Evacuating Large Urban Areas: Challenges for Emergency Management Policies and Concepts

Abstract This article presents several policy observations regarding evacuation planning and disaster mitigation in large urban areas. After reviewing the research literature pertaining to disaster evacuations, the article provides background information about and lessons learned from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and Hurricane Dean in 2007. The often-erroneous planning assumptions in emergency management are then explored along with a discussion about future policy and management implications. Three themes are identified in this research, including: 1) public officials must anticipate a much broader scope of issues when issuing evacuation requests, 2) they must do more to prepare for disasters than write "fantasy" emergency operations plans, and 3) they must adjust development activities that have a negative impact upon disaster mitigation. Errata Page 7, Paragraph 2, Lines 1-3, which reads: Louisiana Governor Blanco estimated that 92 percent of the 1.3 million residents of the New Orleans area were evacuated (United States Office of the President - The White House, 2006). Should read: “Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco has estimated that 92 percent of the 1.3 million residents of the New Orleans area were evacuated” (Cox, 2006: 9, citing Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned. The White House, 2006: 29). Page 7, Paragraph 4, Lines 2-7, which reads: Wolshon (2002) considered New Orleans evacuation issues and estimated that 200,000 to 300,000 people in the New Orleans region do not have access to reliable transportation. Furthermore, the same study indicated that of the 1.4 million inhabitants of high risk regions in the New Orleans area, approximately 60 percent of the population or about 850,000 people will not want or be able to leave these areas (Wolshon, 2002). Should read: Wolshon (2002) considered New Orleans evacuation issues and estimated that “200,000 to 300,000 persons in the New Orleans region do not have access to reliable transportation.” Furthermore, the same study indicated that of the “[o]f the 1.4 million inhabitants in the high-threat areas, it is assumed only approximately 60 percent of the population or about 850,000 people will want, or be able, to leave the city.” (Wolshon, 2002: 45). Pages 9, Paragraph 5, Lines 1-3, which reads: As the hurricane approached, three million persons evacuated the lowlying Texas coastal areas and, with the congestion, this took an estimated four to five hours to drive the 50 miles