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During an evacuation, EOC officials will call on transportation representativesto provide critical data. Transportation agencies can provideexperts in many areas, including planning, transit, traffic engineering,highway construction, and maintenance. As an example, maintenancepersonnel or contractors can provide supplies en route or at rest areasand can assist with debris removal, roving highway incident responderscan aid stranded motorists to clear lanes, and construction staff or contractorscan assist with controlling traffic by managing the ingress toand egress from designated evacuation routes. Traffic engineering staffcan provide information on the condition of the roads and potentialinfrastructure-related impedances, supply ITS resources, time trafficsignals, and provide traffic control devices such as cones, barriers, andsigns to assist in directing traffic during the evacuation.As part of these activities, transportation agencies will need to maintainfrequent communication with the emergency management agencyand other entities involved in the evacuation. At the same time anEOC is activated, transportation agencies may have a TMC activatedas well, and staffed with individuals trained in monitoring roadwayconditions. Ideally, the EOC would be linked electronically with theTMC so that the same information can be viewed at all locations, allowingtransportation staff to interpret information quickly and orderassets needed by the emergency managers. In addition, particularly incases where electronic linkages are not feasible, the relevant transportationagencies should send representatives to help staff the EOC, collectsituation status information, provide technical advice on what assetsthe DOTs may provide, and order items. This communication strategywill allow transportation agencies both to maintain better awarenessof the overall situation and to ensure that they are providing criticalinformation to the command structure.evacuation phasesThe first Primer in this series, Using Highways During EvacuationOperations for Events with Advance Notice, describes in detail the phasesof an evacuation. The phases are summarized here to provide readerswith a clear high-level understanding of the types of activities – before,during, and after an evacuation – which an effective evacuation planwill address.Readiness Phase – The Readiness Phase does not always occur dur-24 USING HIGHWAYS FOR NO-NOTICE EVACUATIONS
ing a little- or no-notice evacuation. If it does occur, it will be briefand minimal in scope. This is the time when information about anincident becomes available, and decision makers use this informationto determine whether an evacuation is necessary. After a no-noticeincident there is usually a delay in the flow of information to decisionmakers; evacuation decisions will likely need to be made before a completepicture of the situation is available.The numerous challenges related to an incident with a nonexistent orminimal Readiness Phase should prompt an emphasis on transportationpreplanning efforts. As discussed further in later sections of thisPrimer, transportation officials should do as much preplanning as feasibleon all aspects of their transportation infrastructure, including butnot limited to possible evacuation routes; the capacity, safety, and potentialchokepoints of those routes; redundant transportation capacityin case of roadway damage; locations of evacuation routes in relationto potential sheltering destinations; contra flow plans and other trafficmanagement tactics; and up-to-date inventories of available resources.Activation Phase – The Activation Phase encompasses everything leadingup to the actual evacuation of citizens. During this phase, relevanttransportation officials and agencies should be made aware that anevacuation is taking place, a command structure should be establishedbased on ICS principles, TMCs should be activated, transportationUSING HIGHWAYS FOR NO-NOTICE EVACUATIONS25
Page 2 and 3: NoticeThe U.S. Department of Transp
Page 4 and 5: Technical Report Documentation1. Re
Page 9: FOREWORDEvacuations may involve hun
Page 13 and 14: 1 INTRODUCTIONEvacuations occur for
Page 15 and 16: able to aid evacuation planners and
Page 17 and 18: NO-NOTICE EVACUATIONSThis Primer fo
Page 19 and 20: egularly. A general rule is to upda
Page 21: USING HIGHWAYS FOR NO-NOTICE EVACUA
Page 24 and 25: TRAFFIC MANAGEMENTCENTERSTraffic Ma
Page 26 and 27: Source: FEMA/Liz Roll.Source: NASA.
Page 28 and 29: Incident CommanderPublic Informatio
Page 30 and 31: Category Description Location of Ro
Page 34 and 35: epresentatives should be dispatched
Page 37 and 38: 3 Explanation ofNo-Notice Incidents
Page 39 and 40: that would likely require a sizeabl
Page 41 and 42: n On-scene emergency responders may
Page 43: USING HIGHWAYS FOR NO-NOTICE EVACUA
Page 46 and 47: to assess the available information
Page 48 and 49: it accomplishes an evacuation’s m
Page 50 and 51: aftermath of an incident. The natur
Page 52 and 53: ture of the contaminant is known. P
Page 54 and 55: of the transportation network, such
Page 56 and 57: zones of the at-risk region are eva
Page 59 and 60: 5 PlanningPlanning considerations C
Page 62 and 63: ers include transportation planners
Page 64 and 65: establish a clear protocol which ag
Page 66 and 67: n Executive government - Mayor and
Page 68 and 69: lated strategies and tactics, demon
Page 70 and 71: apidly synthesize information that
Page 72 and 73: n Location and distribution of evac
Page 74 and 75: Geographic information systems can
Page 76 and 77: is-clearing capabilities among supp
Page 78 and 79: the location of the incident and ho
Page 80 and 81: TacticNo changes to normal roadway
Page 82 and 83:
DESTINATIONS AND SHELTERINGEvacuati
Page 84 and 85:
n Condition of transportation netwo
Page 86 and 87:
inquiries initiated from out of the
Page 88 and 89:
PUBLIC EDUCATIONEmergency managemen
Page 90 and 91:
During the planning process, each a
Page 93 and 94:
6 Planning for for a No-NoticeaEvac
Page 95 and 96:
Planning and preparedness phaseThis
Page 97 and 98:
How does the evacuation plan identi
Page 99 and 100:
What provisions should the evacuati
Page 101 and 102:
1.6SHELTERING/DESTINATIONFor inform
Page 103 and 104:
Activation phaseThis operational ph
Page 105 and 106:
3.4SHELTERING/DESTINATIONFor inform
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What resources are needed to suppor
Page 109 and 110:
What contingency plans have been pr
Page 111 and 112:
Who needs to be notified to begin t
Page 113 and 114:
CONCLUSIONThis Primer presents guid
Page 115 and 116:
USING HIGHWAYS FOR NO-NOTICE EVACUA
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