Using Highways During Evacuation Operations for Events with Advance Notice

Routes to Effective Evacuation Planning Primer Series

Produced in collaboration with the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO)
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Operations: Operations Phase

Sample Operations Activities

  • Activation of required personnel
  • Activation of EOC and TMC
  • Notification of evacuation to regional and State stakeholders including sheltering organizations
  • Deployment of personnel, equipment, and supplies to designated locations to support evacuation
  • Communication of evacuation order to the public and the media and posting on agency websites
  • Acquisition and deployment of transit resources to aid in evacuation
  • Acquisition and deployment of other transport modes if needed
  • Accommodation of special needs evacuees
  • Accommodation of pets on transport vehicles and in shelters
  • Activation of ITS resources to provide real time traffic information and monitoring
  • Implementation of contraflow if required
  • Staffing of information hotlines
  • Placement of en route services along evacuation routes
  • Opening of evacuation routes to maximize throughput (toll suspension, work zone closure, debris removed, etc.)
  • Reporting of traffic count data to TMC, EOC, and other jurisdictions
  • Activation of mutual-aid agreements as required
  • Deactivation of personnel at end of Tier I Operations, reactivation as needed for Tier II Operations

Once a decision to execute an evacuation has been made and the EOT has been given orders to proceed, public officials must turn to the emergency management infrastructure to provide support to the EOT. Decision makers should continue to monitor the environment and the evacuation operations throughout and adjust orders based on up-to-date information.

The Operations phase involves two separate components. The first is aiding evacuees in their exodus of an area. The second is helping to facilitate their re-entry, allowing them to return to their homes and work as quickly as possible. The elapsed time between when the evacuation is ordered and when re-entry is authorized may be hours, days, weeks or even months depending upon the damage caused by the event and the degree of impacts.

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