5.4.11 Public Notification

Communicate the Need to Evacuate or Not to Evacuate – People who do not need to evacuate and do so crowd the roads unnecessarily. Other people who may need to evacuate do not.
Miami Herald, “Are We Prepared for the Next Andrew?”
Communicate Timely Information – “[Communicate] timely information at all levels concerning road closures, road conditions, weather, expected travel times, incidents, lane closures, and availability of alternative routes.”
Reverse Lane Standards and ITS Strategies Southeast United States Hurricane Study: Technical Memorandum Number 1: Final Report
“Consider [the] Use of an Automated Public Information System to provide a voice-mail telephone system to relay consistent and trusted messages to the public.”
Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes
“Consider [the] Use of a World Wide Web Site that contains both general and real-time information.”
Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes
“Consider [the] Use of Traveler Information kiosks at key places such as rest areas along evacuation routes.”
Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes
“Use a Public Information Coordinator who provides information to the media. Use law enforcement officers with sirens and public announcement systems as needed.”
Compendium: Graduate Student Papers on Advanced Surface Transportation Systems: Application of ITS Technology to Hurricane Evacuation Routes
Develop Convenient Public Communication Tools – “[Develop] more convenient tools to communicate with the public.”
Reverse Lane Standards and ITS Strategies Southeast United States Hurricane Study: Technical Memorandum Number 1: Final Report
Keep the Public Informed Through Use of a Public Information Campaign – “To better disseminate updates and status reports on the transportation impacts of the Northridge earthquake, the California Department of Transportation implemented an extensive campaign to keep the public informed. Cooperating with Los Angeles Department of Transportation and the California Highway Patrol, they produced about 200 each of Los Angeles County road closure reports and special bulletins. In addition, they distributed over 2.6 million copies of Accelerate, California Department of Transportation’s Action Plan to Get All our Freeways Moving Again.”
Effects of Catastrophic Events on Transportation System Management and Operations: Cross-Cutting Study

“Keeping the public informed requires a multimedia, high-volume effort. Deploying administrative staff to be front-line public information officers was especially effective during the 9/11 crisis and would be essential in cities where the population is not accustomed to using public transportation. The emergency public information function is an essential element of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), established by Homeland Security Presidential Directive/Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 on February 28, 2003.”
Saving City Lifelines: Lessons Learned in the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

February 7, 2006
Publication #FHWA–HOP-08-015