Exploring public expectations for aid from critical infrastructure operators

While the importance of transportation infrastructure in emergency management is recognized, the role of critical infrastructure (CI) operators has yet to be fully established, especially when it comes to providing aid to the public. This paper addresses this under-researched issue by drawing on key themes that emerged from a review of the literature on public expectations of transportation CI operators in disaster management and presenting the results of an online questionnaire-based study of disaster-vulnerable communities. Results indicate that members of the public expect CI operators to contribute to emergency response, to provide a means of evacuation, and to aid in long term recovery. The paper concludes with recommendations for how CI operators can meet these expectations.