MoDOT's mobile emergency response units are equipped with the technology to provide critical communications capabilities in the event of a large scale, natural or manmade disaster. When minutes count, this equipment can be brought up in an instant- even when everything else is down- saving valuable time and effort.
“In a disaster, as in every day emergencies, MoDOT’s mission is to get the highways open and emergency personnel where they need to be,” said John Diggs, communications coordinator for the Traffic Division. “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, cellular phones and Internet communications would be inoperable. These units would provide the communications tools critical to MoDOT’s emergency response operations. The equipment can also be used during times of domestic attack, contagious disease or more confined disasters like tornadoes.
Three of the self-contained trailers are known as Mobile Emergency Response Operations Centers. The fourth is a mobile emergency response vehicle that pulls the operations centers.
The units are designed to help MoDOT communicate both internally and externally when disaster strikes. The units have enough power (from propane generators), office space, computers, telephones, radios, food and water for six to eight people for up to seven days.
In addition, 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.
The Traffic Unit plans to send one mobile operations center each to the St. Louis and South Central districts- the areas where they would be the most beneficial if an earthquake hit the southeast part of the state.
The third center and the mobile emergency response vehicle will remain in Jefferson City for use statewide for local disasters such as tornadoes, ice storms and big snow events. The units will also be used in training exercise with state and local public safety agencies. The Traffic Division will train all necessary district and Central Office personnel on the setup, operation and maintenance of the units and equipment.
