transport Canada on mutually supporting cross-border activities. In this program S-60 develops and coordinates plans and programs, outlined in the SPP Action Plan, with Transport Canada Emergency Management Staff.  A joint US/Canada Emergency Planning Committee for Civil Transportation (EPCCT) coordinates activities on both sides of the border.  Participants include representatives from DOT Office of the Secretary Staff, the Operating Administrations’ Emergency Coordinators and appropriate Regional Emergency Transportation Coordinators from the border Regions.  Departments of State and Homeland Security staff participate in the EPCCT discussions and activities.

Partner Agencies: The Departments of State, Defense, Homeland Security and Commerce are the principal partner agencies.

Stake Holders:  United States Government and its population; NATO Military Authorities; 50 NATO member and partner nations and other nations as directed by the North Atlantic Council and others as may be directed by the United States national authorities.

Major Projects:

• Plans for acquisition and deployment of civil aviation resources to support the military engaged in NATO operations.
• Monitoring the insurance market indemnification arrangements to ensure that airlift capability to support NATO operations is not impeded by a lack of war risk insurance.
• Training development and execution for transportation experts to provide transportation expertise in crisis management situations, including the deployable NATO Rapid Reaction Teams and Civilian Response Corps Reserve members.
• Develop and coordinate annual disaster preparedness workshop with China, alternating locations between the two countries.
• Work with emergency management leadership of Transport Canada to address common emergency preparedness and response areas of interest.
  

Training and Exercise Program

Summary:  The program objective is to sustain a robust training and exercise program based upon all-hazards emergency management to meet all preparedness, response, and recovery needs, including those for COOP/COG and the regional emergency transportation program.  This program integrates the requirements of the National Response Framework (NRF) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) into DOT policies, plans, and programs. Additionally, it tests and validates these documents through training and exercises.  The Program Manager participates in the planning, conduct and evaluation of inter-agency exercises and prepares DOT representatives (up to and including the Secretary, as appropriate) for participation in major exercises.  The Program Manager also represents the Department at all interagency training and exercise meetings and the National Security Staff (NSS) Domestic Resiliency Group (DRG) Exercise and Evaluation Sub-Interagency Policy Committee (E & E Sub-IPC) meetings. Lastly the Program Manager is assisting in the development of DOT training requirements for the new National Security Professional Development program (under Executive Order 13434) and Reconstruction/Stabilization training requirements of National Security Presidential Decision (NSPD - 44).

Partner Agencies:  Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other Federal departments and agencies.

Stakeholders: Operating Administrations, DOT Senior Officials, and Interagency community.