TexasTexas Department of Department of Public SafetyPublic Safety

Region IIRegion IIDistricts A\CDistricts A\C

Hurricane Hurricane Preparedness/EvacuatiPreparedness/Evacuati

on on Fort Bend County Fort Bend County

DDCDDCDistrict Disaster ChairmanDistrict Disaster Chairman

Responsible for receiving requests for state assistance from Responsible for receiving requests for state assistance from local governments or other state agencies responding to local governments or other state agencies responding to emergenciesemergencies

Coordinate the state’s responding agencies within the District Coordinate the state’s responding agencies within the District (36 State/Volunteer Org.)(36 State/Volunteer Org.)

If local assets are not available, forward requests to the State If local assets are not available, forward requests to the State Operation Center (Austin)Operation Center (Austin)

Provide Direction & Control for state resources, federal & out-Provide Direction & Control for state resources, federal & out-of-state resources dispatched to the District and monitor the of-state resources dispatched to the District and monitor the use of the resource.use of the resource.

Prepare Operational Plans for the evacuation of geographical Prepare Operational Plans for the evacuation of geographical areas, coordinating with local governments to facilitate the flow areas, coordinating with local governments to facilitate the flow of evacuees and emergency responders into the affected of evacuees and emergency responders into the affected areas. This Plan is known as the Traffic management Plan areas. This Plan is known as the Traffic management Plan (TMP)(TMP)

Traffic Management PlanTraffic Management Plan

PURPOSEPURPOSEA.A. The primary purpose of the Traffic Management The primary purpose of the Traffic Management

plan is to formally establish a coordinated strategy plan is to formally establish a coordinated strategy for the direction and control of evacuation traffic for the direction and control of evacuation traffic during times of emergencies.during times of emergencies.

B.B. The plan delineates the separation of routes from The plan delineates the separation of routes from the coastal counties of Galveston, Brazoria and the coastal counties of Galveston, Brazoria and Matagorda. The primary routes are IH 45, SH 6, Matagorda. The primary routes are IH 45, SH 6, and SH 146 for Galveston County; SH 288, SH 36, and SH 146 for Galveston County; SH 288, SH 36, and SH 6 for Brazoria County and SH 60, SH71 for and SH 6 for Brazoria County and SH 60, SH71 for Matagorda County. Matagorda County.

PURPOSE (continued)PURPOSE (continued)C.C. The Texas Department of Public Safety and the The Texas Department of Public Safety and the

Texas Department of Transportation, with the Texas Department of Transportation, with the assistance of local law enforcement agencies, have assistance of local law enforcement agencies, have identified major evacuation routes and choke points identified major evacuation routes and choke points within the Disaster Districts. The Traffic within the Disaster Districts. The Traffic Management Plan includes specific assignments for Management Plan includes specific assignments for law enforcement control at designated locations.law enforcement control at designated locations.

D.D. The Plan seeks to improve traffic control and to The Plan seeks to improve traffic control and to promote an orderly movement of vehicles to the promote an orderly movement of vehicles to the north, northwest, and west in a manner consistent north, northwest, and west in a manner consistent with local evacuation plans already in existence.with local evacuation plans already in existence.

Traffic Management PlanTraffic Management Plan

Brazoria/Galveston/Matagorda Area Evacuation Zones by Hurricane

Category

Hurricane TimeframeHurricane Timeframe

The following is a BASIC timeline to major The following is a BASIC timeline to major events in the order that they should occur in events in the order that they should occur in preparation for an approaching hurricane. preparation for an approaching hurricane. The timeline is a guide, but due to the fact The timeline is a guide, but due to the fact that most hurricanes do not follow timelines, that most hurricanes do not follow timelines, it can be modified at some key areas for a it can be modified at some key areas for a rapidly developing storm.rapidly developing storm.

H-hour – is when the outer bands of gale force H-hour – is when the outer bands of gale force winds will strike the coast.winds will strike the coast.

