"The new team will identify opportunities to strategically coordinate, train and put into practice consistent and efficient response and recovery efforts to better ensure the safety and security of our customers and employees," said Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman.

There are eight emergency management-related functions currently located in various Amtrak departments. These functions will be integrated into the new department whose primary focus is emergency preparedness, continuity of operations and corporate security risk strategy. Combining these functions will provide a framework in which to plan for, respond to and recover from incidents, while also establishing and maintaining a uniform corporate security strategy.

Susan Reinertson, who currently oversees the Amtrak recovery and resiliency exercise program, as well as continuity of operations planning, will lead the new department. She has a background in homeland security and emergency management consulting, as well as leadership experience at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.