If DC Had To Evacuate, Would You Know What To Do? Homeland Security Says You Need A Plan

[Igel]

18. They've revised a lot of the evacuation planning.

More counterflow: In the event of an evacuation, the main roads leading in and out of Houston are just main roads leading out. The interstates become one way outbound.

They've also clarified who needs to evacuate: The storm-surge maps are more easily available and the advice is that if you're not in those zones to stay put. The problem was that everybody tried to evacuate when those buried deepest in the megalopolis were the only ones who needed to evacuate.

But all major cities have to have an evacuation plan. New Orleans in Katrina did not have one; they made it up as they went along. Houston had one, but it creaked badly and I think they still didn't plan for those without private vehicles.