How to Develop Evacuation Plans
Although discussed mainly in cases of hurricanes, evacuations also occur because of chemical leaks, fires, and other emergencies. Therefore, emergency managers in all communities need to develop effective evacuation plans. With some research and planning, emergency managers can help ensure the safety of their community's residents during an evacuation situation.
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Things You'll Need
- U.S. Census data
- Information from the local convention and visitor's bureau
- Information from emergency management research studies
Instructions
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Analyze threats to the local community. Identify potential situations that would require an evacuation, their likelihood of occurrence, their potential impact severity, immediacy, duration, and their potential short- or long-term evacuation requirements.
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Determine the number and location of vehicles that can be used to evacuate people from a risk zone.
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3
Gather information about the distribution and number of people in resident households, the number of residents needing public transportation for an evacuation, and the percentage of evacuation compliance expected in both residential and transient populations. Obtain this information from U.S. Census data, the local convention and visitor's bureau, and research studies. Ideally, 100 percent of those warned to evacuate will leave and 0 percent of those not included in the warning--or spontaneous evacuees--will leave. Organize and provide transportation support for residents without personal vehicles and mobility support for individuals needing assistance walking to evacuation bus pickup points.
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Determine the departure timing of the evacuation. Expect up to two-thirds of the population to leave prior to the evacuation order and for people to make evacuation decisions early in the morning, to ensure plenty of daylight travel time. Also, estimate evacuation preparation times, such as preparing to leave work, traveling from work to home, gathering household members, and packing. Establish a lead agency with responsibility for the timing and direction of evacuee movements.
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Organize evacuation routes and establish traffic management for those routes. Research shows that many people favor familiar routes inland, especially interstate highways and ignore alternate routes. Others plan their routes beforehand or consider other roads when they encounter heavy traffic. Distribute public information about preferred routes--widely and often--and the reasons behind them. Establish counter-flow policies and procedures, which will open all the lanes on interstates for one-way traffic. Provide appropriate police and security resources to facilitate orderly vehicle movement. Organize re-fueling and first-aid stations for drivers trapped in evacuation traffic.
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Develop warning systems and procedures. Decide who will write, approve, and deliver warning messages. Collect contact information for media and organizations involved with disseminating warnings. Identify the person or group responsible for declaring the all-clear signal. Select individuals with credibility within the community to give any warning messages. In all warnings, include information on protective actions to be taken by community members and directions for obtaining further information. Include alternate communication procedures for warnings to segments of the community without immediate access to mainstream media, such as the deaf.
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Develop and organize plans for mass care along evacuation routes. Most evacuees will stay with relatives or in hotels. The remainder--approximately 15 percent--will need to obtain food and accommodations in shelters. Establish procedures and agreements for receiving, feeding, sleeping, and sanitation facilities well in advance of any evacuation.
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