Trains May Be Used During Hurricane Evacuations

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Federal Emergency Management Agency may
expand the use of passenger trains to evacuate the elderly and sick
in advance of hurricanes across the Gulf Coast.
Glenn Cannon, a FEMA assistant administrator, told a
congressional subcommittee meeting in New Orleans that his agency
is looking at passenger trains as a method to get people with
physical impediments out of harm's way.
New Orleans has become something of a guinea pig for train
evacuations.
After Hurricane Katrina, Amtrak was hired to be on hand if
another hurricane struck to evacuate people with special needs. And
the use of trains has become an important part of New Orleans'
disaster plans.
Cannon says FEMA is now devising disaster plans for other Gulf
Coast cities based on the New Orleans model.
City officials say Congress and FEMA should create a national
plan to use trains in disasters.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)