Hurricane Evacuation
Before you know it, hurricane season will be upon us once again. If you live or will be traveling in a hurricane-prone area, there are some things that you should know.
Hurricane Evacuation Routes
Every city and state in a hurricane-prone area has developed a hurricane evacuation plan, including a series of evacuation routes. Depending on where you are located, these routes may be extremely limited and clogged with traffic. For example, the 2004 evacuation of New Orleans for Hurricane Ivan was plagued with difficulties. New Orleans is geographically isolated, surrounded by water. Within hours of the evacuation announcement, traffic on the Causeway Bridge had gridlocked, taking well over four hours to traverse the 24 mile span. A six-hour trip to Southeastern Arkansas wound up taking over 14 hours.
Plan Ahead
Be sure that you know in advance where you will go and how you will get there. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the immediate story was of the people who were stranded in the city. Thousands more, however, had evacuated to various areas all across the country, believing that they would be gone for only a day or two. Weeks and months later, families continued to have trouble reuniting.
Be Prepared
After Hurricane Katrina, many Gulf Coast families started packing a hurricane preparation kit at the start of storm season. Important papers and small valuables can go into the kit, which should be easy to grab in the event of an evacuation. Also be sure that your insurance is adequate and that you have some emergency cash. Gas can be difficult to obtain in the days before and after a storm, so be sure to keep at least half a tank in your Certified Mercedes at all times.
The Bottom Line
Hurricane Katrina is considered a 100 year storm. However, the lessons that were learned should never be forgotten. Whether you live in a hurricane-prone area or plan to visit one during your vacation, a bit of preparation can go a long way.
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