using highways for no-notice evacuations - FHWA Operations - U.S. ...

aftermath of an incident. The nature and scope of the precipitatingincident may generate hazards that pose a serious threat to the at-riskpopulation if an evacuation occurred. Examples of such risks arecompromised transportation infrastructure, impacts of aftershocks, thepresence of toxic or radiological contaminants (particularly a plume),impending weather conditions, and secondary fires and explosions. Insuch situations, having at-risk populations shelter in place with basicprotective measures may be a more viable and safer option.The use of sheltering-in-place to reduce the number of people who becomepart of an evacuation stream or who need to be moved by publictransportation is an option that emergency managers can consider,but only if the present location affords adequate protection against theparticular incident. This decision may have unintended consequencesand risks for those ordered to remain inside and for the decision makers.For example, a Louisiana nursing home staff’s decision to shelterin place during Hurricane Katrina resulted in considerable loss of lifeamong the residents when water filled the structure, and manslaughtercharges were brought against the facility’s owners. 4 The incident’sinfluence on basic human necessities – such as potable water – must beconsidered when deciding whether citizens should evacuate or shelterin place.The proportion of the at-risk population that will stay or evacuate isnot easily predicted. Activities related to implementing an evacuationmay need to be performed, even if sheltering in place is recommendedor ordered, since spontaneous evacuations and changes in the threatsituation may require reassessment of the protective action strategy.At-risk populations may also decide to disregard instructions to shelterin place, based on a mistaken belief that it is safer to evacuate.Shelter-in-place activities can be short-term or long-term, dependingon the particular circumstances of the incident, the degree of safetyrisks to the population associated with the incident, the resulting trafficcongestions, and the resources available to support the shelter-in-place424“Katrina Nursing Home Owners Acquitted in Patients’ Deaths.”http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/07/katrina.nursinghome.deaths.ap/index.html.USING HIGHWAYS FOR NO-NOTICE EVACUATIONS