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Agenda Item # 7

BOARD MEMORANDUM

FOR INFORMATION ONLY

BACKGROUND:

At its October 2005 meeting, the CTA requested that a guest speaker present information about emergency preparation and response in Santa Clara County.  Members expressed particular interest in preparedness for, and ability to provide, emergency assistance to persons with disabilities.  Several guest speakers have been invited to make presentations at the January CTA meeting.

DISCUSSION:

In response to the CTA’s request for information, staff has invited Miguel Grey and Cindy Stewart from the County’s Office of Emergency Services (OES), Annemarie R. Swardenski, Consultant from Collaborating Agenices Disaster Relief Effort (CADRE), and Jim Middleton, VTA’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC) manager.  Ms. Swardenski’s firm is working with the County’s OES to address the needs of vulnerable populations in the County.

VTA works with the County’s OES through its Emergency Operations Center (EOC).  VTA’s goals during an emergency are to ensure the safety of life and property, respond to requests for assistance, maintain as much standard service as possible, and initiate a recovery transition when the emergency situation has been stabilized.

VTA EOC staff work cooperatively with their EOC colleagues from the Bay Area’s transit operators under the guidance of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).   Bay Area transit operators participate in regular drills with MTC, other transit operators, and emergency response agencies.  VTA and Outreach work together on emergency response planning to ensure a coordinated response and provide mutual support. 

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