Evacuation TimelineEvacuation Timeline

H-120 SOC begins monitoring-Weather service H-120 SOC begins monitoring-Weather service coordination, Fuel Groups, Texas Military Forces, Shelter coordination, Fuel Groups, Texas Military Forces, Shelter HUBs availability checked, Contracts for buses, ice, water, HUBs availability checked, Contracts for buses, ice, water, vendors, ambulances alertedvendors, ambulances alerted

H-96 Bus contracts activated, TEA alerted-sheltering, H-96 Bus contracts activated, TEA alerted-sheltering, Special Needs identified,/update 211, Status of Special Special Needs identified,/update 211, Status of Special Needs (medical) shelters, PSAs to media, designation of Needs (medical) shelters, PSAs to media, designation of areas for response teams, Evacuation routes checked, areas for response teams, Evacuation routes checked, Staging of Fuel Trucks/Fuel Plan begins (Tully Stadium), Staging of Fuel Trucks/Fuel Plan begins (Tully Stadium),

H-84 Shelter HUBs notifiedH-84 Shelter HUBs notified H-72 Shelter availability from HUBs (San Antonio, Austin)H-72 Shelter availability from HUBs (San Antonio, Austin) Kelly USA Operation commences operationKelly USA Operation commences operation

Evacuation Timeline-continuedEvacuation Timeline-continued

Bus/Ambulance assemblyBus/Ambulance assembly areas commenceareas commence

Evacuation Routes readied for TFLs, supplies for Medical-Evacuation Routes readied for TFLs, supplies for Medical-Special Needs positionedSpecial Needs positioned

Supplies to support Special Needs evacuation positionedSupplies to support Special Needs evacuation positioned H-60 Special Needs Evacuation beginsH-60 Special Needs Evacuation begins

Highway Patrol-Additional personnel to support general Highway Patrol-Additional personnel to support general evacuation or contra-flow are requested (300 additional evacuation or contra-flow are requested (300 additional Troopers)Troopers)

H-48 Final Preparations for General Population H-48 Final Preparations for General Population Evacuation-Fuel movements made, tankers positioned, Evacuation-Fuel movements made, tankers positioned, water pre-positioned, comfort stations set up/supplied,water pre-positioned, comfort stations set up/supplied,

Contra-flow decision madeContra-flow decision made

H-40-Contra-flow personnel/equipment in place if needed, H-40-Contra-flow personnel/equipment in place if needed, timing is flexible depending on projected landfalltiming is flexible depending on projected landfall

H-36-Coastal evacuation is underway, support services in H-36-Coastal evacuation is underway, support services in place, TxDot hero vehicles in operation, comfort stations place, TxDot hero vehicles in operation, comfort stations open, Re-entry teams/equipment pre-positioned. open, Re-entry teams/equipment pre-positioned. Confirmation on schools in strike-zones closed, PSAs Confirmation on schools in strike-zones closed, PSAs giving instructions on evacuation, donations, and storm giving instructions on evacuation, donations, and storm statusstatus

H-24-Clear evacuated areas of stranded citizens, All CARE H-24-Clear evacuated areas of stranded citizens, All CARE facilities in strike zone evacuated, Continue to monitor facilities in strike zone evacuated, Continue to monitor evacuation routesevacuation routes

Evacuation Timeline-continuedEvacuation Timeline-continued

Evacuation Timeline-continuedEvacuation Timeline-continued

H-12-Continue to monitor evacuation routes, project end H-12-Continue to monitor evacuation routes, project end time of traffic movementtime of traffic movement

H-0-All personnel/equipment in safe areas for landfallH-0-All personnel/equipment in safe areas for landfall

Presidential Disaster Declaration submitted.Presidential Disaster Declaration submitted.

The preceding is a brief synopsis of an extensive amount of The preceding is a brief synopsis of an extensive amount of preparation and actions taken prior to the landfall of a major preparation and actions taken prior to the landfall of a major hurricane. The purpose of this is to give the viewer a sense hurricane. The purpose of this is to give the viewer a sense of the preparation that is needed and has been done to have of the preparation that is needed and has been done to have a successful evacuation in the event of a major hurricane.a successful evacuation in the event of a major hurricane.

