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U.S. Department of Transportation Examples of General Hurricane Recovery Activities

U.S. Department of Transportation
Examples of General Hurricane Recovery Activities

Federal Aviation Administration 

  • FAA restores key radars and air-ground communications following the storm. 
     
  • The FAA supports the restoration of commercial airports and Air Traffic Control (ATC) services.
     
  • The FAA, with the National Weather Service, restores NEXRAD weather radar back to fully operational status for FAA Air Traffic Controllers when needed.
     
  • The FAA, in coordination with FEMA and the DOD, may implement a slot reservation system to manage the demand for ramp space at airports and to safely separate aircraft in the air as relief supplies are flown.
     
  • The FAA can bring replacement systems by air and by sea to restore essential radar, navigation and communication services and technicians within hours after the Hurricane’s passing.  

Federal Highway Administration

  • FHWA deploys employees to the impacted regions as necessary to assist with response and recovery efforts and provide support to DOT’s Crisis Management Center. FHWA provides both funding and technical assistance to the governments of states or territories impacted by storms. Last year’s “quick release” emergency relief funding to help restore essential traffic on federal aid eligible roads and bridges is a prime example.
     
  • FHWA coordinates with state DOTs and departments of public works to conduct emergency road and bridge repairs.
     
  • FHWA’s Federal Lands office may deploy staff to assist with damage assessments on roads on federally held lands. A team of engineers, contract managers and others from FHWA could work with their FEMA counterparts to execute emergency repair contracts following the storm.

Federal Transit Administration:

  • During hurricane season, FTA remains prepared to help transit agencies in affected areas provide rescue, recovery and transport services. In addition, FTA can waive certain regulations following any presidential emergency declaration. 
     
  • FTA may allocate reimbursement funds in the immediate and longer-term to FTA grantees (transit agencies) in the impacted areas dedicated to response, recovery, and rebuilding projects. These can be used to reimburse emergency operations expenses and fund recovery and repair efforts. 
     
  • FTA may fund transit resilience projects.  FTA may provide technical assistance and support grantees in carrying out resilience projects.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

  • When an official governmental Declaration of Emergency is issued for a type of major emergency, motor carriers and operators of commercial motor vehicles that are providing emergency relief through direct assistance to support State and local efforts to save lives or property or to protect public health or safety, are relieved from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations listed in 49 CFR Parts 390-399.  (The italicized words are defined in 49 CFR 390.5.) Even though safety regulations may be suspended, drivers and carriers are expected to use good judgment and not to operate vehicles when drivers are fatigued or ill, or under any conditions presenting a clear hazard to other motorists using the highways.
     
  • FMCSA may deploy employees as cadre members for transportation purposes in impacted areas, such as was done in Puerto Rico.
     
  • Other FMCSA staff members may serve as specialists in the leading days to a major hurricane, serving alongside FEMA.

Maritime Administration

  • As part of its mission, the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD), Ready Reserve Force (RRF) provides government-owned shipping capability in coordination with FEMA, and can provide numerous capabilities and resources before, during, and after significant domestic and international disaster events. In addition to the shipping capacity to get FEMA recovery supplies and vehicles to hard hit areas; once moored, these national security multi-mission vessels can provide power, housing, food, clean water and berthing to hundreds of federal first responders thereby freeing up local hotels for displaced residents.
     
Last updated: Tuesday, September 11, 2018