Positioning, Planning and Operation of Emergency Response Resources and Coordination between Jurisdictions

Abstract

Railroad related rail incidents, particularly those involving hazardous material (hazmat), cause severe consequences and pose significant threats to safety, public health and the environment. Rail safety is a huge issue in Midwestern states such as Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. This project aims at strategically positioning and allocating emergency responders and resources in anticipation of potential accidents in a region that may be impacted by rail incidents. Mathematical models and solution techniques are developed to enable systematic analysis of the emergency response system associated with railroad incidents; e.g., to strategically position and allocate emergency responders and resources in anticipation of potential accidents along spatially distributed railroad networks. We consider the added complexity due to vulnerability of the emergency response system itself, such as the risk of disruptions to the transportation network for first-responders (e.g., blockage of railroad crossings). The outcomes from these tasks will provide fundamental understanding, operational guidelines, and practical tools to policy makers (e.g., federal and state agencies) to induce socio-economically favorable system that support safe and efficient railroad industry operations.