Key PointsKey Points

Who evacuates? Those in low lying areas where storm Who evacuates? Those in low lying areas where storm surge is expected. Varies greatly by storm strength. surge is expected. Varies greatly by storm strength. Housing that can not stand up to hurricane force windsHousing that can not stand up to hurricane force winds

Persons with Special Needs, who can be affected by power Persons with Special Needs, who can be affected by power outages.outages.

Fort Bend County lies within 100 miles of the coast, Fort Bend County lies within 100 miles of the coast, therefore it is a pass-through County. This means there is therefore it is a pass-through County. This means there is no major shelters for evacuating citizens from the coast. no major shelters for evacuating citizens from the coast. So during a coastal evacuation our focus is on the So during a coastal evacuation our focus is on the movement of evacuees quickly as possible through the movement of evacuees quickly as possible through the area. Keeping roadways clear, provide assistance where area. Keeping roadways clear, provide assistance where needed to facilitate the movement.needed to facilitate the movement.

Key PointsKey Points

Evacuating traffic does not move at regular Evacuating traffic does not move at regular speeds. Expect speeds on most of the routes to speeds. Expect speeds on most of the routes to be in the 20-30 mph range on State Highways.be in the 20-30 mph range on State Highways.

Gasoline will be available along the designated Gasoline will be available along the designated routes, along with law enforcement, courtesy routes, along with law enforcement, courtesy patrols, comfort stationspatrols, comfort stations

If you are evacuating make sure you take several If you are evacuating make sure you take several days worth of water/food/supplies/and any days worth of water/food/supplies/and any prescription medicines you need. prescription medicines you need.

When a hurricane is in the gulf, maintain When a hurricane is in the gulf, maintain awareness, keep your vehicle full of fuel awareness, keep your vehicle full of fuel

Contra-flowContra-flow

When will contra-flow happen? When conditions merit the When will contra-flow happen? When conditions merit the immediate evacuation of a strike area or the intensity of the immediate evacuation of a strike area or the intensity of the hurricane high. As IKE demonstrated, it can be a low hurricane high. As IKE demonstrated, it can be a low intensity hurricane, but due to its’ extreme size can intensity hurricane, but due to its’ extreme size can produce a very high storm surge. Strike location will also produce a very high storm surge. Strike location will also be a major factor. Decision time will be around 48 hours be a major factor. Decision time will be around 48 hours prior to landfall.prior to landfall.

When contra-flow is put into action, there will be disruption When contra-flow is put into action, there will be disruption of traffic on some roadways. For instance-during contra-of traffic on some roadways. For instance-during contra-flow, SH36 at Sealy will be directed onto IH10 Westbound. flow, SH36 at Sealy will be directed onto IH10 Westbound. Accept for Special Needs transports, traffic will not be Accept for Special Needs transports, traffic will not be allowed to travel North on SH36 through town.allowed to travel North on SH36 through town.

When the regular highway system can handle the traffic When the regular highway system can handle the traffic load, contra-flow will end. There is no plan to contra-flow load, contra-flow will end. There is no plan to contra-flow US59 South of Houston. US59 South of Houston.

Contra-flowContra-flow

Contra-flow is very disruptive to normal traffic Contra-flow is very disruptive to normal traffic flows, makes it difficult to bring equipment, flows, makes it difficult to bring equipment, vehicles and supplies to the affected area. It is vehicles and supplies to the affected area. It is extremely manpower intensive using manpower extremely manpower intensive using manpower from local agencies, Highway Patrol, Texas from local agencies, Highway Patrol, Texas Department of Transportation, etc. for up to 36 Department of Transportation, etc. for up to 36 hours. Those agencies involved are still expected hours. Those agencies involved are still expected to perform their normal duties at the same time. to perform their normal duties at the same time. Therefore the decision to enact contra-flow must Therefore the decision to enact contra-flow must be balanced over the gains and loses in the areas be balanced over the gains and loses in the areas affected. affected.

Contact InformationContact Information

Patrick Mulligan, CaptainPatrick Mulligan, Captain

Highway PatrolHighway Patrol

Conroe/HoustonConroe/Houston