Hurricanes: Their Nature and Impacts on Society - Climate Science ...

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HURRICANES: THEIR NATURE AND IMPACT ON SOCffiTY
(2) a technical data report. Educating the public about hurricane impacts <strong>and</strong>
the evacuation process is also an important aspect of evacuation planning.
Technical data: behavioral, shelter, <strong>and</strong> transportation analyses
In addition to the storm surge maps, evacuation studies also include technical
data reports on several factors relating to evacuation. The report generally
includes a behavioral analysis, shelter analysis, <strong>and</strong> transportation analysis.
The report indicates who is likely to evacuate, where they will go, <strong>and</strong> how
they will get there.
The behavioral analysis is conducted using social science survey methods in
order to assess the likely public response to various approaching storms. It
provides information that is useful in estimating when people will evacuate,
in what manner, where they would go, <strong>and</strong> what factors people consider
important in deciding to evacuate.
The shelter analysis is conducted to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to
house the portion of the evacuating population expected to seek refuge in a
public facility. The shelter analysis tabulates existing public shelters, capacities,
staffing requirements, public dem<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> vulnerability to storm surge.
The transportation analysis is conducted to assess the amount of time
necessary to evacuate people to safe locations in the event of an approaching
storm. Planners develop evacuation zones or sectors for purposes of evacuation
in order to determine <strong>and</strong> communicate the vulnerabilities to storm
surge of particular residents <strong>and</strong> facilities, evacuation routes, <strong>and</strong> the location
of shelters. The zones are devised based on the natural, demographic, <strong>and</strong>
political features of a particular community <strong>and</strong> are made readily accessible to
the public. Evacuation zones for Dade County, Florida, for example, are
reprinted in the front pages of every phone book. It is necessary to develop
zones that can be effectively communicated to the public in event of an
evacuation. Major l<strong>and</strong>marks, roads, <strong>and</strong> easily identifiable natural features
are often used to identify zone boundaries for the public, as zones are of little
use if people do not easily know in which zone they reside.
The transportation analysis identifies the number of people <strong>and</strong> vehicles
expected to evacuate from various zones under several scenarios, their likely
routes, <strong>and</strong> roadway capacities <strong>and</strong> potential bottlenecks. The analysis also
assesses anticipated time for evacuation prior to the arrival of tropical storm
strength winds (>39 mph) <strong>and</strong> the likelihood of the inundation of roadways
due to storm surge. It also explores the use of ferries, rail, air, <strong>and</strong> public
transportation for purposes of evacuation.
6.2.2 Preparing for impacts
Coastal communities are at risk to hurricane-related effects of stonn surge,
wind, <strong>and</strong> rain. For example, communities generally develop building codes