(talk) 19:35, 16 January 2011 (UTC) Transportation and safe commuting within rural area is one of the key elements for DHS (Department for Homeland Security); this has led DHS to create appropriate planning in biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive detection response and decontamination in case of an attack or national hazards. National Planning scenarios and Universal task list allow DHS to respond to all major events and national preparedness to achieve those goals and solidifies nation’s capabilities. Planning under uncertainty and to develop capabilities suitable for wide range of threats and hazards with its prioritization and choice is in demand by the people.

In today’s world, people need to prepare a global tasks list as nations together will prepare, prevent and protect against natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and war time. Non-governmental entities along with federal, state and local government reform places will have a superior impact on lives and property of nation’s citizens when a nation is capable of handling these atrocities. Interoperable planning is very important for government and non-government associations to be ready for future preventions of based on their geographic group and priority. Altogether there are 15 scenarios and 36 capabilities that will enhance the quality of life through safer transportation in rural areas. This creates a base plan for the nation to implement in the society. Operations, structures, responsibility, roles and definitions are a requirement for the base plan to be successful. These plans are put in effect by police, fire, public health, medical, emergency management, public works, environmental response, and other personnel are first to respond. Each personnel have tasks allocated according to geographic grouping within their sector- governmental, non-governmental and private sector and is possible with a coordinated effort. Each entities handles incident on daily basis on a single jurisdiction.

All of the tasks and allocation of resources are in six major components of which two are visible to everyone on the base plan. These two components are preparedness and resource management. Tasks like planning, training, exercises, personnel qualification, and certification are in preparedness components. On the other hand, resource management includes inventory, mobilize, dispatch, track, and recovery of resources. These two components have goals assigned to them to complete those assigned tasks. Preparedness component has a goal of enhancing resiliency through rapid, flexible response and maintain network’s survival with the help of key nodes and links of transportation system. Second, resource management has goals to enhance development and research through evaluation efforts.

These goals have been met by specific framework based on a strategy and risk-management but do not directly addressed to the base plan. This system has four risk views: modal, functional, geographic and ownership, and allocated based on the current ongoing affliction on humanity. The system with these four views is assessed by putting system through analyzed and developed countermeasures to reduce risk to those resources or assets. These measures are in control of prior experienced individuals- experts at governing the system. DHS in response to presidential directives develops programs and guidance for National Preparedness Goal and National Infrastructure protection plan that receives funding by FEMA; it is a DHS grant program for both large and complex programs. The system has four missions’ strategy, components, directives, and national initiatives with finally arriving at the results are to prevent, protect, respond, and recover. It reflects seven national priorities. Currently the entire system’s focus for the years since 2004, 2005, and 2006 is terrorism. Strategies for years 2007, 2008, 2009 reflects integration and collaboration of national preparedness goal and develop a realization of national goals. The United States Federal Highway Administration by The United States Congress to establish, “a continuing and comprehensive transportation planning process carried out cooperatively by state and local communities.”, (p198, one p), the United States Department of Transportation Inspector General, (USDOT) noted for year 2007 top facing challenges is “Responding to National Disasters and Emergencies – Assisting citizens and Facilitating Transportation Infrastructure Reconstruction” (p198, five p ) USDOT has a lead role in coordinating support for an event of natural disaster or manmade disaster.

USDOT (United States Department of Transportation Inspector General) has two key focuses, 1). Ensuring vigilance in protecting taxpayer funds spent for relief and recover efforts and 2). Clarify responsibilities and roles for mission requirements. This has major on DOTs and highway operator and has direct effect on state and local transportation system. These individuals have limited experience, limited resources and dependent on other state and local agencies to know about the threats to their system. To further, help and assess the risk, FWHA is assessing that DOTs has to develop a security plan to understand the risk that should be assessed by Transportation’s risk-management based system as stated earlier. To help highway operators and DOT, FWHA has key elements similar to those of the components in the base plan: 1). Resource management – that contains mobilization, mechanism, strategy, and post event-recovery. Several products developed by FWHA are important in risk-based programs and countermeasures coordinated by DHS in Transportation Security Administration. FWHA has sponsored 30 different workshops on Transportation Operations Preparedness and Response across The United States. The purpose of these workshops is to increase awareness and enhancing working relationships. Out these workshops there are seven best practices categories of which – Emergency Operations (31) has best practices between May 2002 and June 2005.

Considering these essential elements and possessing an understanding of a base plan will create a safer, more educated and will enhance the quality of life in today’s world. Doing this research is a very important and essential part of everyone life, hence it also a collaborative effort to make rural transportation system safe and secure. --Kevdomind (talk) 19:35, 16 January 2011 (UTC)