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Regional Emergency Management Program Area

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Operational Scenario

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confirmed a threat near Capitol Hill. The FBI immediately establishes communications with a range of Federal, regional, state and local emergency operations organizations and verifies the presence of the explosive. With input from Federal agencies and local governments, FBI has recommended an evacuation of a 5-mile radius around Capitol Hill and communicates this information to the regional emergency management centers.

The emergency operations agencies immediately begin inputting information to, and coordinating with, one another via the Capitol Wireless Integrated Network (CapWIN), an interoperable first responder data communication and information sharing network system developed in partnership by the States of Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

The NoVA STC immediately begins coordinating with a network of emergency operations agencies and local traffic and emergency response organizations. This coordination involves telephone calls as well as accessing information in, and as appropriate, contributing information to, the DC area using several communication networks (NAWAS, WAWAS, RICCS) etc. In the future, a Regional Integrated Transportation Information System (RITIS) will be used to coordinate information exchange. RITIS is an information sharing network that provides access to incident and emergency information by a wide range of regional and local transportation and emergency coordination organizations, including CapCOM (Capitol Region Communications and Coordination Center).

As the various emergency operations organizations mobilize, the Virginia State Police alerts the VDOT Traffic Emergency Operations Center (TEOC), the state-wide focal point for VDOT emergency management, of the incident and the need to enlist VDOT's support in coordinating large scale evacuation, all aspects of which will be under the primary direction of emergency management organizations. The VDOT state-wide TEOC engages the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and coordinates the VDOT NoVA Smart Traffic Center (STC) and VDOT Smart Traffic Signal Systems (STSS), which are co-located in the Public Safety Transportation Operations Center (PSTOC).

Under the direction of the emergency management organizations having overall responsibility for the event, and drawing upon established regional evacuation plans, the NoVA STC and STSS implement a wide range of actions to facilitate the evacuation including:

• Entering the updates and road conditions on their incident database from which the information passes to the Virginia Operations Information System (VOIS), a state-wide information sharing system that feeds the 511 Virginia traveler information system, which includes both a website and state-wide telephone information system.
• Coordinating with toll road authorities to suspend tolls to facilitate traffic flow.
• Coordinating with transit providers including the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority to expedite the movement of buses in freeway corridors, including both the freeways and adjacent arterial streets with traffic signals operated by the STSS.
• Setting up a mobile unified command post which coordinates with local police, fire, and VDOT staff to serve as a single point of contact for information on field conditions.
• Utilizing Safety Service Patrol (SSPs) vehicles to observe traffic conditions in the field, identify, verify, and assist law enforcement and emergency responders with clearing incident scenes.
• Posting advisory messages on roadway Variable Message Signs (VMS).
  Opening up gate controlled access to High-Occupancy Vehicle Lanes (HOV) and other facilities.
• Monitoring traffic flow on various freeways throughout the region that are equipped with vehicle detectors (which monitor traffic flow for slow-downs indicative of incidents) and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
• Perform access control activities to divert and direct travelers to ensure smooth traffic flow during evacuations. Activities include changing lane control signs on I-66 WB, portable barricades on I-66 EB enabling only emergency vehicle use, use of VMS directing travelers not to enter the DC region, keeping the gates of the HOV lanes open for south bound traffic and coordination with Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA) to warn vehicles leaving the Dulles and Reagan airports not to travel into DC.

Travelers of all types-private and commercial vehicle operators, transit users, car-poolers, bicyclists, and pedestrians-receive travel information from a number of channels, many of which the NoVA STC plays a role. En-route motorists see VMS messages, hear information from commercial traffic reporting services on their vehicle radios, and consult the 511 telephone traveler information system. Many travelers who have yet to leave their home or work place consult the 511 website. Transit riders receive most of their information from the transit operators, but much of that information reflects coordination between VDOT NoVA, CapCOM, and the transit operations center.

Tier II - Activities in Regional Emergency Management

Emergency Management
Incident Management
Maintenance and Construction Management
Snow and Weather-Related Operations

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