Plan for Remote Operations During Emergencies to Facilitate Interoperability and Resiliency Statewide.

The TSMO unit used tools and strategies deployed over the previous decade as part of their emergency operations approach: 

• Plan for remote operations. NCDOT’s Mountain Traffic Management Center was able to evacuate during Helene and seamlessly transitioned its operations to the statewide center in Raleigh due to previous network and technology upgrades.
• Communicate travel restrictions through multiple channels. Portable traffic signals, portable changeable message signs, wireless emergency alert messages, in-vehicle alerts to truck drivers, and truck checkpoints with QR code instructions helped NCDOT communicate ongoing changes and manage a compromised road network.
• Establish stakeholder relationships prior to any emergency situation. The TSMO unit could exchange information with and draw on the resources of experts across NCDOT and from outside entities because of pre-established partnerships and channels of communication.
• Maintain an inventory of mission-critical resources. Though able to leverage partners’ resources at the time of Helene, the TSMO unit realized that having its own assets such as portable signals and mobile cell towers could improve responsiveness in the future.
• Take a flexible approach that can be applied to many situations. The TSMO unit had prioritized core strategies such as surge staffing and event coordination rather than establishing a strict response plan, which served them well during Helene.