Abstract
Regional cooperation, coordination, and communication between airports can promote preparedness and continuity of operations during disasters. Interviews at 20 U.S. airports led to workshops in South Florida, New England, and Minnesota, in which representatives of airports, airlines, local responders, state agencies, and federal agencies discussed needs, opportunities, and barriers to increased regional cooperation, coordination, and communication. Qualitative analysis of the discussions led to a number of recommendations. Increased regional cooperation, coordination, and communication between airports and between regional groups of airports and other responding or regulatory agencies are highly desirable goals. Different regions of the country have different methods in place, but none is fully optimized. Interstate mutual aid between airports has different issues from intrastate aid arrangements. Intrastate arrangements may need new state legislation to provide liability coverage and reimbursement. Airports in New England and the Midwest seem interested in the airport Disaster Operations Group (DOG) approach. In Florida, the Florida Emergency Management Agency already provides strong intrastate coordination between counties and local agencies; in New England, the primary interest is interstate. A yet-unformed national umbrella organization could coordinate the regional DOGs and serve as the Emergency Management Assistance Compact's aviation coordination function. The Transportation Security Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and FAA have current initiatives that will assist airports during disasters. FAA's Advisory Circular 150/5200-31C opens an opportunity to expand regional airport cooperation and airport–community preparedness. This study makes 11 specific recommendations to improve regional cooperation among airports during disasters.
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