Emergency Response Units Help MoDOT

Keep Roads Open During Disasters

JEFFERSON CITY - Although there are no hurricanes coming to Missouri, we're still vulnerable to disasters such as earthquakes and tornadoes.   When such an event happens here, the Missouri Department of Transportation is doing all it can to be ready to keep the roads open.  

One key component of this effort is the department's three Mobile Emergency Response Operations Centers, which are equipped with technology to provide critical communications capabilities in the event of a large-scale disaster. When minutes count, these units can be sent to the affected area and set up in an instant -- even when everything else is down -- saving valuable time.

"In a disaster, as in everyday emergencies, MoDOT's mission is to get the highways open and emergency personnel where they need to be," said John Diggs, coordinator for the response units. "During a large-scale disaster, these units will help us tremendously by keeping communications open."

For example, some experts say Missouri is overdue for an earthquake along the New Madrid Fault. According to Diggs, if such an event were to happen, it's likely that all landline telephones, cell phones and Internet communications would be inoperable. The units could be sent to the affected areas to provide communications critical to MoDOT's emergency response. The equipment can also be used during times of domestic attack, disease outbreaks or more confined disasters, such as tornadoes.

The units have enough power (from propane generators), office space, computers, telephones, radios, food and water for five to six people for up to seven days.   They're equipped with maps and global positioning systems to help MoDOT responders pinpoint locations where help is needed. The setup helps ensure the centers can communicate with federal, state and local agencies, as well as internal MoDOT units.

"This ability is extremely critical during a major event where there is a long-term, statewide loss of power, telephone and cellular communications," Diggs said.

Editor's Note:   To arrange tours and demonstrations of the units in mid-Missouri, call John Diggs at 573-434-9022.   Recorded comments on this topic from Diggs are available by calling MoDOT's sound bite service at 1-866-847-7173 or visiting www.modot.org/newsroom.