Emergency preparedness

The publications and Web sites below offer practical how-to guides instructing Metro customers and area residents in emergency preparedness.

For news of Metro's own safety tips and emergency precautions and preparations, please see the Metrorail and Metrobus safety pages, safety and security FAQ, and recent safety and security press releases.

• Metrorail Alternate Route Planning Guide and Get Ready Now brochures
  Metro has introduced these brochures in conjunction with National Preparedness Month.
• Metrorail Emergency Evacuation Maps
  Maps for each entrance to Metrorail stations that include bus service available from that station, walking distance to the next station and a street map designating bus stop locations and bus routes. To view a map, go to the Metrorail stations web page and click on a station name.
• Severe weather plan and Guide to using Metro in a snowstorm
  Describes what Metro service to expect during extreme weather.
• Metro's "Dear Fellow Rider: Safety Update" brochure
  Describes Metro security precautions, instructs customers on how to react in emergencies and how to assist Metro police in reporting suspicious activity or unattended packages.
• Metro's Emergency Evacuation animation
  Displays emergency evacuation procedures for Metro's trains, buses and rail stations. (Requires Flash to view.) A text version of this animation is also available.
• Metro Emergency Guide
  A personal preparedness guide from express, a publication of The Washington Post.
• "Together We Prepare" brochure
  Transit-specific disaster education material from Metro, American Red Cross, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Transit Administration.
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
  The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.
  Alexandria, VA - http://www.ci.alexandria.va.us/fire/cert.html
  Arlington County, VA - http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/EmergencyManagement/EmergencyManagementCert.aspx
  District of Columbia - http://dccert.org
  Montgomery County, MD - http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/firtmpl.asp?url=/Content/FireRescue/sion/cert/index.asp
  Prince Georges County, MD - http://www.co.pg.md.us/Government/AgencyIndex/OHS/OEM/cert.asp
  All CERT Teams in VA and a POC - http://www.vdem.state.va.us/citcorps/councils/index.cfm
• Metro Citizen Corps, in conjunction with the Metro Transit Police, provides Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members a training program that teaches how to react to emergencies, ranging from rail safety to identification of terrorist activity. The members are instructed how to help themselves, and their fellow passengers, while they wait for firefighters and police to arrive. To be eligble to be a member of the Metro Citizen Corps you must be an active CERT member, a regular Metro rider, a U.S. Citizen and 18 years of age or older. See listings under the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia to find your nearest local CERT program.
• Office of Personnel Management's Emergency Guidance Web page
  Offers detailed emergency preparedness guides for federal managers, employees and for families both within and outside the Washington metropolitan area.
• American Red Cross Community Disaster Education materials Web page
  Offers a wide array of disaster education materials from the Red Cross, from government agencies and from the media.
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security Web site
  Includes information about the current national threat level and general emergency preparedness.
• Ready.gov Web site
  This site, from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, offers detailed information on preparing for terrorist incidents. Included are brochures, checklists, public service announcements and links for additional information.
• Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Homeland Security Web page
  Describes local governments' cooperation on homeland security and includes links to the Regional Emergency Coordination Plan developed for the National Capital Area.
• District of Columbia Home Guide to Emergency Preparedness Web page
  Helps Washington, D.C., residents prepare their homes and families for most local emergency situations.
• Maryland Emergency Management Agency Web site
  Lists the local Maryland emergency management offices for all counties in Maryland.
• Virginia Department of Emergency Preparedness
  Offers information for Virginia residents to increase their knowledge and preparedness for terrorism.