5.4 Coordination

Communication with the public is likely to occur primarily through available media resources as well as ITS elements such as DMS, HAR, and the 511 system. All of the information the public receives should be disseminated from one point. Information should be transferred through the proper ICS channels to the PIO who will be responsible for determining what information eventually will be delivered to the public.

This phase of the evacuation relies heavily on gathering and relaying information between field and operations personnel. Field personnel will be responsible for managing evacuation procedures such as traffic control, traffic signal operations, and law enforcement, as well as evacuee-related tasks such as providing gasoline and service patrol vehicles to help remove disabled vehicles from the travel way; alternate modes of transportation for those who may be without vehicles; or possibly even food, water, gasoline, medical care, and portable lavatories along the evacuation routes.

Communications from field personnel will probably come in the form of requests for additional resources. Maintaining open lines of communication between field personnel and operations personnel will ensure that everyone remains informed and up to date on evacuation conditions.

June 26, 2006
Publication #FHWA-HOP-08-020