Southeast U.S. Hurricane Evacuation Study Evacuation Traffic Information System

The impact of the massive evacuation of more than three million people during Hurricane Floyd, prompted FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to initiate the Southeast United States Hurricane Evacuation Study with the goal of developing better ways of managing evacuations. The three-phased study consisted of a behavioral analysis of people in NC, SC, GA, and FL and the actions taken in response to Floyd; an analysis of traffic-count and lane reversal data for Floyd; and the development of a web-based evacuation traffic information system (ETIS) for a Floyd-type event.

PBS&J developed the ETIS such that a state or regional agency is able to upload to the Internet hurricane category, evacuation type, expected compliance rates, tourist occupancy, destination percentages, and other real-time data. The ETIS model displays forecasted traffic volumes, expected congestion levels by major highway segments, tables of expected vehicles crossing state lines, a comparison of forecasted and real traffic counts, and route information such as number of lanes and congestion measures.

The success of the model was demonstrated during Hurricane Lili in 2002, and during Hurricane Isabel in 2003, and led to the training and participation of many state agencies. Currently accessible only through state emergency operation centers, the system allows for future enhancements such as remote conversion of highway lanes, overlays of shelter locations, identification of lodging availability, and displays of other related information. In recognition of its achievement in creating ETIS, PBS&J received awards from the American Society of Civil Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers.