EFFECTIVELY MANAGING CRISES: LESSONS LEARNED

Being prepared to respond to accidents and the proper execution of the response is essential to minimizing the consequences of an accident. Recognizing that all accidents differ and the adequacy and efficiency of accident response efforts vary considerably, this paper addresses some of the lessons learned from previous planning, preparation and response efforts. The lessons learned and presented are drawn from actual accidents and the responses to those accidents. Included in the lessons learned are experiences gained from drills and simulations. In addition to lessons learned by transit systems, the experiences of other organizations' response to comparable situations are discussed. Crises management areas discussed include planning, the need to nurture professional relationships, preparing to respond, developing policies and procedures, communications and scene access.