Hurricane ? What Hurricane ???

[Y]

How about horizontial evacuation for New Orleans ?

They can go elsewhere within the same state, even in the same city! It's called a 'vertical evacuation' and is often practiced by numerous state residents when faced with the unwelcome prospects of a hurricane heading their way.

Unfortunately, vertical evacuations are not without pitfalls; I suspect that not too many people will undergo vertical evacuations in New Orleans any time soon!

 

[Y]

The End of 'Vertical Evacuations' for New Orleans?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5444748

 

[Cousin Vinny]

Eyeth, are you referring to evacuating to the upper floors of high-rise buildings? We live in a hurricane risk zone but there hasn't been any publicity about vertical evacuation in our area. I understand the general concept but I haven't read anything with more specific plans or examples. Do you have a good source for that info?

Technically, I mislabled 'in-city' evacuation as a 'vertical' evacuation. At a first blush, it does appear to refer to evacuations undertaken at high rises and hotels, when I didn't refer to it in that way. I just tried to Google this issue, and admittedly, there is not a lot of information on this issue. My take;

Horizontal evacuation entails residents moving out of the coastal/flood-prone areas and into inland areas further away. A good example of a horizontal evacuation would be that of Houstonians trying to leave their city in anticipation of Hurricane Rita. IMO, New Orleans residents should do the same thing.

The negative aspect of this kind of evacuation is that everybody tries to leave, clogging up the highways, and leads to unsatisfactory results.

Vertical evacuation would allow residents to move out of coastal/flood prone areas and into 'safer' areas within the same city or geographical region. South Florida is a good example of how this kind of evacuation has happened. People living in risky areas and housing would move into with their relatives and friends living in safer areas/homes. Moreover, shelters will open up for its residents.

The big negative thing about this kind of vertical evacuation is that even in a 'safer' area, the residents are still in the harms way! Plus, the power will go off, and residents still have to drive back to their riskier homes, assess the damage, etc. Try driving around in Miami with no electricity; No traffic lights to direct traffic!

 

[Reba]

Thanks for replying.

...Horizontal evacuation entails residents moving out of the coastal/flood-prone areas and into inland areas further away. ...

Oh yes, I know about those. We evacuated for hurricane Floyd. It was a nightmare! We made motel reservations for our family the day before we left Charleston. The closest available rooms were in Knoxville, TN. It took us almost 20 hours to drive there (normally, it only takes 5 hours to drive there). Some people who tried to evacuate didn't even get out of the Charleston city limits because they sat in traffic so long (6-8 hours), and ran out of gas. Charleston is a very small city, on a peninsula, so there is only one way out.

There were no restrooms, no places to eat or get gas, for at least the first 12 hours. Some of us learned how to use empty "Big Gulp" cups for toilets. The highway area had to "bush" area for privacy. For many hours, our cars just sat on the highway, bumper to bumper. We turned off the cars, and stood around waiting. There was no police presence, no leadership, nothing. People helped each other.

Old people just sat in buses with no assistance. The old people (from nursing homes) were duct-taped into their bus seats. A few old people and one handicapped boy died.

When we finally got to a more open, moving area, residents stood along the streets and handed out bottled water and soda, free, to people driving by.

Finally, we got to an open gas station with a restroom. The line snaked out the building. One awful memory that sticks with me is a poor elderly man, standing in line for the restroom. He was trying to "hold" himself in, but he couldn't. He urinated thru his clothes, into his hands. It was such a dehumanizing experience. I still come to tears thinking about it, even now.

That's how bad it was, even with all the roads re-directed for exiting only.

Vertical evacuation would allow residents to move out of coastal/flood prone areas and into 'safer' areas within the same city or geographical region. South Florida is a good example of how this kind of evacuation has happened. People living in risky areas and housing would move into with their relatives and friends living in safer areas/homes. Moreover, shelters will open up for its residents.

That's a good idea in places that have sturdy high-rise buildings. We don't have many of those here. But I can see how parts of Florida could do that.

... Try driving around in Miami with no electricity; No traffic lights to direct traffic!

That would be a mess, true. It was hard enough doing that here after hurricane Hugo. No power for weeks. Most of the traffic lights were on the ground, and all street signs were blown away. We could hardly recognize streets and neighborhoods--it was like an unknown place. However, it was amazing how people helped each other. Even at multi-lane intersections, without lights, the traffic moved smoothly. People patiently took turns crossing intersections. In some places, people voluntarily guided traffic. After a while, the National Guard showed up, and took over traffic control.

As you say, there are pros and cons for both kinds of evacuation. I guess it all depends on the location.

 

[LuciaDisturbed]

Old people just sat in buses with no assistance. The old people (from nursing homes) were duct-taped into their bus seats. A few old people and one handicapped boy died.

OMG :-o

 

[Cousin Vinny]

Oh yes, I know about those. We evacuated for hurricane Floyd. It was a nightmare!

Can I cry uncle, as in 'way too much information?!?' Seriously, thank you for sharing some horror evacuation stories. Unfortunately, you are not alone, as a lot of people share your same experience. This shared experience among your community will lead the vast majority of your neighbors choosing to stay and riding out the next hurricane, when they should still be 're-living' the evacuation horrors all over again.

In some places, people voluntarily guided traffic. After a while, the National Guard showed up, and took over traffic control.

Well, surprise... The National Guard is halfway around the world. The Florida National Guard finally showed up, and they manned relief supply stations, supplying food & ice. They were nowhere to be found at major intersections, directing traffic.

Eventually, after all hurricanes, life does return to normalcy. I guess that alone says it best about our communities and our resilence to the forces of Mother Nature.

 

[Reba]

Can I cry uncle, as in 'way too much information?!?'

Sorry about that. I guess that was some "venting" on my part.

Seriously, thank you for sharing some horror evacuation stories. Unfortunately, you are not alone, as a lot of people share your same experience. This shared experience among your community will lead the vast majority of your neighbors choosing to stay and riding out the next hurricane, when they should still be 're-living' the evacuation horrors all over again.

Yes, that is a concern here. After our bad experience, for a long time I swore that I would never again evacuate, no matter how bad the threat was.

Since then, I have changed my mind. Instead of dreading another evacuation, I will be better prepared. We now have tents and camping equipment (including the all-important camping toilet) that we will pack and take with us. That doesn't mean we will camp within the danger zone. We will be able to camp outside the zone without worrying about motel reservations. Also, we can use the small "kiddie" tent to quickly set up a private "bathroom" for our camping toilet, as needed, along the roadside. Ahh, all the comforts of home!

Well, surprise... The National Guard is halfway around the world.

Not all of them.

The Florida National Guard finally showed up, and they manned relief supply stations, supplying food & ice. They were nowhere to be found at major intersections, directing traffic.

Each state handles their Guard deployments differently.

Eventually, after all hurricanes, life does return to normalcy. ...

In some ways, that's too bad. The drivers here are NOT patient now.

 

[Y]

Reba and Eyeth thanks for sharing/venting
It looks like the more experienced you are,
then the more prepared you will be...