Metro News Release
For immediate release: July 8, 2005
Metro Has Systems, Procedures For Emergency Situations
The Metrorail system has systems and processes in place to handle situations similar to Thursday’s terrorist attacks in London. However Metro officials continue to stress how important it is for the nearly one million customers who use Metro each weekday to know what they can do and how to prepare if an emergency situation arises.
"The tragic events that occurred in London yesterday should serve as a reminder to all of us that we should always be prepared and know what to do in an emergency situation," said Metro’s Chief of Police Polly Hanson. "Everyone has a role in protecting the transit system, our 10,000 dedicated employees and the one million plus commuters who rely on us each weekday. However, its imperative for everyone to have a plan and to know what to do if a situation arises."
There are several differences between Metro and London’s Underground system. The 29-year-old Metro system is newer than London’s Underground system and has been constructed with greater attention to emergency safety and evacuation.
In the Metrorail system, fire protection systems are built into rail cars, stations and other fire-sensitive areas in case of an explosion or fire. Fire extinguishers are located on all Metrorail trains and seat cushions and carpets on all Metrorail cars are constructed with fire retardant materials.
Metro’s Automatic Train Control (ATC) rooms also meet strict fire code regulations. These rooms have heat detectors, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Additionally, they have alarms so that if an alarm is triggered, Metro Transit Police are dispatched to investigate. Metro’s mechanical rooms have fire-rated walls and the cable feed connectors between each room and through the floor are fire retardant, as well. Another fire-proof quality of Metro’s rooms, is they are basically constructed of concrete and steel, both non-combustible materials.
Metro conducts occasional mock disaster drills and also provides intensive training for local fire and police departments on procedures for responding to Metro emergencies, such as fires or explosions.
Metro’s ventilation system in its stations and tunnels are designed to pull smoke out of stations when activated so that customers, employees and first responders can exit safely and quickly.
The ventilation system will cause smoke to dissipate, allowing people to see in darkened tunnels, with the aid of emergency lighting. Without the ventilation system, thick smoke would hinder people’s ability to exit safely.
Examples of other emergency safeguards in the Metrorail system include:
Emergency intercoms inside each rail car at either end of the car, can be used to report suspicious or unusual activity, or unattended items to the train operator.
Each rail car next to the center doors have detailed emergency procedures on how to evacuate a train.
Each rail car has three sets of emergency doors that can be utilized if an emergency occurs.
Emergency call boxes are located at the ends of all station platforms and are located every 800 feet along the tracks. Marked by blue lights, these boxes provide a hotline into the Operations Control Center and a button for bringing down third-rail power in extreme emergencies.
Emergency exits are located every 2,500 feet in Metrorail tunnels and are marked with lighted exit signs. The staircases lead to overhead doors which can be easily pushed to reach the surface.
Call boxes are mounted on pylons on station platforms to enable passengers to report emergencies to the station manager.
Closed circuit video cameras cover every area of a Metrorail station. Monitors are located in the station manager’s kiosk.
Every Metrorail station has bomb containment trash cans near faregates and farecard machines. Later this year, bomb containment trash cans will return to station platforms.
All members of the Metro Transit Police Department, rail supervisors, station managers and rail operators are trained in first aid procedures, including CPR and the heimlich maneuver.
As part of their job, on-going safety training is required for train operators, station managers and operations supervisors.
Examples of emergency safeguards in the Metrobus system include:
On Metrobus, in the event of threatening or disruptive behavior aboard the bus, an operator can activate a silent alarm that goes through the Operations Control Center to the police. The disruptive passenger has no way of knowing the alarm has been activated or that police are on their way.
When the alarm is activated, the destination sign on most buses automatically changes to EMERGENCY! CALL POLICE and the outside running lights flash to let approaching police know which bus sent out the alarm.
In any other type of emergency, the bus operator can call central control on the bus radio to request the help needed.
100 Metrobuses currently have video cameras and another 375 buses will soon have cameras as well.
In the wake of Thursday’s incidents, Metro officials have increased the frequency of announcements on trains and in rail stations to inform customers of the increased police presence, asking customers to keep an eye open for suspicious activity and to remind customers to take their packages with them.
Metro Transit Police have also deployed the special response teams and explosive detection canine teams to conduct sweeps of Metrorail stations, rail yards, trains, bus garages and buses. Metrorail station restrooms have been temporarily closed for security reasons.
"Our Metrorail and Metrobus customers need to make sure they are aware of their surroundings so that if an emergency situation arises, they are prepared for action," Chief Hanson said.
News release issued on July 8, 2005.