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

the location of the incident and how to support those with limitedmobility, and should establish tactics for emergency managementstaff and first responders. Transportation planners should establish aregional pedestrian network that is consistent with the roadway andhighway systems, and develop geographically based databases displayingpedestrian paths. This planning requires identifying sidewalks andtrails, crosswalks, intersections, bridges and tunnels, and other possiblebarriers that impede pedestrian movement.Once the components of the transportation network have been identifiedand profiled, the data can be used to develop a comprehensiveunderstanding of the transportation network. This network can beconsidered within the context of a no-notice evacuation to determinetraffic loads and congestion in relation to factors such as projected atriskareas, vehicle and evacuee numbers, likely directions of travel, anddestinations.In support of this endeavor, planners should employ transportationdemand models to determine how best to manage system-wide capacityunder different scenarios, including no-notice incidents. Thesemodels are typically suited to testing and decision making regardingroadway capacity; however, they include limited capabilities for estimatingmodal diversions. Key factors such as the size of an evacuationand the time of day will drive capacity utilization. In turn, this willaffect decisions on staging and how to best move evacuees. All toofrequently during the course of the day, major metropolitan areas arealready operating at close to capacity. The consequence of an evacuationrequiring the movement of a great number of additional peoplecould result in gridlock unless traffic operations professionals, trafficincident managers, full-function service patrols, emergency managers,and first responders are prepared to implement a range of alternativetransportation tactics.Source: Quadstone Paramics. Reproduced with permission.70If feasible, jurisdictions can incorporate these data into a traffic modelingframework that will allow further analysis of traffic routes, trafficloads, and congestion management tactics. This work would supportthe selection of appropriate evacuation routes and strategies to beincorporated into the overall planning process. This will enable evacuationmanagers to make better decisions during a no-notice evacuationbecause they will have a good knowledge of how evacuees should bedistributed within the transportation network.USING HIGHWAYS FOR NO-NOTICE EVACUATIONS