NJ TRANSIT Response to TEEX After Action Report

Improvement Category Observation Recommendations Status Communications 1. The EOC had insufficient 1.1. Consider the use of additional Access to the network has been enhanced communication capability. wired telephone lines when using to upgrade bandwidth and multicast the COOP trailer as the EOC at this service. The COOP has been reconfigured location. to better connect to corporate network.

2. NJ TRANSIT employees’ cell 2.1. While a complete solution may NJ TRANSIT has worked with major cellular phone communications were not be feasible, at a minimum, carriers to discuss service levels and critical impacted by the storm. review concerns with commercial business to maximize service delivery. carriers and determine if there are Carriers indicated that they have reviewed possible solutions for enhanced site capacity and generator/battery back- reliability. up capabilities.

2.2. If satellite phones remain an NJ TRANSIT has coordinated with satellite option, they will still have battery contractor to upgrade network and recharging considerations, but they satellite constellations to improve do provide an alternate means to coverage and capability. In addition, NJ communicate in the event of TRANSIT has brought online an additional widespread cell service disruption. radio system to provide redundancy. If adopted, training with the phones will need to be accomplished on a periodic basis to ensure that personnel know how to use them and who they can expect to talk to on the satellite network.

Improvement Category Observation Recommendations Status 3. Radio communications 3.1. Review the reasons for the Tower facilities were strengthened. reliability was limited during failure of each communications Generator platforms are being raised at the early recovery phase. system and identify necessary key radio sites. Ongoing. back-up power and alternate communications systems solutions.

Critical Infrastructure 1. Flood projection models are 1.1. NJ TRANSIT coordinate with NJ TRANSIT has contracted with a private Protection needed to better predict storm weather service, Army Corps of weather service to provide modeling and impact on key facilities such as Engineers, and other experts as flooding projections, and an outside the ROC/MMC. needed to review and create engineering firm has developed storm models that display surge flood surge maps for critical facilities. In zones for anticipated rainfall or addition, NJ TRANSIT has collaborated storm surges for each critical NJ with Stevens Institute on real-time, site- TRANSIT facility. specific surge modeling for use during significant weather events.

2. Protective measures need to 2.1. Explore the feasibility of Short-term barrier protections are in place. be developed for MMC shops portable or permanent protective Long-term protections measures are in and equipment. barriers at MMC, alternate storage design. Alternative storage is in place. facilities, and a backup maintenance facility.

3. Retired and unused rail 3.1. Consider selling or otherwise Vehicles not necessary for the delivery of equipment impeded storm disposing of retired and unused rail service/demand fluctuation have been sold preparations. equipment. or disposed of.

4. The proposed backup 4.1. Reassess the proposed backup Identification and study of alternative sites location for the NJ TRANSIT location for the ROC. are underway. ROC may not be suitable.

Improvement Category Observation Recommendations Status Damage Assessments 1. Local law enforcement did 1.1. NJ TRANSIT coordinates with NJ TRANSIT has coordinated with outside and Restoration of not allow key workers access Hudson County Sherriff EOMs including Hudson County law Transportation Services to the MMC. Department to coordinate enforcement agencies to inform acceptable procedures to allow NJ responders through the statewide law

TRANSIT employees access to NJ enforcement communication network. TRANSIT facilities.

2. Storm-related damage to 2.1. NJ TRANSIT and PANYNJ In cooperation with PANYNJ, staff has rail service between New should jointly review plans for identified more efficient customer and bus Jersey and New York placed a handling exceptional demands for flow logistics at PABT. heavy burden on NJ TRANSIT service at the PANYNJ Bus bus operations. Terminal.

2.2. New York and New Jersey Short-term plans have been reviewed and officials should review plans for optimized. NJ TRANSIT has efforts traffic management across the underway with regional transportation Hudson River in emergency partners to study integrated corridor situations. management.

2.3. NJ TRANSIT Bus should review Review is completed; procedures have existing plans for emergency been updated to maximize equipment transportation requirements at the availability. PANYNJ Bus Terminal.

Emergency Public 1. The public information 1.1. Consider designating a unified Exploration of a unified location for an Information effort was effective, but was location for the EOC and EMT EOC is being studied. Unified Command hindered by some to avoid duplication, improve System training is being provided for press organizational and policy information sharing, and unify and media relations staff. Ongoing. decisions. EPI operations.

Improvement Category Observation Recommendations Status 1.2. Streamline procedures for Completed. approval and release of transportation schedule information.

2. Public information staff was 2.1. Re-instate cross training Support staff from other divisions now insufficient to handle the personnel from other divisions to identified and assigned to support Public demand for information. provide augmentation to Information during emergencies. emergency public information operations.

3. Providing current 3.1. Place NJ TRANSIT website Website control during emergencies has transportation schedules to management and dedicated been reassigned to ensure the timely the public needed personnel under the direction of placement and updating to the improvement. EPI during emergency situations to NJ TRANSIT website. expedite entry of constantly changing information.

3.2. Enhance coordination between Protocols revised: Public Information planning and operations sections protocol will be to issue one of operating divisions and public comprehensive service update at or about information staff on the release of 3pm. service resumption and scheduling information. EOC Management 1. EOC officials had limited 1.1. Develop a sufficient cadre of Approximately 250 employees have been backup personnel. EOC-qualified personnel in each trained in the Unified Command System. division to ensure adequate Ongoing. staffing for sustained EOC operations. 2. The EOC needed additional 2.1. Assess the administrative and We continuously assess administrative

Improvement Category Observation Recommendations Status administrative support. support needs of the EOC and support needs and make assignments designate and train appropriate based on identified needs. administrative personnel.

3. Those manning positions in 3.1. Consider developing written Completed. the EOC did not have written procedures for each EOC position. procedures.

