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

apidly synthesize information that is being gathered and transmittedfor decision making purposes. Evacuation planning, particularlyfor no-notice incidents, requires integrating roles, responsibilities,and functions along with technologies and systems similar to those inmany of the country’s TMCs. Once integration has occurred, agenciescan identify the worst case no-notice scenario and test the capabilitylimitations of their staffs and supporting information systems. Theycan then take steps to mitigate those limitations through additionalstaff training and resource procurement to achieve enhanced staff coordinationand establish a level of redundancy for critical systems andoperations.The emergence of TMCs is dependent upon systems integration andinteroperability to provide real-time information. In order for evacuationplanning to translate into action once an incident occurs, systemsintegration and interoperability limitations need to be identified andaddressed beforehand. This requires securing technology and developingsystems that meet industry standards and that can be integratedwith those that are being deployed by the emergency managementcommunity.FORECASTING EVACUEE STATISTICSThe most critical element of an evacuation is the population of evacuees.All activities and efforts should be focused on moving thesepeople from the at-risk area to places of safety. The size and characteristicsof this population are, of course, significant factors in determininghow an evacuation will be executed.Evacuation planners must understand the people who are likely to beevacuated before they can make key decisions about transportationmodes, route selections, sheltering destinations, and the many otherelements of an evacuation effort designed to support the safe and efficientmovement of evacuees.Demographic forecasting drives transportation planning, specificallydetermining the impact of the evacuation on a corridor or system andestimating existing and future travel demand between originationand destination zones. Transportation agency planners need to playa contributing and sometimes a leading role in the identification andmovement of population groups. The availability of data maintained62 USING HIGHWAYS FOR NO-NOTICE EVACUATIONS