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IN 2001, TROPICAL STORM ALLISON CAUSED WIDESPREAD FLOODING AND DAMAGE IN THE HOUSTON, TX, USA, METROPOLITAN REGION. RECOGNIZING THAT CRUCIAL LESSONS COULD BE LEARNED AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE GAINED THROUGH AN EVALUATION OF TRANSTAR'S OPERATIONS DURING THE STORM, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONED AN IN-DEPTH REVIEW.
BACKGROUND
Tropical Storm Allison poured record volumes of rainfall on the Houston, TX, USA, metropolitan region during the week commencing June 4, 2001. The peak 24-hour rainfall total was 26 inches; the recorded cumulative weekly total was 34 inches. The most severe flooding began on the evening of Friday, June 8 and continued through the morning of Saturday, June 9. The rain fell on saturated soil and ran off into local bayous. Nine bayous reached record levels while seven more exceeded their banks.
The record rainfall severely impacted Houston's transportation system, resulting in damages totaling $5 million. All major highways were closed due to flooding and there was $1 million in roadway damage. (Figure 1 shows an aerial view of the flooding in Houston.)
In addition, the flooding caused more than $3 million in damage to intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and communications equipment. By June 9, the operational rates for closed circuit television cameras had been reduced by 55.6 percent; the operational rates for dynamic message signs and drum signs had been reduced by 23.8 percent.
In response to the storm and the flooding, the various partner agencies of Houston TranStar went into action. This included the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the City of Houston, Harris County and the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO). The consortium of four government agencies is responsible for providing transportation and emergency management services to the greater Houston region.
Considering the magnitude of the flooding, agency staffs coped and adapted to the situation very well. The dedication of field staffs and TranStar employees was impressive. TranStar demonstrated its survivability by remaining operational while several other government agencies and private organizations, such as television stations, became non-operational. TranStar also demonstrated its ability to adapt by hosting and facilitating unexpected guests, such as the Harris County Sheriff's Department and, ultimately, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
By rush hour on Monday morning, June 11, all major freeways had been reopened.
METHODOLOGY
After Tropical...