4. For an event of this 4.1. Consider designating and Exploration of a unified location for an magnitude and duration, the equipping a permanent NJ EOC is being studied. NJ TRANSIT engaged COOP trailer was less than TRANSITEOC of sufficient size to a contractor to perform conceptual optimal as an EOC. accommodate all EOC functions. engineering to modify the Maplewood facility. A new facility at Metropark (on NJ TRANSIT property) is also under consideration. NJ TRANSIT is in the process of reviewing the concepts.

Information Sharing 1. Some resource requests 1.1 Sustain the use of SITREPs Personnel have been designated and were not referred to the EOC. and IAPS. resource request procedures have been updated.

1.2 Establish emergency response Completed. Roles and responsibilities have recording and reporting guideline been defined within a draft emergency for all NJ TRANSIT operating operations plan. Tabletops and functional divisions. exercise are being conducted.

1.3 Each business entity must Ongoing coordination and training with supply accurate information on the business lines is taking place to ensure that timeline prescribed for future timely and accurate information is SITREP content and format. captured during an incident. OEM has

Improvement Category Observation Recommendations Status established liaisons with each business line to provide each business line with emergency management expertise.

1.4 Identify recipients Recipients and distribution lists have been and determine the most effective identified. means of disseminating SITREPS and IAPS.

2.1 Include in the emergency plan Requests for resources will be sent to the an SOP that includes resource EOC as outlined in the draft emergency request procedures through EOC. operations plan. Protocols for submission of paperwork to the EOC have been established and training is ongoing. Logistical Support 1. Written contracting 1.1. Procurement and Support Completed. guidelines should be prepared Services should prepare written

for all NJ TRANSIT personnel guidelines for other divisions to involved in emergency follow regarding emergency contracting. contracting, purchasing, and tracking expenditures.

2. Emergency procurement 2.1. Document the emergency Checklists have been drafted and procedures should be better procurement process and procurement is currently working with defined. incorporate it into the existing OEM to finalize. procurement manual.

3. Lodging and subsistence 3.1. Consider identifying nearby NJ TRANSIT is establishing on-call lodging were not available for commercial lodging or creating with major hotel chains. Efforts are employees who worked emergency living facilities with underway to convert vacant space at NJ extended hours. emergency rations on critical NJ TRANSIT facilities into emergency rest

Improvement Category Observation Recommendations Status TRANSIT sites. locations.

4. Contracts to support 4.1. Review existing contracts and NJ TRANSIT is not responsible for securing recovery were in place, but determine ways to provide lodging and meals for employees of third they did not provide for the emergency lodging and food if party contractors. However, all costs lodging and meals of those needed. associated with lodging and meals are employees who became eligible for reimbursement as a direct stranded. expense pursuant to the contract terms.

5. The loss of electrical power 5.1. Review current gasoline NJ TRANSIT is working with an outside and the gasoline shortage storage capacity and develop plans energy contractor to provide emergency following the storm, made it for emergency supply of gasoline. on-site fueling stations at critical locations. difficult to fuel NJ TRANSIT NJ TRANSIT Bus Operations has identified gasoline-powered vehicles. regional locations for above ground storage tanks.

6. Emergency generators at NJ 6.1. NJ TRANSIT Headquarters and In August, NJ TRANSIT announced a TRANSIT Headquarters and each operating division should partnership with the US Department of other operating locations review their emergency power Energy and Sandia National Laboratories provided emergency lighting, requirements and develop plans to to assess the agency’s energy communication, and basic life secure adequate sources of vulnerabilities and design a system to services but were not sufficient emergency power. provide highly reliable power to support to sustain normal operations. NJ TRANSIT operations. Sandia is continuing its study in collaboration with NJ Transit, the NJ Board of Public Utilities, and NJ office of Homeland Security & Preparedness. Completed.

6.2. NJ TRANSITOEM should

Improvement Category Observation Recommendations Status provide feedback to FEMA on generator performance and establish with FEMA NJ TRANSIT emergency generator requirements. Procedures for servicing and fueling emergency generators should also be established with FEMA.

7. Light rail systems lacked 7.1. Review the need for backup Light rail systems have back-up and are sufficient backup power. power at light rail facilities. currently working on resiliency improvements. Newark and Hudson- Bergen Light Rail networks will benefit from the efforts outlined in Response 6.1

8. Gasoline shortages hindered 8.1. Consider developing the means NJ TRANSIT initiated a mechanism to offer the response of critical NJ to provide gasoline to critical critical employees access to fuel at TRANSIT employees. personnel during an emergency. emergency on-site fueling stations.

Organization 1. Some confusion existed 1.1. The roles and responsibilities of Completed. Roles and responsibilities have about the function of the EOC the EMT and the EOC should be been clearly defined. and its relationship with the clearly articulated in the EOP. EMT at NJ TRANSIT Headquarters. 1.2. The EOP should set forth Recent tabletop exercises have been recording and reporting conducted to support this training and will requirements for the operational be on-going. divisions.

Improvement Category Observation Recommendations Status Planning 1. Existing plans guided 1.1. Each operating division review NJ TRANSIT Operating Divisions with the shutdown, restoration, and and update its existing Hurricane assistance of an outside contractor are recovery operations, but some SOPs in light of the Hurricane developing emergency operation plans portions of the plans were Sandy experience. under the direction of the NJ TRANSIT PD incomplete or needed OEM. These draft plans are being reviewed updating. and will be included in a comprehensive emergency operation plan. In addition, NJ TRANSIT is collaborating with New Jersey Office of Homeland Security & Preparedness to further develop and refine emergency plans.

1.2. The EOP and COOP be Ongoing. reviewed and updated by an intra- agency planning team so that the plans accurately reflect NJ TRANSIT’s emergency organization and responsibilities.