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PUBLIC EDUCATIONEmergency management and response agencies need to prepare thepublic for a potential evacuation in advance. An evacuation – particularlyin a no-notice context – can be executed much more smoothly ifthe public is properly prepared. Ensuring that evacuees, who are thelargest stakeholder group in an evacuation, know terminology, what todo, and where to go will greatly assist emergency managers during anevacuation. Members of the public need to know the following:n The meaning of different types of evacuation ordersn What preparations to carry out in advance (emergency go kits, familyevacuation plans)n How an evacuation will be declaredn Where to get information once an evacuation is declaredn What transportation options will likely to be availablen What evacuation routes are likely to be usedn What support services are likely to be offered to evacueesn Where planned shelters may be establishedn Where and how to get updated information once an evacuationis underwayn What services they should expect roadside or at the sheltersA no-notice evacuation scenario highlights the need for evacuees tobe as self-reliant as possible. Emergency responders will mobilize tothe best of their ability but their capabilities will likely be more limitedthan during an advance-notice scenario due to limited staffing,responders who have become victims themselves, and a limited periodof preparedness. When the public has a better understanding of whatto expect during an evacuation and how to prepare themselves, theywill be able to be more self-reliant during the actual evacuation: have apersonal emergency preparedness kit, bring sufficient food and water,understand where they should go and how to get there, and knowwhere to obtain information being broadcast to the public. This willlessen the burden on emergency responders and enable them to focuson those segments of the evacuation population who require the mostassistance.Emergency planners should implement mechanisms to inform thepublic of how to prepare for an evacuation and educate them on thedifferent protective action options for various types of scenarios. Suc-80 USING HIGHWAYS FOR NO-NOTICE EVACUATIONS
cessful past efforts for public education include community seminarsand preparedness pamphlets distributed to residents and businesses.Information can also be posted on agency Web sites.Transportation agencies should consider what information they needthe public to understand in advance of an evacuation. What will betterprepare evacuees to anticipate and understand how an evacuationwill progress? Transportation planners should consider how they willwant evacuees to use the transportation network. Is it worthwhile todistribute a map of likely evacuation routes in advance, with routespecificinformation such as the fact that bridge tolls will be waivedon a given route, or that another route will have limited availabilityof gasoline for automobile refueling? Do planners want to encouragecarpooling to reduce overall congestion on the network? The specificcircumstances will vary for each region; local planners should determinewhat information will be most beneficial in helping the publicprepare and should ensure that information is included in the publiceducation process.RESOURCE MANAGEMENTEvacuations are extremely resource-intensive events that require significantpersonnel, facilities, and equipment to implement successfully. Aspart of the planning and preparation process, agencies need to determinewhat resources they will have available as well as what resourcesthey will need to perform their allotted roles during an evacuation. Inmany cases, there may be a gap between what is needed and what isavailable, in which case an agency or jurisdiction may need to coordinatewith other agencies to establish sharing and mutual aid agreements.This situation will likely be exacerbated during a no-noticeincident, when the agencies will have less time to identify, obtain, andposition resources.No-notice evacuations have implications for resource availability. Relianceon locally available or pre-positioned equipment will be essential.No-notice incidents preclude the advance movement of local, State,and Federal assets closer to the incident. Moving at-risk populationswho require assistance after a no-notice incident is done in an urgentlife safety response mode and will, to a large extent, rely on local supportcapabilities.USING HIGHWAYS FOR NO-NOTICE EVACUATIONS81
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NoticeThe U.S. Department of Transp
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Technical Report Documentation1. Re
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FOREWORDEvacuations may involve hun
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1 INTRODUCTIONEvacuations occur for
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able to aid evacuation planners and
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NO-NOTICE EVACUATIONSThis Primer fo
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egularly. A general rule is to upda
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USING HIGHWAYS FOR NO-NOTICE EVACUA
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TRAFFIC MANAGEMENTCENTERSTraffic Ma
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Source: FEMA/Liz Roll.Source: NASA.
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Incident CommanderPublic Informatio
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Category Description Location of Ro
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During an evacuation, EOC officials
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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
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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 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
Page 107 and 108: 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
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