• DOT Launches New Website to Assist Persons with Disabilities For Emergency Preparedness

DOT Launches New Website to Assist Persons with Disabilities For Emergency Preparedness

July 21, 2005

The U.S. Department of Transportation today launched a new web site
containing information to help ensure safe and secure transportation for
persons with disabilities in the event of a disaster or emergency.

The new site includes advice on emergency preparedness, transportation
accessibility, and evacuation methods for certain modes of
transportation, such as rail and transit systems. Disabled individuals
can learn how to react in situations ranging from evacuations of mass
transit systems to being trapped in a car during a blizzard or
hurricane.

The site also includes links to Department of Homeland Security web
pages that provide information on preparing for specific emergencies,
including natural disasters such as severe weather, fire and
earthquakes, as well as man-made disasters such as spills of hazardous
materials. In addition, the site also provides information for
transportation providers on how to respond to the unique needs of people
with disabilities during an emergency.

The new site was developed in response to an executive order issued by
President Bush on July 22, 2004, which directed federal agencies to
support safety and security for individuals with disabilities during
natural and man-made disasters.

The web address for the new site is
http://www.dotcr.ost.dot.gov/asp/emergencyprep.asp.