Knowledge Resources

As an example, in the 1970s the GDOT Commissioner tried and failed to organize an interagency incident management program. It wasn’t until 1992 that the Chief of Georgia’s Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) began to include law enforcement and GDOT in emergency response. However, it was the announcement that Atlanta would host the 1996 Summer Olympics that was the real catalyst for mobilization. The GDOT Director of Operations helped organize the program because of his experience and his relationships within his agency. Critical to the success of this effort was the identification of a "credible nucleus" that recognized that many agencies had a role in managing incidents. In Georgia, this was GEMA. While it is important to understand that agencies cannot be forced to work together, if a viable framework is in place, a major event can help mobilize and solidify support for a coordinated interagency program. Steve Parks, Deputy Commissioner, Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), said, "You cannot wait for a crisis or international event to occur before organizing incident management agencies. Start the program and dialogue prior to any event, and the event will help solidify those relationships."

It also can be accomplished by taking advantage of scenarios such as this one, in Houston: Mayor Lanier of Houston encountered severe traffic congestion on the way to a Houston Oilers football game. He called his staff several times, but no one could give him accurate information about what was happening or how long the congestion might last. He reached the game close to half-time. The next day he initiated action to ensure that his experience would not be repeated by Houston-area citizens. Thus, the Houston area’s first incident management program and the Houston TranStar ITS system were born. The mayor, a previous member of the State Transportation Board, led an effort to gain the cooperation of the other agencies in the Houston area. His efforts enabled TxDOT, Houston METRO, and the Houston Police Department to gain top management buy-in for their portions of the incident management program. The result was an incident management program developed in a very short time.