Florida Department of Transportation Hurricane Briefing

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Florida Department of TransportationHurricane
Briefing

• Bill Albaugh, P.E.
• Director of Highway Operations
• December 1st, 2004

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Florida 2004

• Hurricane Charley
• August 13th, Category 4
• Hurricane Francis
• September 5th, Category 2
• Hurricane Ivan
• September 16th, Category 3
• Hurricane Jeanne
• September 25th, Category 3

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Hurricane Impacts

• 5,287 Signalized Intersections without Power
  (Approx. 16,000 statewide all systems)
• 1,952 Signalized Intersections Sustained Damage
• 18 Traffic Signal Mast Arms with Structural
  Damage, 17 Signal Cabinets Flooded
• 190,502 Signs In Need of Repairs or Replacement
  on the State Highway System
• 353 Light Poles or Fixtures In Need of Repairs or
  Replacement on the State Highway System
• Transportation System Damages in Florida
  Estimated at over 1.4 Billion

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Topics

• Lessons Learned
• Planning
• Making Highways Passable
• Debris Removal
• Traffic Signals
• Communications
• Use of Private Industry Resources
• Federal Participation
• FEMA
• FHWA

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Lessons LearnedPlanning

• Absolutely Necessary Evil
• Plan So Critical Personnel Know Goals/Objectives
• Plan for Resource Staging (People, Equipment
  Materials)
• We Are Planning

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Lessons LearnedMaking Highways Passable

• As a Transportation Agency Nothing More
  Important As It Enables
• Search Rescue
• Food, Water Emergency Supplies to be Provided
• Medical Assistance
• Coordinate With Others, If Possible
• Do Whatever It Takes to Make Roads Immediately
  Passable
• Structure Facility Inspection

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Lessons LearnedDebris Removal

• Primary Mission Coordinate with other
  responders to facilitate restoration efforts of
  other critical functions (i.e. restoring
  electric, phone service)
• Things Will Not Return to Normal Until Debris is
  Gone
• Disposal
• Prearrange staging and disposal sites (almost
  always underestimated)
• Can be controversial
• Be aware of environmental concerns (even when you
  are told to ignore them)
• Multiple Cycles

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Lessons LearnedTraffic Signals

• More Coordination Than Ever, More Needed
• Assessment
• Restoration
• Generators
• Contract For Services
• Stockpiling and availability of traffic signal
  equipment
• First time we obtained equipment from other state
  DOTs
• Preparing Intersections in advance (removing
  signal heads)
• Emergency Restoration vs. Final Restoration
  (Standards)

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Lessons LearnedCommunications

• Ability to communicate is critical
• Types
• Radio
• Landline Phones
• Cell Phones
• Satellite Phones
• Computer

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Lessons LearnedUse of Private Industry Resources

• Essential to our operations
• Contracts
• Some existing contracts contain emergency
  operation requirements
• Emergency contracts need to be simple and fast
• Know what resources are available
• FDOT suspends work on active construction
  contracts frees up some resources

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Federal Participation FHWA

• Covers Federal Highway System
• Most State Highways, Some Local Roads
• http//www.dot.state.fl.us/planning/statistics/fed
  aidinfo.htmfedaid20maps
• FHWA reimbursement is handled through the FDOT
  under a Joint Project Agreement
• FHWAs Emergency Relief Manual
• Identifies eligible and ineligible items,
  application process, disaster assessment and
  damage survey summary report process, and project
  procedures and requirements
• http//www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/erm/index.htm

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Federal ParticipationFEMA

• Provides Very Diverse Types of Assistance
• Public Assistance Program
• Individual Assistance Program
• Covers public roads not covered by FHWA
• Covers some items on Federal Highway System that
  are not covered by FHWA (such as second and third
  pass debris removal)
• Coordination with FEMA
• Florida Division of Emergency Management
• http//floridadisaster.org
• http//www.fema.gov

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